Undergraduate Course: Principles of Ecology (ECSC08006)
Course Outline
| School | School of Geosciences |
College | College of Science and Engineering |
| Course type | Standard |
Availability | Available to all students |
| Credit level (Normal year taken) | SCQF Level 8 (Year 2 Undergraduate) |
Credits | 20 |
| Home subject area | Ecological Science |
Other subject area | Environmental Courses |
| Course website |
http://www.geos.ed.ac.uk/undergraduate/courses/ecology/IE9958/ |
Taught in Gaelic? | No |
| Course description | An introduction to the factors determining the distribution and patterns of abundance of organisms, and which relate plant and animal populations to their environment. It includes the physiological ecology of plants and animals, the life history strategies by which organisms adapt to their environments, and the ecological significance of genetic variability. The importance of evolutionary history for understanding patterns of distribution will also be emphasised. A practical project report must be submitted as part of the course. The course will include basic statistical methods training. |
Entry Requirements (not applicable to Visiting Students)
| Pre-requisites |
|
Co-requisites | |
| Prohibited Combinations | |
Other requirements | None |
| Additional Costs | None |
Information for Visiting Students
| Pre-requisites | None |
| Displayed in Visiting Students Prospectus? | Yes |
Course Delivery Information
|
| Delivery period: 2013/14 Semester 1, Available to all students (SV1)
|
Learn enabled: Yes |
Quota: None |
Web Timetable |
Web Timetable |
| Class Delivery Information |
Lectures: Mon, Thur, Fri (weeks 1-11)
Practicals: Mon (weeks 1-9)
Presentations: Mon (week 10)
Statical Methods training will be taught via 6 lecturers and 3 three hour practicals. |
| Course Start Date |
16/09/2013 |
| Breakdown of Learning and Teaching activities (Further Info) |
Total Hours:
200
(
Lecture Hours 25,
Dissertation/Project Supervision Hours 20,
Supervised Practical/Workshop/Studio Hours 15,
Fieldwork Hours 15,
Feedback/Feedforward Hours 3,
Formative Assessment Hours 2,
Summative Assessment Hours 2,
Revision Session Hours 2,
Programme Level Learning and Teaching Hours 4,
Directed Learning and Independent Learning Hours
112 )
|
| Additional Notes |
|
| Breakdown of Assessment Methods (Further Info) |
Written Exam
67 %,
Coursework
33 %,
Practical Exam
0 %
|
| Exam Information |
| Exam Diet |
Paper Name |
Hours:Minutes |
|
|
| Main Exam Diet S1 (December) | Principles of Ecology | 2:00 | | | | Resit Exam Diet (August) | Principles of Ecology | 2:00 | | |
Summary of Intended Learning Outcomes
Students will develop a broad knowledge of the defining principles of ecology and will gain an understanding of the factors controlling the abundance and distribution of organisms globally. Students will be familiarised with the ecological theory explaining patterns of spatial and temporal variations in species numbers. Students will learn how to carry out a scientific research project related to an ecological question: they will learn how to formulate clear, precise and potentially answerable questions; to collect unbiased data; and to test hypothesese. The practical project will assess students' ability to use a range of techniques and to undertake critical analysis of mainstream concepts within Ecological Science.
|
Assessment Information
| The course will be marked as 1/3 practical + 2/3 exam. Both practical and exam have a minimum pass mark of 40%. An overall aggregate mark of 40% is required. |
Special Arrangements
| None |
Additional Information
| Academic description |
Not entered |
| Syllabus |
Not entered |
| Transferable skills |
Not entered |
| Reading list |
The following are generally useful as sources of first reference on many topics. They cost £20-35 each.
Begon, M., Townsend, C. R. & Harper, J. L. (2006). Ecology (4th edn). Blackwell Science, Oxford. (The recommended text for this course)
Townsend, C.R., Begon, M. and Harper, J.L. (2006). Essentials of Ecology (2nd Edition). Blackwell Publishing. (Highly recommended).
Colinvaux, P. (1993). Ecology 2. Wiley, New York. (Readable and very good on some aspects)
Krebs, C. J. (1994 & 2001). Ecology. (4th & 5th edns). Harper Collins, New York. (Good on animal populations)
Ricklefs, R. E. & Miller, G. L. (1999). Ecology. (4th edn). Freeman, New York. |
| Study Abroad |
Not entered |
| Study Pattern |
Not entered |
| Keywords | Principles of Ecology |
Contacts
| Course organiser | Dr Gail Jackson
Tel: (0131 6)50 5436
Email: G.Jackson@ed.ac.uk |
Course secretary | Ms Meredith Corey
Tel: (0131 6)50 5430
Email: meredith.corey@ed.ac.uk |
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