Undergraduate Course: Ecological Measurement (ECSC09004)
Course Outline
| School | School of Geosciences |
College | College of Science and Engineering |
| Course type | Standard |
Availability | Not available to visiting students |
| Credit level (Normal year taken) | SCQF Level 9 (Year 3 Undergraduate) |
Credits | 20 |
| Home subject area | Ecological Science |
Other subject area | None |
| Course website |
None |
Taught in Gaelic? | No |
| Course description | This course is a compulsory component of the Degree Programme Tables for Ecological Science and for Biological Sciences (Ecology). It consists of a one week residential course in the University's Firbush Point outdoor pursuits centre on Loch Tay in the week before Freshers week followed by a one hour lecture per week through the First Semester. Students are required to contribute to the costs of the residential component. Due to the limited capacity of Firbush we regret that there will only be space for students registered for Ecological Science, or who intend registering for Biological Sciences (Ecology) and who have already taken the pre-requisite courses (Principles of Ecology, Field Biology). Students are required to contribute to the costs of the residential component. |
Entry Requirements (not applicable to Visiting Students)
| Pre-requisites |
|
Co-requisites | |
| Prohibited Combinations | |
Other requirements | None |
| Additional Costs | 180 pounds - towards accommodation costs during field work |
Course Delivery Information
|
| Delivery period: 2011/12 Semester 1, Not available to visiting students (SS1)
|
WebCT enabled: Yes |
Quota: None |
| Location |
Activity |
Description |
Weeks |
Monday |
Tuesday |
Wednesday |
Thursday |
Friday |
| King's Buildings | Lecture | Ecological Measurement | 1-11 | | | | 12:10 - 13:00 | |
| First Class |
Week 1, Thursday, 12:10 - 13:00, Zone: King's Buildings. Teaching Studio 1206, James Clerk Maxwell Building |
| Additional information |
56 hour(s) per week for 1 week(s). Firbush Field course:
Saturday 3 September - Friday 9 September 2011 |
| Exam Information |
| Exam Diet |
Paper Name |
Hours:Minutes |
|
|
| Main Exam Diet S1 (December) | Ecological Measurement | 2:00 | | |
Summary of Intended Learning Outcomes
At the end of the course students should have an integrated knowledge of the main aspects of ecological field measurements. Students should be able to:
-Interpret, use and evaluate data to achieve goals such as:
Organising data in spreadsheets
Summarising data in graphs
Manipulating data and applying statistical tests of significance
Understanding measurement error
Follow routine methods of enquiry, involving a selection of principal and a few specialised skills:
Measure trees, and estimate biomass of stands
Measure productivity of terrestrial and aquatic ecosystems
Design long-term monitoring of ecosystems
Collate environmental data in terrestrial and aquatic ecosystems
Measure canopy properties
Collect and interpret data on soils
Understand principles of calibration
Draw on a range of sources in making judgements
Work effectively on a group project |
Assessment Information
Coursework (50%)consisting of:
1. A Target Note from any one of the sites visited
2. A proposal for monitoring vegetation change
3. Analysis of project data
Examination (50%)
|
Special Arrangements
| None |
Additional Information
| Academic description |
Not entered |
| Syllabus |
Not entered |
| Transferable skills |
Not entered |
| Reading list |
Not entered |
| Study Abroad |
Not entered |
| Study Pattern |
Not entered |
| Keywords | Not entered |
Contacts
| Course organiser | Dr Mathew Williams
Tel: (0131 6)50 7776
Email: Mat.Williams@ed.ac.uk |
Course secretary | Mrs Helen Mckeating
Tel: (0131 6)50 5430
Email: Helen.McKeating@ed.ac.uk |
|
© Copyright 2011 The University of Edinburgh - 16 January 2012 5:55 am
|
University Homepage