| CODE | BIO2530 | ||||||||||||||||
| TITLE | Ecology and Ethology 2 | ||||||||||||||||
| UM LEVEL | 02 - Years 2, 3 in Modular Undergraduate Course | ||||||||||||||||
| MQF LEVEL | 5 | ||||||||||||||||
| ECTS CREDITS | 3 | ||||||||||||||||
| DEPARTMENT | Biology | ||||||||||||||||
| DESCRIPTION | This study-unit examines selected topics in ecology and behavioural ecology through a combination of lectures and student presentations followed by a class discussion. Topics will be chosen from areas of controversy and/or current research and lectures and presentations will be based on review articles and the primary literature, which students will be expected to analyse and synthesise. Topics covered may include: - Ecological and evolutionary processes underlying the growth, structure, dynamics and regulation of populations; - Evolution of population and life-history strategies; - Persistence and stability of populations; - Competition, predation, mutualism and the generation and maintenance of species diversity; - Ecological and evolutionary processes underlying community structure and ecosystem function; - Biogeography: spatial and temporal patterns of species diversity; island biogeography; - Energy and nutrient transfer in ecosystems; - Natural and managed ecosystems; - Behavioural ecology of sex and mating systems in animals; - Optimality theory; - Social behaviour and animal societies. Students are to note that regular attendance to lectures, practical sessions and visits is obligatory. Students will be allowed to sit for the examination and a grade may be awarded to a particular study-unit only if attendance to lectures, practical sessions and/or field/site visits has been regular and if they have submitted all assignments and report as required. Study-unit Aims: The principal aim of this study-unit is to extend the basic ecological concepts introduced in BIO2040 Ecology and Ethology 1 by exposing students to current ideas on the topics covered and to encourage a critical evaluation of the theoretical, experimental and observational evidence on which such ideas are based. This will be achieved through introductory lectures on the topics covered, and on student presentations based on review and primary literature followed by tutor-led discussion. Learning Outcomes: 1. Knowledge & Understanding: By the end of the study-unit the student will be able to: - Summarize the historical development of ideas in ecology and behavioural ecology; - Describe the nature of the evidence on which current ideas in ecology and behavioural ecology are based; - Analyse the strengths and weaknesses of this evidence; - Demonstrate the ability to think critically about the factors which shape and affect populations, communities and ecosystems and the behaviour of individuals relative to others of the same or different species; - Demonstrate an understanding of the main factors that generate, maintain and limit species diversity; - Synthesise their understanding of the present state of knowledge of selected topics in ecology and behavioural ecology. 2. Skills: By the end of the study-unit the student will be able to: - Search the primary and secondary scientific literature on ecology and behavioural ecology for key papers and reviews on selected topics; - Prepare a synthesis of the key ideas on the topic, a summary of the evidence and a critical evaluation this evidence in the form of a presentation; - Deliver a presentation and participate effectively in a discussion on the topic. Main Text/s and any supplementary readings: The following texts provide the background however the study-unit will be based on review articles and the primary literature, which students will be guided to search for. - BREWER, R (1994) The science of ecology [2nd ed] Brooks/Cole - RICKLEFS, RE (2009) The economy of nature. [6th ed] W.H. Freeman - BEGON, M, TOWNSEND, CR & HARPER, JL (2006) Ecology: from individuals to ecosystems. [4th ed] Blackwell (with accompanying CD-ROM) - KREBS, CJ (2001) Ecology: the experimental analysis of distribution and abundance. [5th ed] Harper Benjamin Cummings - PIANKA, ER (1999) Evolutionary ecology. [6th ed] Benjamin-Cummings [An excellent text, useful also for units in animal behaviour and evolutionary biology. There is now an updated 7th edition (2011) available as an eBook] - McFARLAND D (1999) Animal behaviour: psychobiology, ethology and evolution [3rd ed] Longman - DRICKAMER LC, VESSEY SH & JAKOB EM (2002) Animal behaviour: mechanisms, ecology, evolution [5th ed] McGraw Hill - BARNARD C (2004) Animal behaviour: mechanism, development, function, evolution. Prentice Hall. |
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| ADDITIONAL NOTES | Pre-requisite Study-units: B.Sc. (Hons.) 1st Year Study-Units or equivalent; BIO2040 | ||||||||||||||||
| STUDY-UNIT TYPE | Lecture, Seminar & Independent Study | ||||||||||||||||
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| LECTURER/S | Julian Evans Sandro Lanfranco Patrick J. Schembri |
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The University makes every effort to ensure that the published Courses Plans, Programmes of Study and Study-Unit information are complete and up-to-date at the time of publication. The University reserves the right to make changes in case errors are detected after publication.
The availability of optional units may be subject to timetabling constraints. Units not attracting a sufficient number of registrations may be withdrawn without notice. It should be noted that all the information in the description above applies to study-units available during the academic year 2023/4. It may be subject to change in subsequent years. |
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