Postgraduate Course: Advanced Ecosystem Management (PGGE11151)
Course Outline
| School | School of Geosciences |
College | College of Science and Engineering |
| Course type | Standard |
Availability | Available to all students |
| Credit level (Normal year taken) | SCQF Level 11 (Postgraduate) |
Credits | 20 |
| Home subject area | Postgraduate Courses (School of GeoSciences) |
Other subject area | None |
| Course website |
None |
Taught in Gaelic? | No |
| Course description | Part 1: The first part of the course is intended to provide an overview, and the underlying principles, of Ecosystem Management (EM). The course is built around the definition of EM provided by Grumbine (1994). EM ?integrates scientific knowledge of ecological relationships within a complex socio-political and values framework toward the general goal of protecting native ecosystem integrity?.
[Grumbine (1994). What is Ecosystem Management. Conservation Biology.Vol 8 (1) p. 28-37.]
Topics covered in part 1 will include:
* Management for naturalness, rarity, diversity and fragility
* Impact of grazing and forestry practices on vegetation
* Fire as a management tool, particularly in range management
* Conservation of biodiversity
* Ecological restoration and management in woodland, heathland and wetlands.
Part 2: The second part of this course deepens the knowledge acquired in part one. The students are required to conduct research, collect data, synthesize the information, conduct strategic analyses and build recommendations given a specific management problem/case study. This part of the course also enhances the students' capacity to engage in extended project work, both on an independent basis and in collaboration with their peers, and thereby it prepares students for further academic study and employment.
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Entry Requirements (not applicable to Visiting Students)
| Pre-requisites |
Students MUST have passed:
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Co-requisites | |
| Prohibited Combinations | |
Other requirements | None |
| Additional Costs | None |
Information for Visiting Students
| Pre-requisites | None |
| Displayed in Visiting Students Prospectus? | Yes |
Course Delivery Information
| Not being delivered |
Summary of Intended Learning Outcomes
Part 1
- Explore management to a wide range of different habitats
- Understand ecosystem dynamics and the state of the art of ecosystem management where the objectives are not simply the maximising of economic production
- Review basic woodland management techniques
- Understand vegetation dynamics with global examples
- Develop reasoned arguments, firmly grounded in the available literature
Part 2
- Understand, use and criticise basic concepts of ecosystem management theory
- Handle and utilise available quantitative and qualitative methods specific to the field to reach conclusions and to make decisions for ecosystem management
- Apply and deepen knowledge of the several dominant themes which have emerged from the discussions on Ecosystems management to prepare a management plan. These dominant themes include: Sustainability, Balance of human uses with ecological integrity and biodiversity conservation, Choices and trade-off, Uncertainty and complexity, Systems perspective, Multi-scale perspective, Dynamic view of ecosystems and landscapes, Ecological units, Stakeholder involvement and interagency cooperation, Adaptive management.
During the course, students are expected to:
? Conduct practical exercises and assignments within the specified parameters and to a professional standard,
? Take responsibility for their own learning through reading and completion of assignments,
? Reflect upon their learning experience; verbally structure and express their thoughts and critically discuss the material covered through active participation in class.
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Assessment Information
70% in course assessment
30% synoptic paper |
Special Arrangements
| None |
Additional Information
| Academic description |
Not entered |
| Syllabus |
Not entered |
| Transferable skills |
Not entered |
| Reading list |
Not entered |
| Study Abroad |
Not entered |
| Study Pattern |
Not entered |
| Keywords | Not entered |
Contacts
| Course organiser | Dr Barbra Harvie
Tel:
Email: |
Course secretary | Mrs Consuelo Fox
Tel: (0131 6)50 2543
Email: |
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