Undergraduate Course: Field Ecology (ECSC08007)
Course Outline
| School | School of Geosciences |
College | College of Science and Engineering |
| Credit level (Normal year taken) | SCQF Level 8 (Year 2 Undergraduate) |
Availability | Not available to visiting students |
| SCQF Credits | 20 |
ECTS Credits | 10 |
| Summary | **** PLEASE NOTE THE COURSE FOR 2019/20 HAS NOW RUN AND NO MORE STUDENTS CAN BE ENROLLED ****
This 20-point level 8 course is compulsory for students of Ecological and Environmental Sciences, Ecology and Environmental Sciences with Management and Biological Sciences (Ecology). It consists of a field course plus and extended assessment. The field course takes place in May-June before the start of the academic year and the extended assessment is handed in during semester 1. The course is normally taken after the end of first year when it counts as a second year course.
Field course locations may change for a variety of reasons, including security risks, increased costs or inability to access field locations. Any changes to the main destination of the field course will be announced as soon as possible. |
| Course description |
At the end of this course you should have a broad knowledge of how to apply a range of routine professional techniques employed in the study of biological organisms and systems in the field. You will also gain detailed experience in methods of identification and classification. From these you should be able to:
-Recognise variation in structure of terrestrial plants and relate this knowledge to their classification and ecology
-Recognise variation in form within the insects, and the key features used in the classification of invertebrate classes and orders
-Understand the functional classification of aquatic invertebrates and use classification keys
-Identify common plant species, from lichens through to trees, in a variety of Scottish habitats
-Identify insects in the field to the level of order
-Make critical observations and take structured target notes in the field
-Design and analyse simple field experiments in ecology
In the project work you will be expected to exercise autonomy and initiative, and use a range of approaches to:
-Carry out routine lines of enquiry into professional level problems
-Design and analyse simple field measurements in ecology
-Critically evaluate evidence-based solutions to defined issues using primary data
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Entry Requirements (not applicable to Visiting Students)
| Pre-requisites |
|
Co-requisites | |
| Prohibited Combinations | |
Other requirements | None |
| Additional Costs | Approximately £25. Costs will be reviewed on a yearly basis and are subject to change. Please be aware that students who are taking this course as an elective will pay full price and not the subsidised fee advertised. |
Course Delivery Information
|
| Academic year 2019/20, Not available to visiting students (SS1)
|
Quota: 70 |
| Course Start |
Block 5 (Sem 2) and beyond |
Timetable |
Timetable |
| Learning and Teaching activities (Further Info) |
Total Hours:
200
(
Lecture Hours 9,
Dissertation/Project Supervision Hours 1,
Supervised Practical/Workshop/Studio Hours 29,
Fieldwork Hours 34,
Programme Level Learning and Teaching Hours 4,
Directed Learning and Independent Learning Hours
123 )
|
| Assessment (Further Info) |
Written Exam
0 %,
Coursework
100 %,
Practical Exam
0 %
|
| Additional Information (Assessment) |
Assessment comprises several short exercises completed during the field course (50%) and a project completed over the summer period and submitted for assessment during the second week of the first Semester (50%). Students must achieve a mark of at least 40% on the short exercises and project in order to pass the course. |
| Feedback |
Not entered |
| No Exam Information |
Learning Outcomes
On completion of this course, the student will be able to:
- Recognise variation in structure of terrestrial plants and relate this knowledge to their classification and ecology. Recognise variation in form within the insects, and the key features used in the classification of invertebrate classes and orders
- Understand the functional classification of aquatic invertebrates and use classification keys. Identify common plant species, from lichens through to trees, in a variety of Scottish habitats. Identify insects in the field to the level of order
- Design and analyse simple field experiments in ecology In the project work you will be expected to exercise autonomy and initiative, and use a range of approaches to:
- Carry out routine lines of enquiry into professional level problems. Design and analyse simple field measurements in ecology
- Critically evaluate evidence-based solutions to defined issues using primary data
|
Reading List
Useful texts
Mitchell, A. (1988) Trees of Britain and northern Europe. Collins, London.
Rackham, O. (1976) Trees and woodlands in the British landscape. Dent,
London.
Rodwell, J. (1991). British Plant Communities. Volume 1, Woodland and
scrub. Cambridge University Press, Cambridge.
Additional reading
Peterken, G.F. & Mountford, E.P. (1998) Long-term change in an unmanaged
population of wych elm subjected to Dutch elm disease. Journal of Ecology,
86, 205-218.
von Oheimb, G. & Brunet, J. (2007) Dalby Soderskog revisited: long-term
vegetation changes in a south Swedish deciduous forest. Acta Oecologia, 31,
229-242. |
Additional Information
| Graduate Attributes and Skills |
Not entered |
| Additional Class Delivery Information |
Field course (no class delivery during semester time) |
| Keywords | Field Ecology |
Contacts
| Course organiser | Dr Kyle Dexter
Tel: (0131 6)51 7065
Email: Kyle.Dexter@ed.ac.uk |
Course secretary | Mrs Nicola Clark
Tel: (0131 6)50 4842
Email: nicola.clark@ed.ac.uk |
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