Advanced Content in Terrestrial Ecology
Code: 42916 ECTS Credits: 6| Degree | Type | Year | Semester |
|---|---|---|---|
| 4313774 Land Ecology and Biodiversity Management | OT | 0 | 1 |
Contact
- Name:
- Jordi Martínez Vilalta
- Email:
- Jordi.Martinez.Vilalta@uab.cat
Use of Languages
- Principal working language:
- spanish (spa)
Teachers
- Daniel Sol Rueda
- José David García Callejas
Prerequisites
The module does not have specific requirements.
Objectives and Contextualisation
The objective of the module is to provide students with an updated vision of the main foundations and approaches of terrestrial ecology, emphasizing the most recent advances in the discipline as well as the main concepts that have been reviewed and consolidated over time. In addition, general aspects of the acquisition and limits of scientific knowledge through research, as well as transversal aspects that affect different topics, such as the formalization of ecological concepts, will be worked at different spatial and temporal scales. Following these goals, the procedure for communication of the results of scientific research will be discussed, analyzing the structure of scientific texts, mainly articles, and the writing and review process.
Competences
- Communicate, give presentations and write articles in English.
- Critically assess the strong and weak points of a study. Organise, plan and manage projects related to the area of study.
- Evaluate and analyse the diversity of animal, plant and fungal organisms from an evolutionary and functional perspective, and their interactions with the medium.
- Seek out information in the scientific literature using appropriate channels, and use this information to formulate and contextualise a project.
- Understand and apply the most cutting-edge and influential theories in terrestrial ecology and conservation of biodiversity, and assess their importance for mitigating the main environmental problems caused by human activity.
- Use acquired knowledge as a basis for originality in the application of ideas, often in a research context.
Learning Outcomes
- Analyse technical and scientific documents written in English and understand presentations in English.
- Describe the main processes that determine organisms' interactions with each other and with the medium.
- Discuss ideas, using scientific evidence and arguments.
- Display the (constructively) critical spirit that is essential to science.
- Identify some of the main advances and controversies in current ecological science.
- Integrate evolutionary factors in the interpretation of current ecological patterns.
- Interpret and evaluate the principles and general applications of terrestrial ecology.
- Know what distinguishes science from other forms of knowledge.
- Situate ecology in the context of science.
- Use the main tools for searching in specialist literature.
Content
General principles:
Scientific knowledge and channels of scientific communication
Fundamentals of terrestrial ecology:
Evolutionary ecology
Macroecology and phylogeography
Autoecology and phenotypic plasticity
Structured populations and metapopulations
Loss of biodiversity and ecosystem functioning
Community assembly
Interspecific interactions: antagonism, facilitation, networks
Stoichiometric ecology
Ecosystem services
Global change
Methodology
The module consists in reading a selection of texts, mainly scientific articles. Based on the reading of these publications, the main themes of terrestrial ecology are presented, as well as the process of acquisition and transmission of scientific knowledge. Therefore, the corpus of ecological knowledge will be acquired through the contextualization of specific problems and situations. This approach illustrates the interrelation between different concepts and knowledge items and shows in a realistic way the way in which the appearance and consolidation of knowledge in this discipline occurs.
Therefore the methodology of the module is based on the reading, analysis and discussion of scientific texts of ecology, carrying out different activities that include text reading, writing of essays, preparation and oral and public presentation of works, resolution of exercises, in addition to more theoretical lectures and tutorials.
Annotation: Within the schedule set by the centre or degree programme, 15 minutes of one class will be reserved for students to evaluate their lecturers and their courses or modules through questionnaires.
Activities
| Title | Hours | ECTS | Learning Outcomes |
|---|---|---|---|
| Type: Directed | |||
| Seminars | 36 | 1.44 | 1, 8, 3, 4, 2, 5, 6, 7, 10, 9 |
| Type: Supervised | |||
| Tutorials | 4 | 0.16 | 1, 8, 3, 4, 2, 5, 6, 7, 10, 9 |
| Type: Autonomous | |||
| Personal work reading and analysis of texts | 67.5 | 2.7 | 1, 4, 2, 5, 6, 7, 10, 9 |
| Preparation of reports, presentations and materials | 40 | 1.6 | 1, 4, 2, 5, 6, 7, 10, 9 |
Assessment
- Attendance and participation in class (20%): the involvement, participatory activity and rigor of the student is evaluated.
- Student folder with documents and materials generated in the module activities, including those carried out in class and at home (50%).
- Final written review following the format of a publication (30%)
A minimum attendance of 80% is required in the sessions scheduled by each teacher
Assessment Activities
| Title | Weighting | Hours | ECTS | Learning Outcomes |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Attendance and active participation in classes and seminars | 20% | 1 | 0.04 | 1, 8, 3, 4, 2, 5, 6, 7, 10, 9 |
| Documents and materials presented in class | 50% | 1 | 0.04 | 1, 8, 3, 4, 2, 5, 6, 7, 10, 9 |
| Final module work | 30% | 0.5 | 0.02 | 1, 8, 3, 4, 2, 5, 6, 7, 10, 9 |
Bibliography
General reference text:
Levin, S.A. (2009) The Princeton Guide to Ecology. Princeton University Press.
The specific list of working texts will be provided before the beginning of the module.
Software
Not applicable