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Module

BIO3040 : Applied Ecology

  • Offered for Year: 2020/21
  • Module Leader(s): Dr Gordon Port
  • Lecturer: Professor Darren Evans, Professor Angharad MR Gatehouse
  • Owning School: Natural and Environmental Sciences
  • Teaching Location: Newcastle City Campus
Semesters
Semester 1 Credit Value: 20
ECTS Credits: 10.0

Aims

Human activity has major impacts on the ecology of both managed and unmanaged ecosystems, and it is important for modern ecologists to understand the effects on individuals, populations and communities of plants and animals. To do this successfully, ecologists require both a thorough understanding of the underlying theories that can be used to describe the behaviour of ecological systems, and also the ability to apply these theories so as to predict the likely results of human activity. Applied ecologists must also be able to communicate effectively scientific knowledge into clear guidance that can be used by policy-makers; this may include control of crop pests or alien invasives, or conservation of rare and endangered species.

Outline Of Syllabus

Lectures will be under four broad themes:
• Population management of pest and beneficial species in agro-ecosystems
• Ecological networks, with examples from agro-ecosystems and landscape ecology
• Efficacy and biosafety of GM crops
• Scientific knowledge and policy – how to communicate scientific findings for policy-makers

Teaching Methods

Module leaders are revising this content in light of the Covid 19 restrictions.
Revised and approved detail information will be available by 17 August.

Assessment Methods

Module leaders are revising this content in light of the Covid 19 restrictions.
Revised and approved detail information will be available by 17 August.

Reading Lists

Timetable