This course is a general introduction to ecological principles and processes applied to agricultural ecosystems, including interactions between plants, soils, and animals on population, community and ecosystem scales. Course concepts are applied to agricultural ecosystems that are of economic importance and ecological significance to Kentucky, while also placing these systems within the broader context of national and international crop production. Emphasis is placed on understanding how an ecological perspective can inform sustainable land management, the ecological basis for best management practices, and the interdisciplinary nature of agricultural ecosystem management. The course will also link these concepts to the complexity of food systems.

A general introduction to ecological principles and processes applied to agricultural ecosystems, including interactions between plants, soils, and animals on population, community and ecosystems scales. Course concepts will be applied to agricultural ecosystems that are o economic importance and ecological significance to the state of Kentucky. Emphasis will be placed on understanding how an ecological perspective can inform sustainable land management, the ecological basis for best management practices, and the interdisciplinary nature of agroecosystem management.