Ecosystems and Sustainability in a Changing World

Description

Human impacts on the world's ecosystems are profound and without precedent in Earth's history. The urgent need to understand the impacts of anthropogenic climate change, land-use change and overexploitation has meant that ecosystem science has become one of the most important biological disciplines. Knowledge developed within this discipline has also become vital for devising strategies in sustainable agriculture. This module will build on the L1 module 'Biodiversity, Climate and Conservation' by exploring human impacts on ecosystems, and their feedback on climate change, including those in natural and agricultural ecosystems. It will cover the world's and the UK's major ecosystems, considering fundamental processes operating in the present and the past. In doing so, it will consider the interacting roles of carbon cycling, climate, soils, nutrients, fire and biodiversity. Teaching methods include lectures and discussion sessions, alongside a field excursion and practical sessions that develop skills in the ecological analysis of plants and soils, and will reinforce some of the key concepts taught in lectures. Restrictions on availability: Recommended Prerequisite of BIS109 Climate Change and Sustainability Teaching methods: Lectures, Seminars, Tutorials, Laboratory work, Fieldwork, Independent Study Assessment: Formal Exam, Course work Restrictions: Recommended Prerequisite of BIS109 Climate Change and Sustainability Staff Contact: PHOENIX GARETH K Teaching Methods: Lectures, Seminars, Tutorials, Laboratory work, Fieldwork, Independent Study Assessment: Formal Exam, Course work Information on the department responsible for this unit (Biosciences): Teaching timetable | NOTE The content of our courses is reviewed annually to make sure it's up-to-date and relevant. Individual modules are occasionally updated or withdrawn. This is in response to discoveries through our world-leading research; funding changes; professional accreditation requirements; student or employer feedback; outcomes of reviews; and variations in staff or student numbers. In the event of any change we'll consult and inform students in good time and take reasonable steps to minimise disruption. URLs used in these pages are subject to year-on-year change. For this reason we recommend that you do not bookmark these pages or set them as favourites. Teaching methods and assessment displayed on this page are indicative for 2026-27.