The specific learning objectives of this course were stated in the outline. However, the general intellectual challenge of this course is to understand the causes of change in populations of organisms. For example:

1. The numbers of human beings in the world seems to be growing at an ever-increasing rate (click here to see). We might want to ask: "What is causing the human population to grow in this explosive way?" - what Paul Erlich calls the "population bomb".
2. The worldwide harvest of blue whales declined dramatically from 1950 to 1964 but now harvesting has all but ceased. A relevant question may be: "Will the blue whale recover to its former abundance or is it on a pathway to extinction?"
3. Quite different is the numerical dynamics of sycamore aphids. The average density of these insects remained remarkably constant for 19 years, but fluctuated considerably from one year to the next. In fact, years with high aphid densities were invariably followed by years with low densities. It would be nice to understand the causes of this rather interesting pattern.
4. Even more spectacular are the enormous fluctuations of larch budmoths in the Swiss Alps. Densities of this insect are 20,000-fold greater during the peaks of the fluctuations than during the troughs! In addition, peak numbers occur, almost like clockwork, every 9-10 years. It would certainly be interesting to know what caused these dramatic and very regular cycles of abundance that completely defoliate the forest every 9-10 years!
5. Then we have insects like the gypsy moth which were very abundant for a number of years after their introduction from Europe into North America, but then suddenly declined to a very low density. What caused this sudden decline?
6. The whitefish population in Lake Ontario were also abundant for many years but recently entered a period of decline. If we are to save this species from complete collapse, it is important to understand the causes of this decline.
7. This course is designed to help you understand the causes of population fluctuations and to answer these kinds of questions.

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