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BI2022: ECOLOGY (ONLINE) (2020-2021)

Last modified: 05 Aug 2021 13:04


Course Overview

Lecture recordings, set readings and structured activities will provide you with content and a framework to develop an understanding of ecological concepts and theory.

Case studies and detailed examples will illustrate the relevance of the ecological theory and concepts across a diversity of terrestrial and non-terrestrial systems, and across scales, from populations to communities to ecosystems.

Regular online assessments will provide you with feedback on your learning achievements and help you to structure your revision.

Structured writing activities will provide you with opportunities to apply your learning and to receive detailed feedback to help you develop essential writing and interpretation skills.

A final exam will give you the opportunity to demonstrate your competence across a range of ecological topics.

Course Details

Study Type Undergraduate Level 2
Session First Sub Session Credit Points 15 credits (7.5 ECTS credits)
Campus Aberdeen Sustained Study No
Co-ordinators
  • Dr Clare Trinder

What courses & programmes must have been taken before this course?

What other courses must be taken with this course?

None.

What courses cannot be taken with this course?

Are there a limited number of places available?

No

Course Description

In this course we will build on and develop introductory ecological ideas:

  • To provide a detailed study of the theoretical concepts of community ecology.
  • To develop and extend your knowledge of communities and ecosystems.
  • To look particularly at interactions between individuals in both plant and animal communities.
  • To look at interactions between individuals of the same species.
  • To investigate the structure and behaviour of ecosystems focusing on the flux of energy and matter.
  • To develop your writing skills.
  • To develop your ability to apply information and ideas to new systems.

The content reflects important topics in ecology, featuring the following themes:

  1. The nature and description of ecological communities - terrestrial and marine.
  2. Community dynamics (disturbance, succession, regeneration and species coexistence) - terrestrial and marine examples.
  3. Trophic interactions (food webs, herbivory, parasitism, predation etc).
  4. Mutualisms as case studies of community interactions: biological nitrogen fixation, mycorrhizas, cellular endo-symbionts.
  5. Biodiversity and ecosystem function.
  6. Community assembly and biogeography.
  7. Population dynamics
  8. Ecosystem processes

The content integrates these generic themes in a critical manner across different terrestrial and marine systems with the aim of developing a generic understanding of ecological processes. Topics typically include examples from each area, with a focus on similarities and differences between systems and an interrogative look at whether general rules apply in ecological systems within the context of environmental change, conservation and other contemporary relevant/associated themes that the students will expand on at later levels.

Associated Costs

DescriptionValue
(depends on student status; will be free for conditional offer holders; should be available to external candidates at typical fee cost; no additional costs); no additional costs to school. GBP 0.00

Details, including assessments, may be subject to change until 31 August 2023 for 1st half-session courses and 22 December 2023 for 2nd half-session courses.

Summative Assessments

Practical Write-ups

Assessment Type Summative Weighting 50
Assessment Weeks Feedback Weeks

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Feedback

These write-up are based on the specific exercise used in the practical; online, individual written feedback, supplemented with verbal feedback when required or requested.

Distributed evenly across the course duration, approx. every 2 weeks but may vary depending on the student’s pace and pattern of engagement.

Learning Outcomes
Knowledge LevelThinking SkillOutcome
ProceduralAnalyseApply ecological theory to structured problem-solving and experimental scenarios and demonstrate competence in manipulating, plotting and reporting on the outcomes of those tasks.

Exam

Assessment Type Summative Weighting 50
Assessment Weeks 19,20 Feedback Weeks 22

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Feedback

The exam is based on problem-solving and interpretation questions similar to those that are used in the formative writing exercises.

Learning Outcomes
Knowledge LevelThinking SkillOutcome
ConceptualApplyDemonstrate a capacity to interpret empirical or simulated data summarised in a written, graphical or tabular form and to relate the interpretation to ecological concepts and theory.
ConceptualUnderstandDemonstrate an understanding of a range of ecological concepts relevant to populations, communities and ecosystems.

Formative Assessment

There are no assessments for this course.

Resit Assessments

Resubmission of failed element

Assessment Type Summative Weighting
Assessment Weeks Feedback Weeks

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Feedback
Learning Outcomes
Knowledge LevelThinking SkillOutcome
Sorry, we don't have this information available just now. Please check the course guide on MyAberdeen or with the Course Coordinator

Course Learning Outcomes

Knowledge LevelThinking SkillOutcome
ConceptualApplyDemonstrate a capacity to interpret empirical or simulated data summarised in a written, graphical or tabular form and to relate the interpretation to ecological concepts and theory.
ConceptualUnderstandDemonstrate an understanding of a range of ecological concepts relevant to populations, communities and ecosystems.
ProceduralAnalyseApply ecological theory to structured problem-solving and experimental scenarios and demonstrate competence in manipulating, plotting and reporting on the outcomes of those tasks.

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