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Module

NES8104 : Forest Ecology

  • Offered for Year: 2024/25
  • Module Leader(s): Dr Janet Simkin
  • Lecturer: Dr Helen Adamson, Professor Marion Pfeifer, Professor Darren Evans
  • Owning School: Natural and Environmental Sciences
  • Teaching Location: Newcastle City Campus
Semesters

Your programme is made up of credits, the total differs on programme to programme.

Semester 1 Credit Value: 20
ECTS Credits: 10.0
European Credit Transfer System

Aims

To develop understanding and knowledge of the ecology of and current issues affecting forest and woodland environments, predominantly but not exclusively in temperate regions, with a view to management for ecosystem services, biodiversity and commercial uses including sustainable food production.

Outline Of Syllabus

The ecology and ecophysiology of temperate broadleaved, boreal and tropical forests;
British native woodlands, their history, traditional uses and management, and condition;
British native trees, their ecology and identification, management of veteran trees;
Vegetation-soil relationships;
Ground and epiphyte flora;
Tree pests and diseases;
Woodland management for biodiversity and conservation;
Current issues, such as ecosystem services, climate change, pollution, habitat loss, sustainable land use, afforestation and rewilding;
Trees in agricultural landscapes and sustainable food production, including farm woodlands, hedgerows, agroforestry and orchards;
Commercial forestry, silvicultural systems and multipurpose forestry;

Teaching Methods

Teaching Activities
Category Activity Number Length Student Hours Comment
Structured Guided LearningLecture materials121:0012:00Structured guided learning using online lecture materials
Scheduled Learning And Teaching ActivitiesLecture62:0012:00Lectures
Guided Independent StudyAssessment preparation and completion144:0044:00Report
Guided Independent StudyAssessment preparation and completion116:0016:00Presentation
Guided Independent StudySkills practice42:008:00Practical exercises
Structured Guided LearningStructured research and reading activities241:0024:00Research, practical exercises and formative assessment
Scheduled Learning And Teaching ActivitiesSmall group teaching42:008:00Presentations, seminars and discussions.
Scheduled Learning And Teaching ActivitiesFieldwork36:0018:00Fieldtrips.
Scheduled Learning And Teaching ActivitiesDrop-in/surgery41:004:00Drop Ins
Guided Independent StudyIndependent study153:0053:00Includes research for assessments
Scheduled Learning And Teaching ActivitiesModule talk11:001:00Introduction to Module.
Total200:00
Teaching Rationale And Relationship

The lectures and seminars provide the theoretical and conceptual knowledge required to understand forest ecology and ecosystem functioning. Practical work on field trips and in the laboratory will support this and lead to an understanding of the biodiversity of woodlands in good and poor condition, the assessment of tree health, and the development of identification skills.
Seminars will provide opportunities for critical discussion of recent developments in sustainable forestry, rewilding and afforestation.

Assessment Methods

The format of resits will be determined by the Board of Examiners

Other Assessment
Description Semester When Set Percentage Comment
Oral Examination1M30Presentation on a topic chosen by the student (10 mins plus questions)
Report1M70Site report (max 3000 words)
Formative Assessments

Formative Assessment is an assessment which develops your skills in being assessed, allows for you to receive feedback, and prepares you for being assessed. However, it does not count to your final mark.

Description Semester When Set Comment
Computer assessment1MOnline canvas quiz to support skills development.
Assessment Rationale And Relationship

The presentation gives the students an opportunity to explore a topic of local interest to them, related to the material covered in the module and relevant to their degree programme. For international students this may relate to land use, conservation issues or food production issues in their own country. The scope and topic will be agreed with the module leader in advance.
The report provides an opportunity to use the skills learned during this module to assess the condition and biodiversity of a local woodland or plantation, and to make recommendations for management.
Skills development during the module will be supported by the use of a formative online quiz on canvas.

Reading Lists

Timetable