Introductory description

Human society is developing against a background of increasing competition for scarce environmental resources and the consequence of climate change. This module will introduce students to the natural and managed environment and to the pressures on the planet that result from man’s past and current activities. It will also look at how society can respond to the challenges posed by environmental change.

Module web page

Module aims

Outline syllabus

This is an indicative module outline only to give an indication of the sort of topics that may be covered. Actual sessions held may differ.

The course is organised into 3 sections plus and introductory lecture and a modelling workshop.

Introduction to Environmental Biology:

1. Why study environmental biosciences?

Humans and other living organisms in the environment:
2. Environment and the individual
3. The water cycle
4. Biodiversity
5. Population ecology
6. Understanding interactions between organisms
7. Community ecology
8. Understanding and exploiting ecological systems

The evolving climate:
9. Evolution of earth systems
10. Microbes and environmental cycles – 1
11. Microbes and environmental cycles – 2
12. The climate system
13. Evidence for change
14. Drivers of change

Learning outcomes

By the end of the module, students should be able to:

• Understand the importance of ecosystems and the environment
• Understand the water cycle and nitrogen cycle
• Understand the basics of biodiversity and evolution
• Understand the impact of climate change on the environment, ecosystem and food chain.
• Understand the basics of modelling environmental factors and outcomes

Indicative reading list

Global Climate Change by Arnold J. Bloom, Sinauer Associates Inc.

First Ecology: Ecological Principles and Environmental Issues by Alan Beeby and
Anne-Maria Brennan, Oxford University Press.
Global Warming: The Complete Briefing by John Houghton, Cambridge University Press. Climate Change and Biodiversity, edited by Thomas E. Lovejoy and Lee Hannah,
Yale University Press.

Sustainable Agriculture by John Mason, CSIRO Press.

Biofuels (Energy for the Future and Global Warming) by Andrew Solway, Gareth Stevens
Publishing.

What has nature ever done for us? How money really does grow on trees by Tony Juniper, Profile Books.

Do we need pandas? The uncomfortable truth about biodiversity by Ken Thompson, Green Books.

Subject specific skills

Demonstrate an understanding of the key factors driving changes in societal interaction with the natural and managed environment

Demonstrate an understanding of the evidence for the causes of climate change and demonstrate knowledge of future scenarios, climate predictions and potential impacts.

Demonstrate an understanding of the concept of ecosystem services and factors that have an impact on soil and water health, biodiversity and conservation.

Understand the principles of ecology and interactions of organisms at a range of scales from populations to communities.

Demonstrate an understanding of mitigation of and adaptation to climate change, including the use of sustainable energy.

Understand the potential and limitations of using mathematical modelling as analytical and predictive tools in environmental biology

Transferable skills

1. Critical appraisal of source material
2. Self directed learning
3. Adult learning