Undergraduate Programs - Ecology

What is Ecology?

Ecology is the study of interactions between organisms and their environment, both in natural settings and human influenced habitats. In a society concerned with climate change, overpopulation, and extinction, ecology provides a scientific link to the living world.  Ecologists study the lives of many species including animals, plants, fungi, and microorganisms.  Interactions among these organisms are investigated at many scales ranging from the microscopic to the global.

• At the individual level, ecology investigates the impact of environmental factors on organisms through their physiology and behaviours.  Ultimately, ecologists link these factors to survival and reproduction in variable environments.
• Ecologists study populations of a species to determine the causes of fluctuations in numbers and changes in distribution. This type of work is the focus of agencies concerned with exploitation, extinction, and rehabilitation of both commercially and esthetically important species.
• Studies at the community level deal with many coexisting species. They examine the interactions between species within the communities (competition, predation, etc.) as well as broader investigations of community structure and composition.

Methods used in these three approaches are diverse, but generally concerned with data collection, analysis, and interpretation. Data collection includes: extensive observation of organisms in their natural settings, field and laboratory experimentation involving deliberate
manipulation, and monitoring natural or human disturbances.  Analytical tools include state-of-the-art physiological (biochemical), genetic (DNA), and statistical methods.  In addition, mathematical modeling via computer simulation is often useful in uniting field observations with current ecological thinking.  Having performed the previous steps, ecologists must then interpret their results in relation to the questions originally proposed (hypotheses) and the findings of others.  This philosophy of study is developed in the core ecology courses that are taken by all students in the program.

Career choices in Ecology

The Ecology program equips students either to work as ecologists after graduation or to pursue a higher degree. Employment as an ecologist with a B.Sc. usually involves technical assistance to an ecological researcher or manager. Some ecologists work in public education (e.g., Fort Whyte Centre, Oak Hammock Marsh Interpretive Centre, Parks Canada). Employment following a M.Sc. (usually an additional 2-3 years of university) in environmental consulting companies, or federal and provincial government departments involves a greater amount of responsibility for decisions in gathering and analysing ecological information. Ecologists with a Ph.D. have considerable responsibility and control in directing ecological studies.

Ecology programs and core courses

The Ecology program is available as either a Major Program or Honours program. The Honours degree program has higher entrance requirements, higher standards to continue in the program, and requires two additional core courses. programs would include the following courses in their University 1 program:

• BIOL 1020/BIOL 1030  Biology 1 & 2
• CHEM 1300  University 1 Chemistry - Structure & Modelling in Chemistry
• CHEM 1310 University 1 Chemistry - An Introduction to Physical Chemistry

Of the six credit hours from the Faculty of Arts that are required in University 1, 3 credit hours should be from the list of courses that fulfills the University's written English requirement. The following first-year level courses must be taken within the first two years of an Ecology program and could be selected in University 1 if a student wished:

• 3 credit hours of Mathematics or Physics from MATH 1200, MATH 1300, MATH 1500,  PHYS 1020  or  PHYS 1050, plus STAT 1000/STAT 2000 - Basic Statistical Analysis 1 & 2

To enter the Four Year Major Program following University 1, a student must have a C+ in BIOL 1030 or in CHEM 1310, and not less than C in the other course. To enter the Honours Program, a student must have a B in BIOL 1030 or CHEM 1310 and not less than C+ in the other course. All other Faculty of Science regulations will apply.

In addition to core courses in Biology, Chemistry, Mathematics, Statistics, Botany, Microbiology and Zoology that are taken over the four years of these programs, students can take optional courses that could lead them into different areas of interest including:

• Wildlife Management & Terrestrial Ecology
• Fisheries Management
• Forest Ecology
• Quantitative Ecology
• Invertebrate Ecology
• Conservation Ecology

In addition to these areas of ecological study, an interest in ecology can be combined with several other disciplines in biology. These include physiology, genetics, behaviour and evolution. Students interested in designing a program of study in either Physiological Ecology, Ecological Genetics, Behavioural Ecology or Evolutionary Ecology should talk with the Ecology Program Director or the Head of Botany or Zoology.

The Cooperative Education Option

The Ecology program has a cooperative education option where students are employed for three work terms each of four months' duration. Students receive academic credit towards their degree for the work terms, gain valuable job-related experience, and establish contacts with potential employers. The co-op option requires an extra year of study in the program.

To qualify for the co-op option, students must be in good academic standing and have completed 60 credit hours of courses, including certain specified courses. Acceptance into the co-op option is dependent on receiving a suitable placement. Co-op program applications will be available each spring to all second year students registered in the Ecology program. Work terms begin when students enter their third year of the program. Further details are available from the Cooperative Program Coordinator.

For further information

Please contact:
Dr. D.M. Gillis
Telephone: (204) 474-9683
or Dr. J. Markham
Telephone: (204) 474-7180
e-mail: ecology@cc.umanitoba.ca

For information on the Co-op Program

Please contact:
Diane Kunec, Co-op Coordinator
Faculty of Science
Room 214 Buller Building
The University of Manitoba
Winnipeg, MB  R3T 2N2
Telephone: (204) 474-7396
FAX: (204) 474-7926
e-mail: kunecdl@ms.umanitoba.ca
Website: umanitoba.ca/science/coop

Note: In the event of any inconsistencies between the information provided here and the University's annual General Calendar, the Calendar entry shall prevail.