Ecosystems Over Time (U03304)

? Credit Points : 20 ? SCQF Level : 10 ? Acronym : GEO-3-ECOTIME

The aim of this course is to investigate how and why terrestrial ecosystems have changed over time, with an emphasis on vegetation. A range of time-scales (centennial, millennial, glacial-interglacial) and spatial scales (continental, regional, local) will be considered and case studies will be examined from both temperate regions (e.g. British Isles and eastern North America) and the tropics (e.g. Amazonia). A key theme throughout the course is the challenge of differentiating between natural agents of vegetation change (e.g. climate) versus anthropogenic factors (e.g. fire, deforestation). The implications of this palaeoecological perspective for understanding current patterns of biodiversity and biogeography will be considered, as well as the significance for future conservation strategy and response to climate change. The different techniques used to reconstruct past vegetation will be considered in detail, with particular emphasis on fossil pollen analysis. Training will be provided in identification of pollen of key plant species using light microscopy. Analysis of fossil pollen assemblages from lake sediments will then be undertaken in laboratory practicals to produce palaeovegetation histories, which will be interpreted by applying the ecological/biogeographical theory covered in lectures.

Approximately half the course will be lecture/tutorial-based, while the other half will be based on lab microscopy work.

Entry Requirements

? Special Arrangements for Entry : Requests for registration must be made by email to Shiela.Wilson@ed.ac.uk
Availability to Visiting Undergraduates may be dependent on demand from internal students.

Subject Areas

Home subject area

Geography, (School of GeoSciences, Schedule N)

Delivery Information

? Normal year taken : 3rd year

? Delivery Period : Semester 2 (Blocks 3-4)

? Contact Teaching Time : 2 hour(s) per week for 10 weeks

First Class Information

Date	Start	End	Room	Area	Additional Information
08/01/2007	14:00	15:50	Room G.UM(M), Old High School	Central

All of the following classes

Type	Day	Start	End	Area
Lecture	Monday	14:00	15:50	Central

Summary of Intended Learning Outcomes

- To examine the respective roles of past climatic changes and human activities in driving vegetation changes since the last glacial period.
- To show how a palaeoecological perspective can help explain the modern landscape and provide insights into likely ecosystem responses to future climate change and human impacts.
- To provide microscopy training in fossil pollen analysis, the principal tool for reconstructing vegetation history.
- To develop a critical approach to evaluating different kinds of palaeoenvironmental evidence and hypotheses.