Course Details in 2024/25 Session

Module Title	LI Critical Issues for 21st Century Ecosystems
School	School of Bioscience
Department	School of Biosciences
Module Code	03 30145
Module Lead	Nigel Maxted
Level	Intermediate Level
Credits	20
Semester	Semester 2
Pre-requisites	LC Ecological Concepts and Plant Sciences - (03 27806) LC Introduction to Evolution and Animal Biology - (03 22924)
Co-requisites
Restrictions	Maximum class size of 100
Contact Hours	Lecture-20 hours Seminar-3 hours Tutorial-2 hours Project supervision-4 hours Practical Classes and workshops-6 hours Guided independent study-165 hours Total: 200 hours
Exclusions
Description	Module Aim: To provide core skills in ecosystem knowledge and lead into for third year research led-modules. Module background: This module will provide a second-year module that bridges the generalised first year and research-focussed third year modules in ecology/conservation. It will provide you with an ecosystem approach which is truly dynamic in its content and delivery, reacting to issues of the ‘moment’. It is an opportunity for you to experience research-led teaching as the themes taught in the module are directly related to core College research themes. Module structure: The module would be structured around four semi-independent topics related to critical issues in biosystems/ecosystems that map onto expertise within both BIOS and GEES. The topics covered each year may include for example: Climate change, Food security, Pollution, Over-harvesting, Threatened ecosystems, Anthropomorphic ecosystems, Ecosystem valuation & conservation. Lectures will be based around case studies that promote skills training but not exam assessment. Practical/skills session: These will include off site visits and will allow you the opportunity to collect and analyse ecological data Mini-projects: Students will select one of the four topics and undertake the mini-project. Students will work in groups containing a deliberate mix of Bio and GEES students to get diversity of skills and perspectives.
Learning Outcomes	By the end of the module students should be able to: Explain key scientific, political and ethical issues associated with global and local ecosystem valuation, threats and maintenance. Design and organise experiments, collect, record, analyse and interpret data. Discuss strategies and techniques to sustain ecosystem services for humankind in the future. Present results orally and in written format suitable for a scientific paper or conference presentation, individually or as a group, so as to contribute to the existing scientific knowledge base.
Assessment	30145-01 : Continuous Assessment : Coursework (50%) 30145-03 : Main Exam : Exam (Centrally Timetabled) - Open Book (50%)
Assessment Methods & Exceptions	Assessment: Examination : 1:30 h Examination (50%); continuous assessment (50%): Summer assessment period Reassessment: Repeating failed components, module mark capped at the pass mark.
Other
Reading List