Ecology and Environment BSc (Hons)

Year 1 develops the essential skills required to be an Ecologist and builds a foundation of knowledge on the physical and biological environments. Two optional modules allow you to focus a little more on the subjects that interest you.

• Study Skills and Gis (ecology and Marine Biology) (ENVS104) Level 1 Credit level 15 Semester Whole Session Exam:Coursework weighting 13:87 Aims

  1. To develop study skills such as referencing, essay writing, oral and poster presentation.

  2. ​To introduce the concepts of Geographical Information Systems (GIS).

  3. ​To reinforce students'' quantitative skills.

  Learning Outcomes

  ​Be able to write a scientific essay

  Be able to produce a scientific poster​

  Be able to give a scientific oral presentation​

  Be aware of the capabilities of Geographical Information Systems​

  ​Be able to demonstrate basic numeracy skills (up to calculus)

• Living With Environmental Change (ENVS119) Level 1 Credit level 15 Semester First Semester Exam:Coursework weighting 100:0 Aims

  The over-arching aim of thismodule is to introduce students to the so-called ‘Grand Challenges’ facingsociety and what is being done to address them. Living with Environmental Change is a key interdisciplinaryresearch theme currently being addressed worldwide; from tackling climatechange and carbon emissions to promoting sustainable resource use and energyefficiency. This module illustrates that an interdisciplinary approach iscrucial to identifying the underlying problems faced by humanity and to findingholistic and sustainable solutions.

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  Learning Outcomes

  ​Obtain an understanding of the Grand Challenges facing society;

  ​Develop an appreciation of the significance of interdisciplinary working in addressing the Grand Challenges;

  ​Understand that Geography plays a key role in the Living With Environmental Change (LWEC) research agenda;

  ​Become familiar with the linkages between research, policy and sustainability.

• Ecology and Conservation (ENVS157) Level 1 Credit level 15 Semester Second Semester Exam:Coursework weighting 70:30 Aims

  Aims Using certain key themes, to introduce students to the complex and multifaceted nature of environmental issues and ecological science, particularly stressing the interrelationships between their biophysical and human dimensions.

  To encourage students to manage their own learning.

  Learning Outcomes

  Learning Outcomes Students completing this module should have:

  an appreciation of the complexities and multifaceted nature of environmental issues.

  an understanding of land-use change, its history, the main drivers and their interactions.

  an overview of natural disasters and irreversible environmental change.

  an introduction to the politics of natural resources and energy.

  a basic understanding of ecological principles,

  an understanding of the complexities of conserving biodiversity.

  an understanding of the scientific debate about evidence for global climate change, the possible socio-economic impacts of various climate change scenarios, and possible ameliorative measures.

• Laboratory and Field Techniques for [marine and Terrestial] Ecologists (ENVS171) Level 1 Credit level 15 Semester Second Semester Exam:Coursework weighting 0:100 Aims

  This practical module will provide training in a range of ecological skills in field work and will have a wide application to many fields of environmental science including modern biology, ecology and physical geography. Techniques taught include identification of plants and animals, communities and measurement of selected ecological processes. You will learn quantitative skills in field ecology and how they can be used to solve fundamental and applied problems. You will also learn quite a lot of ecology at the same time.

  Learning Outcomes

  At the end of this module students should be able to: (assessment method in parentheses)

  • Work safely under lab and field conditions (Field and lab books).
  • Describe plant and animal communities and relate these to environmental factors (Lab books, field books and exam)
  • Sample plant and animal communities and relate these to environmental factors (Lab books, field books and exam)
  • Appreciate landscape and ecological features (Lab and field books)
  • Measure and understand the relevance of ecological processes (Lab books, field books and exam)
  • Identify selected plants and animals (Lab books, field books and identification tests in exam)
  • Investigate animal behaviour (Field notebooks and practical report)
  • Apply a quantitative approach to field science (Lab books, field books, practical report and exam)

• Climate, Atmosphere and Oceans (ENVS111) Level 1 Credit level 15 Semester First Semester Exam:Coursework weighting 80:20 Aims

