Module BIOL2461: Ecology

Department: Biosciences

BIOL2461: Ecology

Prerequisites

• Level 1 Organisms and Environment BIOL1161

Corequisites

• At least one other level 2 Biological Sciences module selected from the following list: Behaviour BIOL2511, Evolution BIOL2451, Plant Physiology BIOL2571, Cell Signalling BIOL2501, Development BIOL2471, Cell Biology BIOL2481, Molecular Biology BIOL2441, Metabolism BIOL2491, Integrated Physiological Systems BIOL2521, Microbiology BIOL2431, Immune Systems BIOL2421, Biomolecules BIOL2591

Excluded Combination of Modules

• None.

Aims

• To study the interactions that determine the distribution and abundance of organisms.
• To develop concepts of evolutionary history for understanding distributions and abundance of organisms.

Content

• Ecological niches and life-history attributes.
• Models of population dynamics.
• Population estimation techniques.
• Community ecology and biodiversity.
• Metapopulations and biogeography.

Learning Outcomes

• Knowledge of how the life histories of organisms and their ecological niches are inter-related.
• Knowledge of the theoretical bases for models of population dynamics.
• Knowledge of how theories of population dynamics are extended to incorporate species interactions, and thus biodiversity.

• To be able to relate theoretical concepts in ecology to an applied context, for example population harvesting and conservation biology.
• To be able to apply problem-solving skills to quantitative problems in data collection and data analysis, population estimation and ecological modelling at an intermediate level.

• Numeracy, in data analysis, and calculations involved in data handling problems.
• IT skills, in use of statistics software packages.
• Communication skills and graphics.
• Team work.
• Self-motivation, in self-guided learning.

Modes of Teaching, Learning and Assessment and how these contribute to the learning outcomes of the module

• Lectures deliver subject-specific knowledge.
• Workshops and computer classes reinforce subject-specific knowledge and understanding gained from lectures and the development of key and subject-specific skills.
• Offsite activities within a residential setting support the development of key and subject-specific skills.
• Offsite activities, along with associated preparatory workshops, are delivered at the end of the preceding academic year.
• Self-guided learning contributes to subject-specific knowledge and self-motivation.
• Analytical exercise (data handling and interpretation) demonstrates subject-specific skills in data handling and key skills in data analysis and interpretation applied to Ecology.
• Group presentations are delivered in one of the Presentations timetabled sessions.

Teaching Methods and Learning Hours

Summative Assessment

Formative Assessment:

Formative assessments will be provided to develop the skills for each summative assessment as appropriate.

■ Students who do not attend monitored activities shown under Teaching Methods and Learning Hours, or who fail to complete the summative or formative assessment(s) specified above, may be subject to the Academic Progress procedures defined in the University's General Regulation V, and may be required to leave the University.