Description
Ecology of Environmental Change
| Module title | Ecology of Environmental Change |
|---|---|
| Module code | BIO3037 |
| Academic year | 2020/1 |
| Credits | 15 |
| Module staff | Dr Dan Bebber () |
| Duration: Term | 1 | 2 | 3 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Duration: Weeks | 11 |
| Number students taking module (anticipated) | 75 |
|---|
Description - summary of the module content
Module description
Through this module you will get a science-based insight into the state of the Earth’s ecosystems, the pressures put on them by the continued expansion of human activities and the prospects for sustainability. The module provides you with a good preparation for future citizenship.
Module aims - intentions of the module
The aim of this module is to provide you with a better understanding of human impacts on the global environment. You will have the opportunity to evaluate the fundamental science that allows humans to understand their environment.
Intended Learning Outcomes (ILOs)
ILO: Module-specific skills
On successfully completing the module you will be able to...
- 1. Assess the scientific evidence for selected aspects of environmental change
- 2. Critically evaluate selected aspects of environmental regulation and management
ILO: Discipline-specific skills
On successfully completing the module you will be able to...
- 3. Evaluate in detail approaches to our understanding of ecology with reference to primary literature, reviews and research articles
- 4. Analyse in detail essential facts and theory in a sub-discipline of the biosciences
- 5. Analyse and evaluate independently a range of research-informed literature and synthesise research-informed examples from the literature into written work
- 6. With limited guidance, deploy established techniques of analysis and enquiry within the biosciences
ILO: Personal and key skills
On successfully completing the module you will be able to...
- 7. Communicate effectively arguments, evidence and conclusions using written means in a manner appropriate to the intended audience
- 8. Devise and sustain, with little guidance, a logical and reasoned argument with sound, convincing conclusions
- 9. Analyse and evaluate appropriate data with very limited guidance
Syllabus plan
Syllabus plan
Topics covered are likely to change yearly to focus on the latest developments and to reflect the expertise of visiting speakers, but coverage may include: climate change, threats to biodiversity, sustainable ecosystem services, biofuels and geoengineering.
Learning and teaching
Learning activities and teaching methods (given in hours of study time)
| Scheduled Learning and Teaching Activities | Guided independent study | Placement / study abroad |
|---|---|---|
| 22 | 128 | 0 |
Details of learning activities and teaching methods
| Category | Hours of study time | Description |
|---|---|---|
| Scheduled Learning and Teaching | 14 | Lectures |
| Scheduled Learning and Teaching | 5 | Journal clubs |
| Scheduled Learning and Teaching | 3 | Data handling guidance, practice, and assessment |
| Guided Independent Study | 128 | Guided reading of literature, literature research and revision |
Assessment
Formative assessment
| Form of assessment | Size of the assessment (eg length / duration) | ILOs assessed | Feedback method |
|---|---|---|---|
| In-lecture data handling practice tests | 2 x 15 minutes | All | Self-marking and discussion in class and online model answers |
Summative assessment (% of credit)
| Coursework | Written exams | Practical exams |
|---|---|---|
| 40 | 60 | 0 |
Details of summative assessment
| Form of assessment | % of credit | Size of the assessment (eg length / duration) | ILOs assessed | Feedback method |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Essay examination | 60 | 2 hours | All | Written via tutor on request |
| Test (to include data handling) | 40 | 1 hour | All | Written and oral via tutor on request |
Re-assessment
Details of re-assessment (where required by referral or deferral)
| Original form of assessment | Form of re-assessment | ILOs re-assessed | Timescale for re-assessment |
|---|---|---|---|
| Essay examination | Essay examination | All | August Ref/Def |
| Test (to include data handling) | Essay examination | All | August Ref/Def |
Re-assessment notes
Deferral – if you miss an assessment for certificated reasons judged acceptable by the Mitigation Committee, you will normally be either deferred in the assessment or an extension may be granted. The mark given for a re-assessment taken as a result of deferral will not be capped and will be treated as it would be if it were your first attempt at the assessment.
Referral – if you have failed the module overall (i.e. a final overall module mark of less than 40%) you will be required to sit a further examination. The mark given for a re-assessment taken as a result of referral will count for 100% of the final mark and will be capped at 40%.
Resources
Indicative learning resources - Basic reading
- Millennium Ecosystem Assessment, 2005. Ecosystems and Human Well-being: Biodiversity Synthesis. World Resources Institute, Washington, DC. (http://www.unep.org/maweb/en/index.aspx)
- IPCC, 2007: Climate Change 2007: Synthesis Report. Contribution of Working Groups I, II and III to the Fourth Assessment Report of the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change [Core Writing Team, Pachauri, R.K and Reisinger, A. (eds.)]. IPCC, Geneva, Switzerland (http://www.ipcc.ch/publications_and_data/ar4/syr/en/contents.html) (See also IPCC Fifth Assessment Report: Synthesis Report due to published October 2014: http://www.ipcc.ch/)
Indicative learning resources - Web based and electronic resources
Module has an active ELE page
Indicative learning resources - Other resources
- Primary research publications and review articles.
| Credit value | 15 |
|---|---|
| Module ECTS | 7.5 |
| Module pre-requisites | BIO1336 Ecology |
| Module co-requisites | None |
| NQF level (module) | 6 |
| Available as distance learning? | No |
| Origin date | 01/12/2011 |
| Last revision date | 14/08/2020 |