production
Skip to Content

PL5303: ECOSYSTEM PROCESSES (2017-2018)

Last modified: 27 Feb 2018 11:39


Course Overview

Terrestrial ecosystems play a pivotal role in modulating the fluxes of energy and matter at the Earth’s surface, including the cycling of carbon, nutrients and greenhouse gases. Understanding the structure and function of terrestrial ecosystems is critical for understanding environmental challenges such as global warming, biodiversity loss, sustainable development and pollution. This course develops principles of systems ecology and biogeochemistry, focusing on the fundamental role played by living things in regulating key ecosystem processes such as carbon cycling, nutrient dynamics, trophic transfers, and land-atmosphere exchange of greenhouse gases.

Course Details

Study Type Postgraduate Level 5
Session First Sub Session Credit Points 15 credits (7.5 ECTS credits)
Campus None. Sustained Study No
Co-ordinators
  • Dr Yit Arn Teh

Qualification Prerequisites

None.

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

  • One of MRes Environmental Science or MRes Soil Science or Master Of Science In Environmental And Forest Management or MSc Soil Science or MSci Biological Sciences
  • Either Any Postgraduate Programme (Studied) or BI4015 Grant Proposal (Passed)

What other courses must be taken with this course?

None.

What courses cannot be taken with this course?

  • PL3304 Ecosystem Processes (Studied)

Are there a limited number of places available?

No

Course Description

This course will develop the fundamental principles of ecosystem ecology and biogeochemistry, to further develop the students’ understanding of how the principles of systems ecology can be applied to understand the structure and function of both natural and managed ecosystems. Key topics include: primary production (the carbon cycle, photosynthesis, plant growth and allocation patterns, plant ecophysiology); soil microbiology & organic matter dynamics (decomposer organisms, soil respiration, decomposition pathways, plant-microbe interactions); nutrient cycling (nutrient acquisition by plants, nutrient dynamics in soil, the nitrogen cycle); and ecosystem sustainability (human impacts, feedback effects). The course is structured according to an inverted or “flipped” classroom format, with lecture content delivered via video. In-class time will consist of active learning activities, including literature analysis and critique, conceptual problem-solving exercises, quantitative numerical assignments, and laboratory practicals.

Associated Costs

None

Further Information & Notes

 This course runs concurrently with PL3304.


Contact Teaching Time

Information on contact teaching time is available from the course guide.

Teaching Breakdown

More Information about Week Numbers


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

This course consists of 100 % continuous assessment. 1st attempt: (i) written assignment (literature critique; 40 %), (ii) practical assignment (35 %), and (iii) a group executive report (oral presentation; 25 %).

Resit: Similar to 1st attempt, with continuous assessment mark(s) carried forward with an opportunity to resit the component which was failed in the first attempt.

Formative Assessment

Formative assessment forms a core component of the course as a means of developing key subject-specific and generic (i.e. transferable) skills. These include a range of activities, including structured small group exercises and individual numerical assignments.

Feedback

Each student or group will receive feedback and a mark for each formative and summative assessment. Feedback will be provided in either oral or written form for formative assessments, depending on the nature of the exercise. Written feedback will be provided for summative assessments. Students who are identified as having difficulty in successfully completing the coursework assessment tasks or participating small group exercises will be invited to meet the course coordinator to identify difficulties and discuss solutions.

Course Learning Outcomes

None.

Compatibility Mode

We have detected that you are have compatibility mode enabled or are using an old version of Internet Explorer. You either need to switch off compatibility mode for this site or upgrade your browser.