BI1FE2: Fundamentals of Ecology

Module code: BI1FE2

Module provider: School of Biological Sciences

Credits: 20

Level: Level 1 (Certificate)

When you'll be taught: Semester 2

Module convenor: Dr Manuela Gonzalez-Suarez, email: manuela.gonzalez@reading.ac.uk

Module co-convenor: Dr Chris Foster, email: c.w.foster@reading.ac.uk

Pre-requisite module(s):

Co-requisite module(s):

Pre-requisite or Co-requisite module(s):

Module(s) excluded:

Placement information: NA

Academic year: 2024/5

Available to visiting students: Yes

Talis reading list: Yes

Last updated: 21 May 2024

Overview

Module aims and purpose

In this module you will learn about ecological concepts and how they can be applied in the field and the laboratory. You will learn about how species interact with each other and their environment, how biodiversity assembles in communities and forms entire ecosystems and biomes, and how human activities are influencing many ecological processes. During practical sessions you will learn how to identify species and use sampling techniques that may include sweep nets, footprint tunnels, and camera traps to collect and then learn how to analyse your own data. 

Module learning outcomes

By the end of the module, it is expected that students will be able to:

1. Demonstrate an understanding of the fundamental interactions among organisms, and between organisms and their abiotic environment across the hierarchical scales in ecology and biodiversity (e.g. individual to biosphere)
2. Identify and explain fundamental concepts and theories in population, community and landscape ecology
3. Describe the relationships between ecology and human societies being able to apply the fundamentals of ecology to questions of conservation
4. Apply the scientific method to address research questions by developing testable hypotheses, collecting and analysing data, conducting simple statistical tests, creating graphical representations of the data, and deriving conclusions from the data
5. Recognise and correctly apply diverse practical field techniques including sampling methods and taxonomic identification

Module content

This module introduces the student to the discipline by discussing the different organisational scales covered by ecologists from individual life-histories to population dynamics, species interactions, communities, ecosystems and the functioning of the entire biosphere. Students learn how ecological questions can be used to understand and address conservation problems. Core topics include: population dynamics, species interactions, community structure and succession and large-scale ecology. Practical sessions conducted on campus will be used to teach students different field techniques and how these can be applied to gather data to test scientific questions and hypotheses.

Structure

Teaching and learning methods

The learning outcomes will be met through a mixture of lectures, practical classes (field and laboratory work), self-directed learning and directed independent study. Appropriate supplementary information and reading lists will be provided on Blackboard.

Study hours

At least 42 hours of scheduled teaching and learning activities will be delivered in person, with the remaining hours for scheduled and self-scheduled teaching and learning activities delivered either in person or online. You will receive further details about how these hours will be delivered before the start of the module.

Please note the independent study hours above are notional numbers of hours; each student will approach studying in different ways. We would advise you to reflect on your learning and the number of hours you are allocating to these tasks.

Semester 1 The hours in this column may include hours during the Christmas holiday period.

Semester 2 The hours in this column may include hours during the Easter holiday period.

Summer The hours in this column will take place during the summer holidays and may be at the start and/or end of the module.

Assessment

Requirements for a pass

Students need to achieve an overall module mark of 40% to pass this module.

Summative assessment

Penalties for late submission of summative assessment

The Support Centres will apply the following penalties for work submitted late:

Assessments with numerical marks

• where the piece of work is submitted after the original deadline (or any formally agreed extension to the deadline): 10% of the total marks available for that piece of work will be deducted from the mark for each working day (or part thereof) following the deadline up to a total of three working days;
• the mark awarded due to the imposition of the penalty shall not fall below the threshold pass mark, namely 40% in the case of modules at Levels 4-6 (i.e. undergraduate modules for Parts 1-3) and 50% in the case of Level 7 modules offered as part of an Integrated Masters or taught postgraduate degree programme;
• where the piece of work is awarded a mark below the threshold pass mark prior to any penalty being imposed, and is submitted up to three working days after the original deadline (or any formally agreed extension to the deadline), no penalty shall be imposed;
• where the piece of work is submitted more than three working days after the original deadline (or any formally agreed extension to the deadline): a mark of zero will be recorded.

Assessments marked Pass/Fail

• where the piece of work is submitted within three working days of the deadline (or any formally agreed extension of the deadline): no penalty will be applied;
• where the piece of work is submitted more than three working days after the original deadline (or any formally agreed extension of the deadline): a grade of Fail will be awarded.

The University policy statement on penalties for late submission can be found at: /cqsd/-/media/project/functions/cqsd/documents/qap/penaltiesforlatesubmission.pdf

You are strongly advised to ensure that coursework is submitted by the relevant deadline. You should note that it is advisable to submit work in an unfinished state rather than to fail to submit any work.

Formative assessment

Formative assessment is any task or activity which creates feedback (or feedforward) for you about your learning, but which does not contribute towards your overall module mark.

In-class quizzes and blackboard tests (with questions similar to those that will appear in the final exam) doing during lectures and available on Blackboard after lectures to familiarize students with exam format and allow them to assess their individual progress and identify areas for improvement.

Reassessment

Additional costs