Undergraduate Course: Field Ecology (ECSC08007)
Course Outline
| School | School of Geosciences |
College | College of Science and Engineering |
| Credit level (Normal year taken) | SCQF Level 8 (Year 2 Undergraduate) |
Availability | Not available to visiting students |
| SCQF Credits | 20 |
ECTS Credits | 10 |
| Summary | ***PLEASE NOTE THAT THIS COURSE NORMALLY RUNS BEFORE THE ACADEMIC YEAR BEGINS FOR RISING 2nd YEAR STUDENTS. DUE TO COVID-19 THE 2021/22 VERSION OF THE COURSE HAS NOT YET RUN. SEE FULL DETAILS EXPLAINED BELOW***
NB. This course will run at the end of the 2021-22 academic year for two cohorts: students who should have taken it at the end of the 2020-21 academic year (current 2nd year students plus some others) and separately for students who should ordinarily take it at the end of the 2021-22 academic year as credit for their 22/23 academic year (current 1st year students). ONLY STUDENTS WHO SHOULD HAVE TAKEN IT AT THE END OF THE 2020-21 ACADEMIC YEAR SHOULD REGISTER FOR THE COURSE FOR THE 2021-22 ACADEMIC YEAR. FIRST YEAR STUDENTS SHOULD BE REGISTERED FOR THE COURSE IN THE 2022-23 ACADEMIC YEAR.
This 20-point level 8 course is compulsory for students of Ecological and Environmental Sciences, Ecology and Environmental Sciences with Management, and Biological Sciences (Ecology track). All students will engage in a two week long field course (exlcuding the weekend). For students who should have taken the course at the end of the 2020-21 academic year (generally our current 2nd year students), the mark will be based entirely on in-course assessments. For current 1st year students, who will be registered for the course in their 22-23 Academic Year, there will also be an extended assessment handed in during Semester 1 of 2022-23.
THE COURSE WILL RUN FROM MONDAY MAY 30TH TO THURSDAY JUNE 9TH 2022 for current 2nd year students (excluding the weekend), and TUESDAY MAY 31st TO FRIDAY JUNE 10th for current 1st year students (excluding the weekend). |
| Course description |
The ability to identify organisms in the field, and to collect, organise and present ecological data, are essential skills for a professional ecologist. This course aims to develop those skills, taking place in and around the Edinburgh area. The course introduces students to the major habitats of Scotland and how to identify plants and animals in those habitats.
At the end of this course you should have a broad knowledge of how to apply a range of routine professional techniques employed in the study of biological organisms and ecosystems in the field. You will also gain detailed experience in methods of identification and classification of organisms.
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Entry Requirements (not applicable to Visiting Students)
| Pre-requisites |
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Co-requisites | |
| Prohibited Combinations | |
Other requirements | None |
Course Delivery Information
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| Academic year 2022/23, Not available to visiting students (SS1)
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Quota: 81 |
| Course Start |
Block 5 (Sem 2) and beyond |
Timetable |
Timetable |
| Learning and Teaching activities (Further Info) |
Total Hours:
200
(
Lecture Hours 9,
Dissertation/Project Supervision Hours 1,
Supervised Practical/Workshop/Studio Hours 29,
Fieldwork Hours 34,
Programme Level Learning and Teaching Hours 4,
Directed Learning and Independent Learning Hours
123 )
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| Assessment (Further Info) |
Written Exam
0 %,
Coursework
100 %,
Practical Exam
0 %
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| Additional Information (Assessment) |
Written Exam: 0%, Course Work: 100%, Practical Exam: 0%.
Intermittent (60%): There are four assignments that are completed during the running of the field course: the field notebook (30%), a guide to Scottish plants (15%), a key to Scottish trees (5%), and a data analysis exercise (10%). The latter two assessments are marked after the course ends and available to students when they return to university in the autumn. For students who should have taken the course at the end of the 20-21 academic session, 100% of their course mark will be based on these assessments (weightings updated accordingly to 50%, 25%, 8.33% and 16.67% respectively).
Post-course (40%): 1st year students will also complete an ecological project over the summer and write up the results in standard scientific format. The report should be submitted online to Learn and any hard copy e.g. biological collections materials handed into the Programme Administrator, Undergraduate Teaching Office, room 344, Grant Institute Building, by 12noon on the Wednesday of the second week of Semester One.
Assessment deadlines
Field Notebook - submit to Turnitin (TII) on Learn.
Due by 9am on Thursday June 9th for 2nd years.
Due by 9am on Friday June 10th for 1st years.
A Guide to Scottish Plants - submit to TII on Learn.
Due by 9am on Thursday June 9th for 2nd years.
Due by 9am on Friday June 10th for 1st years.
A Key to Scottish Trees - hand-in to demonstrator.
Due by 6pm on Monday June 6th for 2nd years.
Due by 6pm on Tuesday June 7th for 1st years.
Data Analysis Exercise - submit to TII on Learn.
Due by 11am on Thursday June 9th for 2nd years.
Due by 11am on Friday June 10th for 1st years.
Please note that due to the timelines involved to mark coursework in readiness for the Board of Examiners meeting in June, extensions are not allowed on any submissions. Please speak to CO Kyle and Administrator Nicola if you wish to request extra time for submission due to an approved adjustment on your Learning Profile. |
| Feedback |
Students will receive formative feedback from staff and demonstrators on their field notebooks during the first two days of the course. This will improve note taking and collecting of ecological data. The last five days of the field notebook will be marked and returned with feedback, along with plant guides, on the last day of the course, or soon thereafter. This will help the current 1st year students in successfully writing up their summer projects. Those projects will be handed in the autumn with detailed feedback.
During the course, students are constantly with staff members and demonstrators and receiving help and feedback on identifying natural organisms and collecting ecological data. |
| No Exam Information |
Learning Outcomes
On completion of this course, the student will be able to:
- Identify common plant species, from herbs through to trees, in a variety of Scottish habitats
- Identify invertebrates in the field to the level of order
- Systematically collect ecological data
- Design and conduct simple surveys and field experiments in ecology
- Write up the results of simple ecological studies in a concise and informative manner
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Reading List
Useful texts
Mitchell, A. (1988) Trees of Britain and northern Europe. Collins, London.
Rackham, O. (1976) Trees and woodlands in the British landscape. Dent,
London.
Rodwell, J. (1991). British Plant Communities. Volume 1, Woodland and
scrub. Cambridge University Press, Cambridge.
Additional reading
Peterken, G.F. & Mountford, E.P. (1998) Long-term change in an unmanaged
population of wych elm subjected to Dutch elm disease. Journal of Ecology,
86, 205-218.
von Oheimb, G. & Brunet, J. (2007) Dalby Soderskog revisited: long-term
vegetation changes in a south Swedish deciduous forest. Acta Oecologia, 31,
229-242. |
Additional Information
| Graduate Attributes and Skills |
Not entered |
| Additional Class Delivery Information |
Field course (no class delivery during semester time) |
| Keywords | Field Ecology |
Contacts
| Course organiser | Dr Kyle Dexter
Tel: (0131 6)51 7065
Email: |
Course secretary | Mrs Nicola Clark
Tel: (0131 6)50 4842
Email: |
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