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Biodiversity, Ecology & Ecosystems - BIO00060M

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  • Department: Biology
  • Module co-ordinator: Dr. Kelly Redeker
  • Credit value: 20 credits
  • Credit level: M
  • Academic year of delivery: 2021-22

Module summary

The module will consist of a series of 18 lectures given by academics / practitioners on the subject content which will be divided up into 4 blocks: Crop diversity, incl. wild relatives; Soil biodiversity and nutrient cycling; biodiversity surrounding crop systems, e.g. hedgerows and other native vegetation; agriculture and ecosystem function. There will also be the opportunity to make 2 visits to farms (link to N8) sites. 2 tutorials will take place towards the end of the module which will allow students to get formative feedback on draft versions of their reports.

Module will run

Occurrence Teaching period
A Spring Term 2021-22

Module aims

  • To provide core knowledge and understanding in the area of Agricultural biodiversity & ecosystem function to students registered for the MSc in Biodiversity, Ecology and Ecosystems..

  • Teaching will be delivered that enable students to appreciate the how the biodiversity in and around agricultural systems may be measured and managed, and to understand the effects of this on ecosystem level functions such as carbon storage, flooding and other land management issues, nutrient cycling, and crop yields.

  • Students will explore topic areas of interest and produce a case report about a particular area: what the problem is, how research has allowed the problem to be addressed, and the scope for future developments in the area. The expectation is that students will be able to display an appreciation of the Biology underpinning an outcome relevant to agricultural management or productivity, and to put this into the context of decision making at the farm scale.

Module learning outcomes

  • Understand crop breeding processes and how these are used to a) incorporate genetic diversity from wild relatives into modern elite varieties, and b) develop and improve new resilient crops from currently unimproved crop species.

  • Understand the major nutrient cycles in cropping systems, and their relevance to crop yields.

  • Understand how microbial processing drives these cycles, and community structure and function data from modern “‘omics” technologies.

  • Understand the diversity and importance of terrestrial habitats surrounding cropping systems, to include temperate and tropical regions.

  • Have knowledge of the major functions of agricultural systems at the ecosystem scale, e.g. carbon storage, flooding and greenhouse gas emissions.

  • Be able to evaluate data on the threats to natural and agricultural systems of changes in management and environment (climate change).

 

Academic and graduate skills

  • Experience in the evaluation of both current peer-reviewed scientific literature and “grey” literature (company reports, etc.)

  • Be able to make an in-depth exploration into a topic related to the application of biology in agriculture

  • Be able to synthesise a report that draws together both the biological underpinnings and global significance of an ecosystem process in agriculture.

Assessment

Task Length % of module mark
Essay/coursework
3000 word report		 N/A 100

Special assessment rules

None

Reassessment

Task Length % of module mark
Essay/coursework
3000 word report		 N/A 100

Module feedback

Formative feedback on draft report provided via tutorials in week 10 of Spring term.

Feedback on summative assessment provided within 4 weeks of the assessment.

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.