2017/18 Undergraduate Module Catalogue

BLGY3133 Advanced Topics in Ecology

20 creditsClass Size: 100

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

Taught: Semester 1 (Sep to Jan) View Timetable

Year running 2017/18

Pre-requisites

BLGY2144

Population and Community Ecology

Module replaces

BLGY 3130

This module is not approved as a discovery module

Module summary

This module will cover recent developments in ecological research. The module will consist of subunits, each taught by a researcher intimately involved with the research developments being discussed. As such, it will provide students not only with detailed understanding of key recent developments in ecology, but also with insights into the process of scientific research.

Objectives

On completion of this module, students should be familiar with a subset of current research topics in ecology, as taught by those active in the research. This will complement final year project work in emphasising the process of scientific research, the growth of ecological knowledge and the substantial gaps that still remain to be explored.

Students will have developed appreciation of recent developments in key areas of current ecological research. This will both provide direct content-specific learning as well as providing insight into the process of scientific research and the development of knowledge.

Learning outcomes
Students will have developed appreciation of recent developments in key areas of current ecological research together with an appreciation of the skills required to pursue this research and present its conclusions.

Skills outcomes
Students will develop presentation and practical skills in the context of current ecological research.

Syllabus

The module will consist of a number of subunits, each equivalent to 5 credits worth of work. Each student will choose 4 topics with reference to their programme specialisation, subject interests and career intentions. The topics offered will reflect current research developments in ecology and environmental biology and exploit the current collective expertise of academic and research staff in this field.

In each topic lecturers will present current thinking and research findings, referring students to the research literature. Students will be required to read the up to date research literature to advance their knowledge beyond the material presented in the lectures.

Teaching methods

Delivery type	Number	Length hours	Student hours
Lecture	16	1.00	16.00
Practical	1	3.00	3.00
Seminar	10	1.00	10.00
Private study hours			171.00
Total Contact hours			29.00
Total hours (100hr per 10 credits)			200.00

Private study

Each 5 credit sub-unit has a total weight of 50 hours student effort; 9 hours contact and 41 hours private study.

The recommended allocation of the private study hours for each sub-unit will be given to students in the module manual.

Private study will include:
- preparation for lectures, seminars and practicals;
- preparation of assessed coursework;
- reading of current research literature.

Opportunities for Formative Feedback

- Attendance at lectures, seminars and practicals
- Participation in classroom discussions.

Methods of assessment

Coursework

Assessment type	Notes	% of formal assessment
Essay	individual essay 3,000 words	60.00
Presentation	Group presentation (research topic)	20.00
Group Project	Written news & views article - 1,000 words	20.00
Total percentage (Assessment Coursework)		100.00

Failure to submit any assessment or make a serious attempt will result in a V code being appended to the final module mark.

Reading list

The reading list is available from the Library website

Last updated: 04/04/2017

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