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LSC-10111 - Module Specification
School of Life Sciences
Faculty of Natural Sciences

For academic year: 2025/26 Last Updated: 04 December 2025

LSC-10111 - Ecology
Coordinator: Ellie Harrison Room: 174
Lecture Time: See Timetable...
Level: Level 4
Credits: 30
Study Hours: 300
School Office: 01782 734414

Programme/Approved Electives for 2025/26

None

Available as a Free Standing Elective

No

Co-requisites

None

Prerequisites

None

Barred Combinations

None

Description for 2025/26

Commence an exhilarating journey into ecology, delving into organisms' habitats, interactions, and environmental dynamics. Learning about plants and organisms will give you an insight into the world around you. This foundational module introduces key ecological concepts, laying the groundwork for advanced studies in your degree programme. Engage in immersive fieldwork, enriching lectures, and hands-on workshops to deepen your understanding of the natural environment. Enhance your writing, fieldwork techniques, and ecological comprehension as you unravel nature's mysteries with us.

Aims
To introduce students to the principles of ecology in a range of habitats and through lectures, workshops and data analysis. Students will become competent in the identification of key taxa, with a focus on plants. Botanical concepts and relevant plant anatomy and physiology will also be explored. Students will be able to describe the abiotic and biotic characteristics of different habitats and explain some of their notable species interactions and threats to those habitats.

Intended Learning Outcomes

identify the key taxa of plants, fungi and invertebrates important in the habitats studied on the module: 1,3
describe the key structures of plants and discuss their functions and adaptations to various habitats: 3
explain the principles of ecological study and produce a research proposal to answer an ecological question: 2
describe the nature of symbioses and discuss their importance in a range of habitats: 1,3
define the key abiotic and biotic features of different habitats, the species interactions therein and summarise and identify some of the major threats to these: 1

Study hours

13 hours tutorials / workshops
24 hours (active learning - lectures).
18 hours field or lab work.

20 hours essay preparation
20 hours research proposal preparation
30 hours poster preparation.
174 hours independent study.

School Rules

The module is compulsory for SH Biology and Ecology and Conservation.

Description of Module Assessment

1: Essay weighted 30%
1000 word essay
Students will write a 1000 word essay on the characteristics, species interactions and threats to a habitat. Students will be able to pick a specific habitat type of interest.

2: Research Proposal weighted 30%
Ecological research proposal
Students will create a research proposal that aims to answer an ecological question. The research proposal will present the background context to the ecological question and will describe and justify the survey and data analysis methodologies chosen. The proposal word count is 1000 words.

3: Group Assessment weighted 40%
Poster presentation
An assessed group poster presentation based on data collected in the field and laboratory on a range of plant specimens. Students will work in groups if 4-5 to generate data, which they will then present in the form of a scientific poster, which will be presented and assessed during a conference event.

The University undertakes a continuous review of its teaching and research provision to ensure programmes are of a high quality and changes may be made to modules where it is necessary and reasonable to do so. Please be aware that minor changes to modules, such as a change to an individual assessment, can occur up until enrolment, although we endeavour to give you as much notice as possible of any changes. Details about the circumstance in which changes are made to programmes can be found in the Student Agreement, available at: https://www.keele.ac.uk/legalgovernancecompliance/governance/actcharterstatutesordinancesandregulations/studenttermsconditions/

Last Updated: 04 December 2025