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• Undergraduate study:
• Courses
• Order a prospectus
• How to apply
• Information for applicants
• Why choose Kingston University
• Disability and mental health support
• Accommodation
• Undergraduate fees
• Fees, funding and payments
• Access, participation and inclusion

Ecology and conservation

• Module code: GG5180
• Year: 2018/9
• Level: 5
• Credits: 30
• Pre-requisites: None
• Co-requisites: None

Summary

This is a core module for the Environmental Science course and builds upon the foundation of Level 4 GG4080 Introduction to Physical Geography and Environmental Hazards. Ecological concepts are explained using a hierarchical approach: population, community and ecosystem levels of ecology are explored, highlighting the interactions between humans and nature. A research-led approach is used to emphasise the models by which ecologists attempt to explain complex biological systems. Current issues in biodiversity and conservation are explored through a lecture and seminar programme. The lectures are supported through fieldwork and field-based investigations. Core knowledge is provided with keynote lectures used to explain concepts. The fieldwork elements are designed to develop observing, recording, data analysis, data interpretation and presentation skills. The module provides a bridge to students wishing to develop their ecological knowledge and skills at Level 6, in particular GG6400 Research Project and GG6140 GIS: Transforming Geography and the Environment.

Aims

• To enhance understanding of the principles governing the structure and function of communities and ecosystems.
• To develop understanding of the processes causing biotic change.
• To examine the application of biodiversity conservation at local, regional, national and international scales.
• To show how this knowledge may be applied through fieldwork and field-based investigations.

Learning outcomes

On successful completion of the module, students will be able to:

• Describe the models used to explain fundamental ecological processes that govern populations, communities and ecosystems.
• Critically discuss the mechanisms that lead to change in ecological systems.
• Critically discuss contemporary biodiversity and conservation issues.
• Apply field observational and recording skills and to be able to interpret ecological data in the context of appropriate ecological theory and discuss its implications for the conservation of environments.

Curriculum content

• Introduction -Review of ecological concepts and models.
• Community ecology - Vegetation dynamics and change in plant community structure and diversity as a consequence of natural and human disturbance.
• Population ecology - modelling populations with unstructured and structured equations; deterministic and stochastic population models; applications in the management of populations.
• Population Conservation, Population Viability Analysis (PVA) extinction risks; quasi-extinction risks; minimum viable population; deterministic PVA, stochastic PVA, spatially explicit individual based models for PVA.
• Behavioural ecology - the ecology of foraging; optimal foraging theory; games theory; female strategy and mate choice; mating systems, parental investments and sexual conflict.
• Biodiversity Conservation - species richness; diversity metrics; alpha, beta and gamma diversity; Shannon diversity; Simpson diversity; accumulation and rarefaction curves; functional trait diversity; modelling trait diversity; species distribution models.
• Conservation approaches: Ecosystem Service (ES) - supporting, provisioning, cultural regulating ES; Payments of ES (PES).

Teaching and learning strategy

The module will comprise a series of lectures, workshops and fieldwork. The seminars will provide an opportunity to reflect and blend on the acquired knowledge and consider the application of this knowledge to the assessments. Key concepts about ecological theory will be introduced in lectures, which will explore fundamental ecological themes ranging from population demography to community interactions to ecosystem and landscape processes. An explicit link will also be made between practical, conservation initiatives and ecological theory through the fieldwork programme, highlighting how theory informs practice. Staff-led group fieldwork will provide experience of data collection methods and approaches for measuring biodiversity and will set the scene for an assessment (the Fieldwork Report) detailing site specific practical conservation measures. Preparation for the fieldwork will be supported through dialogic feedback in the seminar sessions that provide the students with an opportunity to discuss themes and plan their site investigation. Canvas discussion boards will also be used to provide a platform for debate and interaction on a variety of ecological themes that will be investigated. A final test of students' understanding of key module concepts will be assessed with the written exam. The module will develop a range of employability skills, both discipline-based by identifying applications of ecological knowledge in the environmental workplace and though transferable skills developed in the assessments (e.g. environmental communication skills). These include specific skills such as ecological assessment and data interpretation, and broader skills including teamwork and oral and written communication (e.g. though assessment for learning).

Canvas VLE will be used to support all aspects of learning and teaching, providing a platform for articulating the module syllabus, assessment and feedback, archiving module-related resources (e.g. specific reading materials) and a digital discussion platform.

Breakdown of Teaching and Learning Hours

Assessment strategy

Summative assessments consist of

(A) Seen Written Exam (50%, 2.5 hours) will be in essay format to test breadth of knowledge and critical thinking.

(B) Fieldwork Assignment (50%, 4000 words) will assess ability to collect, analyse and interpret ecological data and discuss their implications for conservation of environments.

Formative assessment includes:

(C) In-class Quizzes that will assess students' ability to recall key information and feed directly into the Written Exam. The feedback from these quizzes will inform summative assessments A and B

(D) Fieldwork Planning Review that will assess the preparedness for the field-based enquiry and support pre-fieldwork preparation

Mapping of Learning Outcomes to Assessment Strategy (Indicative)

Elements of Assessment

Achieving a pass

It IS NOT a requirement that any major element of assessment is passed separately in order to achieve an overall pass for the module.

Bibliography core texts

Begon M, Howarth RW and Townsend CR (2014) Essential of Ecology, 4^th Edition, Blackwell Publishing, Oxford.

Begon M, Townsend CR and Harper JL (2006) Ecology: From Individuals to Ecosystems, 4th edition, Blackwell, Oxford.

Bibliography recommended reading

Gaston KJ (1996) Biodiversity: A Biology of Numbers and Difference. Oxford, Blackwell.

Gaston KJ and Spicer JI (2004) Biodiversity: an introduction. 2^nd Edition. Oxford, Blackwell.

Groom MJ, Meffe GK and Carroll, CR (2012) Principles of Conservation Biology, 3^rd Edition, Sinauer, USA.

Hubbell SP (2001) The unified neutral theory of biodiversity and biogeography. Princeton

University Press, Princeton, USA.

Magurran A (2004) Measuring Biological Diversity. Blackwell.

Rackham O (1986) History of the British Countryside.  London, Dent.