Ecology and Conservation

EART25001 Ecology and Conservation 10 Semester 1 Undergraduate Level 5 Cecilia Medupin Unit coordinator 1 FHEQ level (Framework for Higher Education Qualifications) ' Middle part of Bachelors ' European Credit Transfer & Accumulation System Rating : 5.0 With increased population, human activities and other natural impacts e.g. climate change transforming the environment, it is important to understand the factors (biotic and abiotic) that determine the abundance and distribution of species and their interactions in their environment.  Ecology and conservation (EART25001) serves as a core component of environmental sciences and organismal biology that is essential to the development of environmental biology and provides core training in ecology to students of environmental sciences, as well as biology, zoology and plant sciences, complementing and providing a conceptual framework to teaching in field modules. This course covers a range of topics in ecology and introduces case studies, which employ ecological principles to address global challenges such as biodiversity loss and, water pollution. Furthermore, the course will explore major ecological theories that underlie our understanding of the living world at different scales in space and time, and how ecological knowledge is used to make informed decisions on biodiversity conservation and ecosystem service management. The course will examine how individuals adapt to their local environment and to recognise the fundamental trade-offs that restrain individual’s ability to thrive in all possible environments. Students will discover how communities and ecosystems are formed and change over time and how species interactions within and across trophic levels determine the levels of biodiversity in given ecosystems. The importance of landscape features and history for the maintenance of biodiversity at larger spatial and temporal scales will be explored and discussed in the context of conservation. Students will learn how biodiversity patterns vary at global scale; explain how this knowledge can be used in prioritising global conservation efforts. With increased population, human activities and other natural impacts e.g. climate change transforming the environment, it is important to understand the factors (biotic and abiotic) that determine the abundance and distribution of species and their interactions in their environment.  Ecology and conservation (EART25001) serves as a core component of environmental sciences and organismal biology that is essential to the development of environmental biology and provides core training in ecology to students of environmental sciences, as well as biology, zoology and plant sciences, complementing and providing a conceptual framework to teaching in field modules. This course covers a range of topics in ecology and introduces case studies, which employ ecological principles to address global challenges such as biodiversity loss and, water pollution. Furthermore, the course will explore major ecological theories that underlie our understanding of the living world at different scales in space and time, and how ecological knowledge is used to make informed decisions on biodiversity conservation and ecosystem service management. The course will examine how individuals adapt to their local environment and to recognise the fundamental trade-offs that restrain individual’s ability to thrive in all possible environments. Students will discover how communities and ecosystems are formed and change over time and how species interactions within and across trophic levels determine the levels of biodiversity in given ecosystems. The importance of landscape features and history for the maintenance of biodiversity at larger spatial and temporal scales will be explored and discussed in the context of conservation. Students will learn how biodiversity patterns vary at global scale; explain how this knowledge can be used in prioritising global conservation efforts.   i) Develop students’ understanding of ecology as a core component of environmental science and organismal biology.  