Last modified: 23 Jul 2024 11:08
This course examines the role terrestrial and aquatic ecosystems play in modulating global fluxes of energy and matter. It explores physical, chemical, and biological processes that govern ecosystem dynamics.
This course develops principles of systems ecology and biogeochemistry, focusing on organisms’ roles in regulating ecosystem processes and interactions of greenhouse gas exchange between the atmosphere, ocean, and land surface.
By integrating insights from various disciplines, you gain understanding of how ecosystems differ in composition, structure, and function.
| Study Type | Postgraduate | Level | 5 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Term | Second Term | Credit Points | 15 credits (7.5 ECTS credits) |
| Campus | Aberdeen | Sustained Study | No |
| Co-ordinators |
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This course will allow you to develop the fundamental principles of ecosystem ecology and biogeochemistry, and to further develop your understanding of how the principles of systems ecology can be applied to understand the structure and function of both natural and managed ecosystems. This course will cover a wide range of different environments (both marine and terrestrial) and will look at how these different environments are linked at the global scale.
Key topics within the course include:
Biogeochemistry and nutrient cycling- Understanding nutrient cycles (e.g., carbon, nitrogen, phosphorus) in ecosystems. Examining how biotic and abiotic factors influence nutrient availability and cycling. Investigating the role of microorganisms in nutrient transformations.
Energy Flow and Trophic Interactions - Exploring energy transfer, and trophic levels. Analysing the flow of energy through different components of ecosystems.
Ecosystem Structure and Function - Investigating how these components interact to maintain ecosystem stability. Assessing the impact of disturbances (natural or human-induced) on ecosystem structure and function.
Climate Change and Ecosystem Resilience: Addressing the effects of climate change on ecosystems. Discussing adaptation strategies and resilience of ecosystems. Considering the role of biodiversity in maintaining ecosystem stability.
The course will be delivered as a series of lectures and practical classes. The course is structured around the practical classes where topics such as the carbon cycle, photosynthesis and respiration will be explored in more detail.
| Description | Value |
|---|---|
| Students should possess a Howie laboratory coat and safety glasses. Further details of requirements can be found on the course's MyAberdeen page. The cost listed here is approximate. | GBP 23.00 |
Information on contact teaching time is available from the course guide.
| Assessment Type | Summative | Weighting | 40 | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Assessment Weeks | 32 | Feedback Weeks | 33 | |
| Feedback |
Written individual feedback. |
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| Knowledge Level | Thinking Skill | Outcome |
|---|---|---|
| Conceptual | Understand | To understand global cycles and how biotic and abiotic factors influence stores and fluxes. |
| Procedural | Apply | To apply technical skills to measure and model biogeochemical data. |
| Procedural | Evaluate | To evaluate scientific data and place it in an ecosystem and global context. |
| Assessment Type | Summative | Weighting | 30 | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Assessment Weeks | 29 | Feedback Weeks | 31 | |
| Feedback |
Essay on the evaluating the impact of human activity on global cycles. Written individual feedback. |
Word Count | 2000 | |
| Knowledge Level | Thinking Skill | Outcome |
|---|---|---|
| Conceptual | Evaluate | To evaluate the impact of human activity on global cycles. |
| Conceptual | Understand | To understand global cycles and how biotic and abiotic factors influence stores and fluxes. |
| Assessment Type | Summative | Weighting | 30 | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Assessment Weeks | 30 | Feedback Weeks | 32 | |
| Feedback |
Sensitivity analysis of carbon model. Written individual feedback. |
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| Knowledge Level | Thinking Skill | Outcome |
|---|---|---|
| Conceptual | Understand | To understand global cycles and how biotic and abiotic factors influence stores and fluxes. |
| Procedural | Apply | To apply technical skills to measure and model biogeochemical data. |
There are no assessments for this course.
| Assessment Type | Summative | Weighting | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Assessment Weeks | Feedback Weeks | |||
| Feedback |
Resit failed elements, grades from passed elements carried forward. |
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| Knowledge Level | Thinking Skill | Outcome |
|---|---|---|
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| Knowledge Level | Thinking Skill | Outcome |
|---|---|---|
| Conceptual | Evaluate | To evaluate the impact of human activity on global cycles. |
| Procedural | Evaluate | To evaluate scientific data and place it in an ecosystem and global context. |
| Procedural | Apply | To apply technical skills to measure and model biogeochemical data. |
| Conceptual | Understand | To understand global cycles and how biotic and abiotic factors influence stores and fluxes. |
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