Undergraduate Course: Principles of Ecology (ECSC08006)
Course Outline
| School | School of Geosciences |
College | College of Science and Engineering |
| Credit level (Normal year taken) | SCQF Level 8 (Year 2 Undergraduate) |
Availability | Available to all students |
| SCQF Credits | 20 |
ECTS Credits | 10 |
| Summary | 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. |
| Course description |
Please see course Learn page for full syllabus
|
Information for Visiting Students
| Pre-requisites | None |
Course Delivery Information
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| Academic year 2014/15, Available to all students (SV1)
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Quota: 99 |
| Course Start |
Semester 1 |
Timetable |
Timetable |
| 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 )
|
| Assessment (Further Info) |
Written Exam
67 %,
Coursework
33 %,
Practical Exam
0 %
|
| Additional Information (Assessment) |
The exam in the December diet will cover the theoretical and statistical aspects of the course. The course work assessment takes the form of the field project report.
Both practical and exam have a minimum pass mark of 40%. An overall aggregate mark of 40% is required. |
| Feedback |
Not entered |
| 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 | |
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.
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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.
Ingrouille M. (1995). Historical Ecology of the British Flora. Chapman and Hall. |
Additional Information
| Graduate Attributes and Skills |
Not entered |
| Additional Class Delivery Information |
Lectures: Mon, Thur, Fri (weeks 1-11)
Practicals: Wed (weeks 1-9)
Presentations: Wed (week 10)
Statical Methods training will be taught via 6 lecturers and 3 three hour practicals. |
| 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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