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Ecology of animals, plants & microbes - BIO00053I

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  • Department: Biology
  • Module co-ordinator: Dr. Kelly Redeker
  • Credit value: 20 credits
  • Credit level: I
  • Academic year of delivery: 2022-23

Module summary

This module will explore, through lectures, practicals (lab and field) and workshops the various pressures organisms experience and the range of behavioural and functional approaches they take to address these pressures.

Module will run

Occurrence Teaching period
A Autumn Term 2022-23 to Summer Term 2022-23

Module aims

This module will explore, through lectures, practicals (lab and field) and workshops the various pressures organisms experience and the range of behavioural and functional approaches they take to address these pressures. The module aims to give students a firm understanding of the key, common processes that organisms use and an appreciation for the diversity of functional approaches as well. We will be exploring organisms individually, within species-specific groups, within communities, within ecosystems and within their broader environment.

The module consists of three main sections, i) how organisms respond and interact with their environment, ii) how organisms respond and interact with each other and iii) how ecosystems and biodiversity develops across Earth.

Module learning outcomes

  1. Describe the processes by which individuals respond to their physical, chemical and ecological environment
  2. Describe the mechanisms by which populations respond to and affect local environmental/ecological pressures and how these communities move material/energy in time and space.
  3. Describe the global and local processes that determine environmental conditions at the local level
  4. Synthesize ideas from across the module to understand the complexities and interactions throughout individual ecosystems
  5. Acquire, analyze, interpret and present experimental data
  6. Develop a functional algorithm to study an ecological question

Module content

This module builds on material taught in Animal and Plant Biology, and Microbiology, in stage 1. Content uses microbes, plants and animals to consider how individuals and populations respond to their environments and each other, at local, and global scales, including population growth, competition, movement and behaviour.

Stage 3 modules that this module supports include Current Topics in Ecology, Conserving Biodiversity in the Anthropocene, the Ecology field course, and Advanced Topics in Biotechnology.

Assessment

Task Length % of module mark
Essay/coursework
2000 word report		 N/A 40
Online Exam -less than 24hrs (Centrally scheduled)
Ecology of Animals, Plants & Microbes		 6 hours 60

Special assessment rules

None

Reassessment

Task Length % of module mark
Essay/coursework
2000 word report		 N/A 40
Online Exam -less than 24hrs (Centrally scheduled)
Ecology of Animals, Plants & Microbes		 6 hours 60

Module feedback

Cohort-level feedback will be provided on performance in closed exams and made available via the VLE. Marks for open assessments will be made available to you and your supervisor via e:vision. Individual comments will be added to your script and/or on separate summary feedback document. Histograms of module marks will be posted on the notice boards outside the Biology Student Services office. Individual marks will be made available to you and your supervisor via e:vision. Exam scripts will be made available at the end of either the Spring or Summer terms. You should take the opportunity to discuss your marks and feedback with your supervisor.

During the teaching of the module you will receive feedback that may be at a whole class or individual level. Forms of feedback may include: model answers and discussion of workshop questions, summaries of performance in practicals, VLE-based quizzes, individual spoken comments during workshops, individual written comments on formative work.

Indicative reading

These are accessible through the VLE module site.


The information on this page is indicative of the module that is currently on offer. The University is constantly exploring ways to enhance and improve its degree programmes and therefore reserves the right to make variations to the content and method of delivery of modules, and to discontinue modules, if such action is reasonably considered to be necessary by the University. Where appropriate, the University will notify and consult with affected students in advance about any changes that are required in line with the University's policy on the Approval of Modifications to Existing Taught Programmes of Study.