Module Catalogue 2024/25

Pre Requisite Comment

N/A

Co Requisite Comment

N/A

Aims

To develop an in-depth understanding of:
1. The functioning of terrestrial ecosystems and the factors that underpin ecosystem processes and
biogeochemical cycling among biomes.
2. Ecosystems as complex, integrated systems with interactions and interdependencies among their biotic and abiotic components.
3. The role of functional biodiversity in modulating pools and fluxes of the major elements.
4. The role of terrestrial ecosystems in biogeochemical cycling at local, regional and global scales.
5. How external forcings (e.g. climate change, management interventions, disturbance) impact ecosystem processes and feedback and influence global biogeochemical cycles.
6. The applications of ecosystem science to the sustainable management of human production systems, including agriculture, forestry and bioenergy crops.
7. The ecological basis of nature-based climate solutions.

Outline Of Syllabus

Topics are introduced in lectures and explored in greater depth in workshops, practicals and field classes. Key topics include:
• Terrestrial carbon, nitrogen and phosphorus cycles.
• The role of state factors (i.e. time, climate, parent material, topography, biota) in shaping ecosystem structure, function and development through space and time.
• Primary production and its controls; introduction to plant physiological ecology and plant-soil interactions.
• Soils and sediments; pedogenesis; the surface chemistry of soils and sediments (e.g. ion exchange, adsorption, hydrophobic interactions, points of zero charge, pH, redox potential); the organic chemistry of soils.
• Microbial ecology; role of microbes in catalysing key components of the carbon, nitrogen and phosphorus cycles; rhizosphere processes; mutualisms; role of syntrophy and microbial consortia in metabolism of complex substrates.
• Role of trophic processes in regulating ecosystem structure and function.
• Effects of climate change and anthropogenic interventions on ecosystem processes and biogeochemical cycling.
• The role of innovations in land-use and land management practices for climate action and sustainable land management.
• Knowledge gaps and unknowns in ecosystem ecology, including critical analysis of the current literature.

Intended Knowledge Outcomes

After successful completion of the module a student will understand:
• The principal factors that regulate the functioning of terrestrial ecosystems and major biogeochemical cycles.
• The interactions and interdependencies amongst the biotic and abiotic components of ecosystems (e.g. primary producers, consumers, detritivores, soils and sediments, climate), and how these components work synergistically as part of a complex system to modulate pools and fluxes of the major elements.
• The role of spatial and temporal heterogeneity in environmental variables in modulating ecosystem structure and function.
• How external forcings (e.g. climate change, anthropogenic interventions, disturbance) alter ecosystem processes and biogeochemical cycling.
• How ecosystem science can be applied to sustainably manage land and mitigate the effect of climate change.
• The limitations of current research and major knowledge gaps in the scientific literature.

Intended Skill Outcomes

After successful completion of the module a student will be able to:
• Analyse the function of terrestrial ecosystems, accounting for interactions and interdependencies amongst system components and the role of spatial and temporal heterogeneity in modulating ecosystem processes
• Evaluate and predict how external forcings can alter ecosystem processes and biogeochemical cycling under future environmental change scenarios
• Synthesise knowledge and information on ecosystem structure and function from diverse literature sources
• Critically analyse the literature, identifying key strengths, weakness and knowledge gaps

Teaching Rationale And Relationship

Lectures introduce key knowledge and flag the syllabus and appropriate reading.

Tutorials allow students to work in groups to understand the functioning of terrestrial ecosystems, read and understand the current literature, analyse data (e.g. interpreting graphs or other data products), or develop their problem solving skills.

Computer practicals develop the students’ numerical and data analysis skills. Laboratory practicals introduce techniques in characterisation of plant and soil samples; physical, chemical and biological techniques for quantifying biogeochemical pools and fluxes, and develop laboratory skills. Students undertake a range of activities that develop their numeracy, data analysis and interpretation skills, capacity for knowledge synthesis and critical analysis. This includes quantitative data analysis and data interpretation exercises, critical discussions of the peer-review literature, and essay writing support (e.g. preparation of an essay outline in support for the summative assessment).

Fieldwork serves to integrate the module learning outcomes by providing the opportunity to observe, handle and sample environmental samples from selected terrestrial environments.

Assessment Rationale And Relationship

The summative assessments consists of two essays (i.e. Essay 1 and 2, respectively) that examine the students' knowledge and understanding of the two broad themes covered in the module, carbon cycling and nutrient cycling. The summative assessments develop and test the students' ability to conduct independent research, assimilate and synthesise the broad body of knowledge obtained through the lectures, reading, and guided learning activities. They also develop and test the students' ability to critically analyse data and information from the peer-reviewed literature.

Development of these higher order skills will be supported through guided learning and small group activities, including targeted workshops designed to develop the students' critical abilities. The students will undertake a formative assessment (i.e. Written exercise 1) towards the end of the semester, where they prepare an essay plan for the critique of a peer-reviewed paper, further developing their writing and communication skills.

General Notes

Minor changes have been made to the MOF for 2024-2025, reflecting some of the modifications made to the module this year in response to student feedback and demand for more applied information/knowledge