  Introduce the climate system, the atmosphere and ocean:

  • Address how the climate system varies and how climate is controlled by radiative forcing;
  • How the structure of the atmosphere is determined and how the atmosphere circulates;
  • How the structure of the ocean is determined and how the ocean circulates;
  • How the atmosphere and ocean vary together.
  Learning Outcomes 1. Knowledge and Understanding

  a. Understand how physical processes operate within the climate system, the atmosphere and the ocean.

  b. Appreciate the complexity of the climate system, the effect of radiative forcing, the concept of feedbacks, how rotation affects the circulation; the differences between currents and waves.

  c. Gain awareness of the similarities and differences between the atmosphere and ocean.

  2. Intellectual Abilities

  a. To be able to evaluate the relative importance of different physical processes in the climate system

  b. To develop critical skills in transferring insight gained from one problem to another problem, such as how the atmosphere circulates from one planet to another planet.

  3. Subject Based Practical Skills

  a. Perform simple order of magnitude calculations and make inferences from the results.

  b. Understand the use of dimensions.

  4. General Transferable Skills

  a. Application of numbers, involving order of magnitudes and dimensions.

  b. Time management.

  c. Problem solving.

  30. Teaching and Learning Strategies

  Lectures and Coursework. Lectures address issues in the climate system from a process point of view. The coursework reinforces the lecture material: 6 coursework exercises require the students to simply explain how processes operate, make speculations as to the relative importance of different processes, and perform simple calculations and make inferences. The coursework is marked and returned in the following week that the work is handed in.

  31. Syllabus 1-24

  Lectures 1-6. Block 1: Climate System (6 lectures)

  Climate system of the Earth, atmosphere and ocean.

  Climate records. Possible causes of climate variability.

  Heat transfer and radiation models.

  Radiation balance for other planets.

  Feedbacks in the climate system.

  Lectures 7-13. Block 2. Atmosphere (7 lectures)

  Composition and structure of the atmosphere.

  Clouds and water vapour.

  Understand motion on the rotating Earth.

  General circulation in the tropics and mid-latitudes.

  Weather systems, fronts and clouds.

  Atmospheric circulation for other planets.

  Seasonal cycle in the atmosphere.

  Lectures 14-21. Block 3. Oceans (8 lectures)

  Properties of water and seawater.

  Observing the ocean and inferring the circulation using water masses, time-dependent tracers,geostrophy and satellite measurements.

  Vertical structure of the ocean

  Seasonal cycle in the ocean.

  Formation of water masses.

  Deep circulation over the globe.

  Upper circulation over the globe:gyres, eddies and fronts.

  Waves and tides.

  Lectures 22-24. Block 4. Climate variability (3 lectures)

  El Nino and Southern Oscillation

  North Atlantic Oscillation

  Climate states and past role of the ocean.

  Conclusions

• Maths and Physics for Environmental Scientists (ENVS117) Level 1 Credit level 15 Semester First Semester Exam:Coursework weighting 100:0 Aims

  To provide students with

  1) A grounding in the basic physics relevant to processes in the atmosphere, ocean and solid earth.

  2) Practical experience in the application of mathematical methods to the solution of problems in physical processes in the environment.

  Learning Outcomes 1. Knowledge and Understanding

  At the end of the module a student should be able to demonstrate a knowledge and understanding of

  a) the basic physics relevant to processes in the atmosphere, ocean and solid earth.

  2. Intellectual Abilities

  At the end of the module the student should be able to

  a) judge which is the correct formula or equation to use under particular circumstances.

  b) demonstrate skills in the application of mathematical methods to the solution of problems in physical processes in the environment.

  3. Subject Based Practical Skills

  At the end of the module a student should be able to

  a) do simple estimations by hand

  b) do arithmetic using a calculator

  c) rearrange algebraic formulae to make the required quantity the subject

  d) insert values in a formula and calculate the correct answer

  e) sketch simple mathematical curves by inspection of the formula

  f) differentiate and integrate simple mathematical functions

  4. General Transferable Skills

  a) Numeracy - the ability to do simple calculations using pencil, paper and a pocket...