Undergraduate Course: Ecological and Environmental Analysis (ECSC09006)
Course Outline
| School | School of Geosciences |
College | College of Science and Engineering |
| Credit level (Normal year taken) | SCQF Level 9 (Year 3 Undergraduate) |
Availability | Available to all students |
| SCQF Credits | 20 |
ECTS Credits | 10 |
| Summary | This course provides 3rd-year students with a foundation course in the collection and analysis of data relevant to biological, ecological and environmental problems. Topics dealt with in the course involve:
- Recognising variability and uncertainty in environmental and ecological systems and their importance;
- Gathering data suited to explain environmental and ecological systems through surveys and sampling;
- Establishing and describing relationships between different environmental and/or ecological variables;
- Design, analysis and interpretation of controlled experiments;
- Use of dynamic simulation models |
| Course description |
WEEKS 1 & 2
Recognising variability and uncertainty in environmental and ecological systems and their importance.
WEEK 3
Gathering data suited to explain environmental and ecological systems through surveys and sampling.
WEEKS 4-6
Establishing and describing the relationships between different environmental and/or ecological variables.
WEEKS 7-9
Design, analysis and interpretation of controlled experiments.
WEEKS 10-11
Use of dynamic simulation models.
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Entry Requirements (not applicable to Visiting Students)
| Pre-requisites |
|
Co-requisites | |
| Prohibited Combinations | |
Other requirements | None |
Information for Visiting Students
| Pre-requisites | None |
Course Delivery Information
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| Academic year 2015/16, Available to all students (SV1)
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Quota: None |
| Course Start |
Semester 1 |
Timetable |
Timetable |
| Learning and Teaching activities (Further Info) |
Total Hours:
200
(
Lecture Hours 44,
Seminar/Tutorial Hours 11,
Programme Level Learning and Teaching Hours 4,
Directed Learning and Independent Learning Hours
141 )
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| Assessment (Further Info) |
Written Exam
60 %,
Coursework
40 %,
Practical Exam
0 %
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| Additional Information (Assessment) |
Continuous assessment contributes 40% of the total marks for the course. This comprises the write up of the report on the Survey Exercise (25%) and a one page report on the Experimental Design paper (15%)
The Examination contributes the remaining 60% of the marks.
The Degree Exam in May will reflect the theory and practical aspects of the course covered in lectures and tutorials. Other tutorials mesh with Course Work, providing opportunity for critical feedback and guidance from peers, Teaching Assistants and Teaching Staff. There are no assessed attendance requirements on this course.
NOTE THAT BECAUSE A PERIOD OF REFLECTION IS ESSENTIAL FOR ASSIMILATING THE MATERIAL AND CONCEPTS DEVELOPED IN THIS COURSE, THE EXAM IS HELD AT THE END OF SEMESTER 2. |
| Feedback |
Not entered |
| Exam Information |
| Exam Diet |
Paper Name |
Hours & Minutes |
|
| Main Exam Diet S2 (April/May) | Ecological and Environmental Analysis | 2:00 | |
Learning Outcomes
| By the end of this course the students will have gained integrated knowledge and understanding of data and key techniques used to reach robust conclusions on the function of ecological and environmental systems. Students will be equipped to approach tasks that they may define in their own research; they will understand the issues that surround the quality of information, the importance of measured variability as well as the identification and quantification of uncertainty, Strategies to determine the mean for population properties will be understood. The principles and use of general linear (statistical) modelling will have been learned and the basis for simulation modelling established. Strategies for the design of formal experiments to isolate and test the significance of individual or combined factors on response variables will have been examined. Familiarity with the use of dedicated statistical software will have been gained.
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Reading List
WEEK 1
Dunbar, R. (1995) The Trouble with Science. Faber and Faber, London.
Chalmers, A. F. (1999) What is this thing called Science? Open University Press, Maidenhead.
Ford, E. D. (2000) Scientific Method for Ecological Research. Cambridge University Press, Cambridge.
WEEKS 1¿3
Barnard, C., Gilbert, F. & McGregor, P. (2001). Asking Questions in Biology. 2nd Edition. Pearson, Harlow.
Feinsinger, P. (2001). Designing Field Studies for Biodiversity Conservation. Nature Conservancy, Washington
Hughes IG & Hase TPA (2010) Measurements and their uncertainty. Oxford University Press, Oxford.
WEEK 4
Fowler, J. Cohen, L. & Jarvis, P. (1998) Practical Statistics for Field Biology. 2nd Edition. John Wiley, Chichester.
Grafen, A & Hails, R (2002) Modern statistics for the life sciences. Oxford University Press, Oxford.
WEEK 5
Ask Owen Mc Donald for recommended text
WEEKS 6¿8
Haefner, J.W. (1996). Modelling biological systems. Chapman & Hall, New York. (Darwin Library QH308.2 HAE).
WEEKS 9¿11
Ennos, R. (2007) Statistical and Data Handling Skills in Biology. Pearson, Harlow.
Grafen, A & Hails, R (2002) Modern statistics for the life sciences. Oxford University Press, Oxford. £22.99
Sokal, R. R. & Rohlf, F. J. (1969) Biometry. Freeman, San Fransisco.
Ruxton, G. D. & Colegrave, N. (2006) Experimental Design for the Life Sciences. 2nd Edition. Oxford University Press, Oxford. |
Additional Information
| Graduate Attributes and Skills |
Not entered |
| Additional Class Delivery Information |
One-hour lecture followed by two-hour practical class each week.
One-hour tutorial each week (either Mondays or Tuesdays)
NOTE THAT THE COURSE IS EXAMINED AT THE END OF SEMESTER 2, NOT S1 |
| Keywords | ECSC09006 EEA |
Contacts
| Course organiser | Dr Saran Sohi
Tel: (0131 6)51 4471
Email: |
Course secretary | Ms Meredith Corey
Tel: (0131 6)50 5430
Email: |
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