School of Life Sciences  
 
 
LSC-10033 Ecology and Environment  
Co-ordinator: Dr William Kirk    Room: Hux106, Tel:33517  
Teaching Team: Dr Sarah  Taylor  
Lecture Time: See Timetable...  
Level: 1 Credits: 15 Study Hours: 150  
School Office: Tel: 01782 734414
 
 
 
Programme/Approved Electives for
None
Available as a Free Standing Elective
No
Prerequisites
The same requirement as for entry to Principal Biology, Applied Environmemtal Science or Environmental Sustainability

Barred Combinations
None
Description

The module covers key aspects of ecology, environmental issues and conservation. The module will open with an ecology section concentrating on functioning of ecosystems and population dynamics to give students an understanding of the interactions that determine the distribution and abundance of organisms. Environmental issues such as biodiversity, sustainability, and habitat degradation will be discussed to demonstrate human-influenced threats to individual species and whole ecosystems. The role of conservation in protecting natural environments will be introduced with special reference to climate change. Case studies will bring all the threads of the module together. Practicals will include the study of nearby habitats.

Indicative content of lectures:
What is ecology? Distribution and abundance. Birth and death. Intra-specific competition. Inter-specific competition. How do species co-exist? Vegetation and primary production. Predators, grazing and disease. Decomposition. Communities and succession. Movement and metapopulations. Biodiversity. Sustainability. Habitat degradation. Conservation and climate change. Case study.

Indicative content of practicals and tutorials:
Formative assessment. Research for case studies. Population dynamics worksheets. Study of habitats on Keele campus. Identification of organisms and use of keys. Learning tutorial.
Aims
To provide an understanding of populations and communities, the ways in which they function and interact, the environmental problems they face and the ways conservation can be used to protect them.
Intended Learning Outcomes
Outline the ways in which populations and communities function and interact will be achieved by assessments: 1, 2, 3
Perform calculations involving simple population dynamics models will be achieved by assessments: 1
Evaluate basic theories and concepts in ecology and conservation will be achieved by assessments: 3
Describe the ecology and environmental issues of a specified ecosystem will be achieved by assessments: 1, 3
Study hours
18 1-hour lectures = 18 h
9 3-hour practicals = 27 h
2 1-hour tutorials = 2 h
Private study and assessment = 103 h
Description of Module Assessment
01: Multiple Choice Questions - Knowledge weighted 25%
A multiple choice exam covering lectures and practical work
About 60 multiple choice questions in about 60 minutes, covering lectures and practical work.
02: Individual Report weighted 25%
A structured report on field and laboratory work
A 1000-word structured report on the practical and laboratory work relating to an area of woodland in Keele woods. Students will fill in sections in a report template.
03: 2 Hour Unseen Exam weighted 50%
Unseen essays in a 2-hour examination
Two essays from a choice of five.
Version: (1.06B) Updated: 03/Oct/2013

This document is the definitive current source of information about this module and supersedes any other information.