BI1Z11: Community Ecology

Module Provider:

AMS

Number of credits:

10 [5 ECTS credits]

Level:

C (Certificate)

Terms in which taught:

Summer

Module Convenor:

Dr MDE Fellowes

Pre-requisites:

BI1M10

Co-requisites:

Modules excluded:

Module version for:

2006/7

Aims:
To provide the students with:
1. An understanding of how interactions among species influence the patterns seen in ecological communities.
2. The knowledge needed to relate ecological processes at the genetic, population and ecosystem level to community ecology.
3. An understanding of how the approaches used by community ecologists can be applied to pest management and conservation biology.

Assessable learning outcomes:
At the end of the module the student should be able to:
1. Describe the theoretical and empirical basis of community ecology.
2. Use the appropriate information technology resources to locate scientific information.
3. Design and carry out an ecological research project.
4. Identify insects to family using taxonomic keys and appropriate guides.

Additional outcomes:

Outline content:
In this unit, we will consider different types of interactions among species, and how an understanding of these interactions may help lead to a more scientifically based programme of conservation and pest management. Core topics include: herbivory, predation, parasitism, mutualisms, food web structure, biogeography, global climate change and other anthropogenic impacts on biodiversity.

Brief description of teaching and learning methods:
In the Summer term there will be two weeks of lectures and field based practical classes..

Contact hours:

Assessment:
Coursework:
Each student carries out assessed practicals in the Summer term.
Relative percentage of coursework: 30%
Examinations
Multiple-choice questions in the Summer tern examinations
Relative percentage of examinations: 70%
Requirements for a pass:
A mark of 40% overall.
Reassessment arrangements:
Re-examination in September only.