ii) To provide students with an overview of key ecological processes that underlie biodiversity patterns and dynamics at local, regional and global scales.iii) To explore the role of biodiversity in ecosystem functioning and the delivery of ecosystem services and consider why it should be preserved.iv) Identify current threats to biodiversity and how ecological principles can guide conservation strategies.    <figure class="table"><table border="1" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0"><tbody><tr><td>Category of outcome</td><td style="width:495px;" colspan="2">On the successful completion of the course, students will be able to:</td></tr><tr><td rowspan="3">Knowledge and understanding</td><td style="height:41px;width:63px;">ILO 1</td><td style="height:41px;width:432px;">Describe the ecological features of diverse ecosystems in view of conservation</td></tr><tr><td style="height:52px;width:63px;">ILO 2</td><td style="height:52px;width:432px;">Identify and explain the components of the ecosystems and the approaches to use to assess and predict the components on key ecosystems</td></tr><tr><td> </td><td>Explain the interactions that shape community structure (resource competition, predation and herbivory, parasitism, mutualism/commensalism) that determine distribution and abundance of organisms in view of conservation.Describe the methods and approaches used in the assessment and prediction (modelling) of population and community interactions and ecosystem change.Examine key concepts from in-depth understanding of real-life context using case studies.</td></tr><tr><td rowspan="3">Intellectual skills</td><td style="height:59px;width:63px;">ILO 3</td><td style="height:59px;width:432px;">Identify the major threats to ecological conservation</td></tr><tr><td style="height:55px;width:63px;">ILO 4</td><td style="height:55px;width:432px;">Propose potential conservation and management strategies to the threats identified.</td></tr><tr><td> </td><td>Justify the importance of descriptive, functional and evolutionary approaches in understanding how organisms interact with the biotic and abiotic environments.</td></tr><tr><td>Transferable skills and personal qualities</td><td> </td><td>Work independently.Develop analytical and problem-solving skills through eLearning tests on Canva.Communication (oral/written): Students are encouraged to ask and answer questions during lectures and, provide written answers during exams.</td></tr></tbody></table></figure>  <div>22-hour new lectures and case studies– 22 hours New material outside lectures- 3 hoursDirected reading/consolidated learning e.g. a scientific paper related to taught content, through referral to online materials on Blackboard -50 hoursFormative assessment– 20hours Scheduled activity Lectures and summative assessment – 25 hoursIndependent studies – 75 hours</div>  1 Written exam 80% 9 Set exercise 20% <figure class="table"><table border="1" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" width="0"><tbody><tr><td style="height:9px;width:103px;">Assessment type</td><td style="height:9px;width:66px;">% Weighting within unit</td><td style="height:9px;width:104px;">Hand out and hand in dates</td><td style="height:9px;width:104px;">Length </td><td style="height:9px;width:170px;">How, when and what feedback is provided</td><td style="height:9px;width:96px;">ILO tested</td></tr><tr><td style="height:10px;width:103px;">Formative</td><td style="height:10px;width:66px;">NA</td><td style="height:10px;width:104px;">NA</td><td style="height:10px;width:104px;">N/A</td><td style="height:10px;width:170px;">Real time, during lectures, discussion</td><td style="height:10px;width:96px;">1-4</td></tr><tr><td style="height:145px;width:103px;">Online test</td><td style="height:145px;width:66px;">20%</td><td style="height:145px;width:104px;">Elearning questions will be available after the last lecture. It consists of a single online MCQ/multiple answer tests </td><td style="height:145px;width:104px;">1 hour - test open for a month.</td><td style="height:145px;width:170px;">Each question will have a written feedback (for both correct and incorrect answers) and this will be made available after the deadline.</td><td style="height:145px;width:96px;">1-4</td></tr><tr><td style="height:14px;width:103px;">Closed book, in person exam</td><td style="height:14px;width:66px;">80%</td><td style="height:14px;width:104px;">The assessment will take place in the January period.