Ecology of Environmental Change
| Module title | Ecology of Environmental Change |
|---|---|
| Module code | BIO3037 |
| Academic year | 2025/6 |
| Credits | 15 |
| Module staff | Professor Dan Bebber (Convenor) |
| Duration: Term | 1 | 2 | 3 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Duration: Weeks | 0 | 11 | 0 |
| Number students taking module (anticipated) | 30 |
|---|
Module description
The Earth’s ecosystems are under unprecedented pressure from human activities and climate change. These impacts threaten biodiversity and the essential services our ecosystems provide.
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 along with training in data analysis for environmental science. Topics covered include the impact of climate change on ecosystems like coral reefs and the arctic, conservation of tropical forests and marine life, the improving the sustainability of agriculture and the food system, and making the science of ecology and conservation more equitable.
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 analyse and evaluate data on key environmental topics.
ILO: Discipline-specific skills
On successfully completing the module you will be able to...
- 3. Evaluate approaches to our understanding of ecology with reference to primary literature, reviews and research articles
- 4. Analyse in detail essential facts and theory in environmental science
- 5. Analyse and evaluate a range of datasets in environmental science
- 6. 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. Effectively communicate 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 limited guidance
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 marine conservation.
Accessibility Statement:
This module involves no group work or student presentations.
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 | 8 | Data handling guidance |
| Guided Independent Study | 63 | Lecture consolidation and associated outside reading |
| Guided Independent Study | 65 | Exam revision |
Formative assessment
| Form of assessment | Size of the assessment (eg length / duration) | ILOs assessed | Feedback method |
|---|---|---|---|
| In-lecture data handling practice | 7 x 1 hr | 1-9 | Self-marking and discussion in class and online model answers |
Summative assessment (% of credit)
| Coursework | Written exams | Practical exams |
|---|---|---|
| 100 | 0 | 0 |
Details of summative assessment
| Form of assessment | % of credit | Size of the assessment (eg length / duration) | ILOs assessed | Feedback method |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Ecological data report | 100 | 2x 1000 words, incorporating data analysis | 1-9 | Written |
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 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Ecological data report | Ecological data report (100%) | 1-9 | Referral/Deferral Period |
Re-assessment notes
Deferral – if you miss an assessment for certificated reasons that are approved by the Mitigation Committee, you will normally be either deferred in the assessment or an extension may be granted. If deferred, the format and timing of the re-assessment for each of the summative assessments is detailed in the table above ('Details of re-assessment'). The mark given for a deferred assessment 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 (i.e. a final overall module mark of less than 40%) and the module cannot be condoned, you will be required to complete a re-assessment for each of the failed components on the module. The format and timing of the re-assessment for each of the summative assessments is detailed in the table above ('Details of re-assessment'). If you pass the module following re-assessment, your module mark will be capped at 40%.
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-specific ELE page
Indicative learning resources - Other resources
- Primary research publications and review articles.
Key words search
Earth’s ecosystems, sustainability
| 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 | 24/02/2025 |
