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2015/16 Undergraduate Module Catalogue

BLGY1117 Ecology in a Changing World

10 creditsClass Size: 300

Module manager: Dr Mahesh Sankaran
Email: M.Sankaran@leeds.ac.uk

Taught: Semester 1 (Sep to Jan) View Timetable

Year running 2015/16

This module is approved as a discovery module

Module summary

This module will explore the major challenges facing mankind (climate change, harvesting natural resources and human population growth) and enable students to understand how they are underpinned and can be addressed by the principles of ecology. Lectures will describe both the theoretical and practical approaches used to address these challenges and will reveal the links between problems and approaches. These challenges may require interdisciplinary solutions, though the focus on ecology is maintained.

Objectives

To explore the major challenges facing mankind (climate change, harvesting natural resources and human population growth) and to understand how they are underpinned and can be addressed by the principles of ecology.

Learning outcomes
At the end of the course students:
- should have an understanding of how the scientific discipline of ecology is a vital part of the challenges that face mankind, including the mechanisms and processes involved;
- should have an appreciation of the need for a scientific approach to ecological questions and challenges, and should understand the different methods and approaches used to study ecology;
- will have a broad understanding of modern ecology.

Syllabus

Within the broad categories of climate change, biodiversity, harvesting natural resources and human population growth, lectures will include an introduction to climate change (Sankaran), global patterns of biodiversity (Kunin), links between biodiversity and the provisioning of ecosystem services to humans (Sankaran, Kunin), climate change and emerging diseases (Sait), species responses to climate change (Hamer), human population growth, ecosystem sustainability and food security (Benton).

Teaching methods

Delivery type	Number	Length hours	Student hours
Class tests, exams and assessment	1	2.00	2.00
Lecture	15	1.00	15.00
Private study hours			83.00
Total Contact hours			17.00
Total hours (100hr per 10 credits)			100.00

Private study

Details of private study and independent learning:

- Each lecture will cover fundamental principles, with examples, which relate to the key question being addressed;
- Further reading will be required to increase both the breadth and the depth of student knowledge and to complete the project assignments. This will take the form of key research and review papers, which the students will be directed to via the VLE;
- In-course self-assessment will be used to monitor progress and understanding and to provide formative feedback.

Opportunities for Formative Feedback

During the course there will be self-assessment exercises on the VLE on the basic principles covered in the lectures.

We will monitor student performance in these and address any issues arising.

Methods of assessment

Coursework

Assessment type	Notes	% of formal assessment
In-course MCQ	.	0.00
Total percentage (Assessment Coursework)		0.00

Normally resits will be assessed by the same methodology as the first attempt, unless otherwise stated

Exams

Exam type	Exam duration	% of formal assessment
Standard exam (closed essays, MCQs etc)	1 hr 30 mins	100.00
Total percentage (Assessment Exams)		100.00

Normally resits will be assessed by the same methodology as the first attempt, unless otherwise stated

Reading list

The reading list is available from the Library website

Last updated: 25/03/2014

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