Earth at the Crossroads: Understanding the Ecology of a Changing Planet

Overview

Course No. 1720

Join behavioral ecologist Eric G. Strauss in exploring Earth’s intricate web of life. This 36-lecture course examines ecosystems, biodiversity, and humanity’s role in shaping—and healing—the planet.

Key Themes:

• Interconnectedness: How species, habitats, and climate form a dynamic biosphere.
• Human Impact: Agriculture, urbanization, and pollution as ecological drivers.
• Solutions: Strategies for conservation, sustainability, and restoring ecosystems.

Video Lectures

01: An Ecological Diagnosis of the Living Earth (35 min)

Define ecology and humanity’s place within Earth’s vast network of relationships.

02: Humanity and the Tragedy of the Commons (31 min)

Explore overexploitation through the lens of fisheries and shared resources.

03: Ecology – Natural History to Holistic Science (33 min)

Trace ecology’s evolution from natural history to a multidisciplinary science.

04: Ecology as a System – Presses and Pulses (30 min)

Examine forces driving ecosystem change, from geology to human policy.

05: Climate and Habitat – Twin Ecological Crises (29 min)

Analyze climate change and habitat loss as interconnected threats.

06: Human Society as Ecological Driver (30 min)

How social structures and cultural practices reshape ecosystems.

07: Movement of Energy through Living Systems (29 min)

Follow energy flow from sunlight to decomposition.

08: Humans as Energy Consumers (30 min)

Assess humanity’s energy demands and sustainable alternatives.

09: Nutrient Cycling in Ecosystems (32 min)

Track carbon and nitrogen through Earth’s life cycles.

10: The Challenges of Waste and Disposal (29 min)

Human waste’s ecological impact and innovative disposal strategies.

11: The Water Cycle and Climate (30 min)

Water’s role in ecosystems and pollution mitigation.

12: Human Water Use and Climate Change (31 min)

Depletion risks and conservation solutions for freshwater resources.

13: Rain and Heat – Forces That Shape Climate (29 min)

Why deserts and rainforests form, and species’ adaptations.

14: The Ecology of Global Climate Change (31 min)

Warming’s effects on migration, life cycles, and marine habitats.

15: How Living Organisms Acquire Food (31 min)

Food webs, species interactions, and fragmentation’s consequences.

16: The Ecological Consequences of Agriculture (31 min)

Industrial farming’s toll and sustainable food production models.

17: Food, Energy Flows, Biomagnification (31 min)

Nutrient concentration in food chains and toxic chemical buildup.

18: The Human Ecology of Biomagnification (29 min)

Case studies: Pollutants in breast milk and Japan’s mercury crisis.

19: The Ecological Community as a Living Mosaic (30 min)

Predator-prey dynamics, cooperation, and disturbances like wildfires.

20: Wildlife Adaptation to Human Landscapes (33 min)

Species’ survival strategies in urbanized habitats.

21: Biodiversity, Disturbance, Invasive Species (30 min)

Fire, deforestation, and nonnative species’ impact on biodiversity.

22: Biodiversity Decline and Restoration Ecology (32 min)

Urbanization’s effects and actions to revive ecosystems.

23: Microevolution and Biological Variation (30 min)

Genetic diversity’s role in ecosystem resilience.

24: Human Impacts on Ecological Space and Time (29 min)

Habitat fragmentation’s threat to native species and coexistence solutions.

25: Population Growth and Its Natural Limits (31 min)

Models of population dynamics and species’ adaptive strategies.

26: The Human Shift to an Urban Lifestyle (30 min)

Urban ecology’s unique challenges and infrastructure’s environmental toll.

27: The Ecology of Dispersal and Migration (30 min)

Costs, benefits, and perils of species migration.

28: Human Impacts on Animal Migration (30 min)

Disrupted migratory patterns and conservation tactics.

29: Ecology and Economy of Sex and Reproduction (33 min)

Evolutionary drivers of sexual reproduction and biodiversity implications.

30: Cities and the Human Demographic Transition (32 min)

Industrialization’s effect on family size and future sustainability.

31: Coevolution among Species (31 min)

Mutualism, mimicry, and predator-prey arms races.

32: The Coevolution of Human Diseases (29 min)

Zoonotic diseases (e.g., Lyme, West Nile) and climate change’s role.

33: Strategies for Reversing Ecosystem Decline (31 min)

Conservation biology’s ethical debates and habitat restoration.

34: Designing Spaces for Wildlife (33 min)

Park design and prioritizing species in recovery plans.

35: Toward Sustainable Urban Ecosystems (31 min)

Urban ecology’s mission to harmonize cities with nature.

36: Recovering Ecosystems – Hope for the Future (38 min)

Success stories in healing habitats while supporting human communities.