2013/14 Undergraduate Module Catalogue

GEOG3885 Ecosystems of the Quaternary

20 creditsClass Size: 100

Module manager: Dr Ian Lawson
Email: i.t.lawson@leeds.ac.uk

Taught: Semesters 1 & 2 (Sep to Jun) View Timetable

Year running 2013/14

Pre-requisite qualifications

GEOG1055, GEOG2085 and GEOG2090 are recommended, and a background in physical geography or another science subject is essential.

This module is approved as an Elective

Module summary

The Quaternary period of Earth history, the focus of this module, spans the last 2.6 million years: the Ice Age. The Quaternary was a period of extreme climatic change, of the rise and fall of continental ice sheets, and of repeated collapse and reorganization of ecosystems. It also saw the evolution of perhaps the most important organism on the planet today: human beings.Investigating ecosystem changes on such long timescales requires special techniques, and a key aim of this module is to give you hands-on experience of arguably the most important palaeoecological technique, pollen analysis. The module moves on to discuss some of the key questions being tackled by palaeoecologists today:- How did modern ecosystems come into being? - How do plants and animals respond biogeographically to climate change?- What effect have Quaternary climate cycles had on the evolution of species and communities? - How did humans interact with ancient environments?- And, crucially, how can we apply this knowledge to managing ecosystems today?This module is suitable for geographers, ecologists, geologists, and others with an interest in the lessons we can learn by studying long-term changes in the environment.

Objectives

- To give students experience with key (palaeo-)ecological tools, with a focus on pollen analysis.
- To introduce students to the palaeoecological literature on selected topics, leading to a comprehensive understanding of the main scientific lessons from palaeoecology.
- To enhance students’ skills in interpreting, analysing and synthesizing scientific data.
- To enable students to apply palaeoecological knowledge to problems in environmental management, conservation and restoration.

Learning outcomes
On completing this module, students will have knowledge of the following topics:

- Pollen analysis and other palaeoecological tools, and their use in reconstructing past ecosystems and environments.
- Data handling and analysis tools relevant to palaeoecology (and other fields).
- Past ecosystem responses to climate change.
- The scope and nature of pre-industrial human interaction with the environment.
- The application of palaeoecological knowledge to environmental management, conservation and restoration.

Skills outcomes
Multi-proxy ecological data analysis
Palaeoecological interpretation
Palaeoecological report writing
Palaeoecological laboratory and field skills

Syllabus

Content may include:
- Introduction to Quaternary ecosystems
- Pollen analysis (including laboratory practicals and field excursion)
- Interpreting palaeoecological data
- Patterns and processes of Quaternary ecosystem change
- Human palaeoecology
- Human impacts on ancient environments
- Palaeoecology, conservation and management
- Case studies: e.g. Norse palaeoecology, tropical palaeoecology, Mediterranean palaeoecology and archaeology (topics may vary)

Teaching methods

Delivery type	Number	Length hours	Student hours
Fieldwork	1	8.00	8.00
Lecture	12	1.00	12.00
Practical	2	2.00	4.00
Seminar	8	2.00	16.00
Private study hours			160.00
Total Contact hours			40.00
Total hours (100hr per 10 credits)			200.00

Private study

Reading around each lecture: 12 x 7 hours
Seminar preparation: 8 x 2 hours
Data analysis group project: 20 hours
Data synthesis exercise: 20 hours
Human impacts/palaeoecology timed essay: 20 hours

Opportunities for Formative Feedback

Verbal feedback during practicals, field classes, seminars

Some seminars will result in marked work for formative feedback

Assessments will be staged along the module (data analysis report, end S1; synthesis project, mid S2; timed essay, end S2), with care taken to give feedback in both semesters and well before submission of the next piece coursework.

Methods of assessment

Coursework

Assessment type	Notes	% of formal assessment
Essay	Timed essay: title released ten days before deadline, 1500 words	30.00
Group Project	3000 words; groups of 3 (i.e. 1000 words each)	20.00
Literature Review	A data synthesis/review, 2500 words	50.00
Total percentage (Assessment Coursework)		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: 30/01/2014

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