</td><td style="height:14px;width:104px;">Written examination consisting of multiple choice and essay type questions.</td><td style="height:14px;width:170px;">Feedback will be provided on students’ submissions.  </td><td style="height:14px;width:96px;">1-4</td></tr></tbody></table></figure>  BIOL10511 Biodiversity Pre-Requisite Optional EART10602 Introduction to Ecology Pre-Requisite Optional EART11100 Understanding the Earth Pre-Requisite Optional EART11200 The Natural Scientist's Toolkit Pre-Requisite Optional   <table border="1" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0"> <tbody> <tr> <td style="width: 437px"> Either of these courses:1st year Understanding the Earth EART 11100/11200 1st year BIOL10511 Biodiversity1st year EART 10602 Introduction to Ecology</td> </tr> </tbody> </table>   BSc (Hons) Earth and Plan Scie BSc (Hons) Earth (Planet Sci) Second Year Optional BSc (Hons) Earth and Plan Scie BSc(Hons)Earth&Plan Sci-Palaeo Second Year Mandatory MEarthSci (Hons) Ea and Pl Sci MEarthSci (Hons) Earth (Plane) Second Year Optional MEarthSci (Hons) Ea and Pl Sci MEarthSci (Hons) Earth (Palae) Second Year Mandatory BSc (Hons) Ea and Pl Sc Abroad BSc (Hons) Ea and Pl Sc Abroad Second Year Optional BSc (Hons) Ea and Pl Sc Abroad BSc (Hons) EPS Yr Abroad (Pal) Second Year Mandatory MEarthSci (Hons) Earth Abroad MEarthSci EPS Abroad (PS) Second Year Optional MEarthSci (Hons) Earth Abroad MEarthSci EPS Yr Abroad (Pala) Second Year Mandatory BSc (Hons) Environmental Sci BSc (Hons) Envir Science (PEP) Second Year Mandatory BSc (Hons) Environmental Sci BSc (Hons) Env Science (EECB) Second Year Mandatory BSc (Hons) Environmental Sci BSc(Hons) Envir Science (ACS) Second Year Optional BSc (Hons) Env Sci with Indust BSc Env Sci Yr Industry (SCB) Second Year Mandatory BSc (Hons) Env Sci with Indust BSc Env Sci Yr Industry (AS) Second Year Optional MEnvSci Environmental Science MEnvSci Environ Science (EECB) Second Year Mandatory MEnvSci Environmental Science MEnvSci Environ Science (ACS) Second Year Optional MEnvSci Env Sci with Ind Exp MEnvSci Env Sci with IE (EECB) Second Year Mandatory MEnvSci Env Sci with Ind Exp MEnvSci Env Sci with IE (ACS) Second Year Optional MEnvSci Env Sci with Int Study MEnvSci Env Sci with IS (EECB) Second Year Mandatory MEnvSci Env Sci with Int Study MEnvSci Env Sci with IS (ACS) Second Year Optional MEarthSci (Hons) EPS with Res MEaSc (H) EPS (Plan Sci) w Res Second Year Optional MEarthSci (Hons) EPS with Res MEaSc (H) EPS (Paleo) with Res Second Year Mandatory MEnvSci (Hons) Env Sci w Resea MEnSc (H) Env Sci (PEP) w Res Second Year Mandatory MEnvSci (Hons) Env Sci w Resea MEnSc (H) Env Sci w RP (ACS) Second Year Optional MEnvSci (Hons) Env Sci w Resea MEnSc (H) En Sc (EECB) with RP Second Year Mandatory N Begon, M., Howarth, R. W & Townsend, C. R. (2014) Essentials of Ecology Wiley, Publishers, 4th Edition EBOOK ISBN: 9781118802373 ; PRINT ISBN9780470909133 https://ebookcentral.proquest.com/lib/manchester/detail.action?docID=5202197Cardinale, B., Murdoch, J and Primack, R, B (2019). Conservation Biology Publisher Sinauer Associates; Print ISBN: 9781605357140, 1605357146; eText ISBN: 9781605358826, 1605358827Sigee, D (2004), Freshwater Environments: the influence of physico-chemical conditions on microbial communities Aquatic Microbiology. Wiley, ISBN 0-471-48529-2 https://ebookcentral.proquest.com/lib/manchester/detail.action?docID=239461&query=sigeeBardgett, R.D. (2005) The Biology of Soil: A Community and Ecosystem Approach. Oxford University PressCox CB, Moore PD, Ladle R. (2016) Biogeography: an ecological and evolutionary approach. John Wiley & Sons. http://lib.myilibrary.com/ Lectures 25 0 75 <table border="1" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" width="0"> <tbody> <tr> <td style="width:204px;height:20px;">Contact hours</td> <td style="width:436px;height:20px;"> 22 x 1 hour lectures – 22 hours </td> </tr> <tr> <td style="width:204px;">Other Scheduled teaching and learning activities*</td> <td style="width:436px;">Online learning activities, self-directed learning and formative assessment</td> </tr> </tbody></table>