Course Catalogue

View Specification Document | Reading List

This course explores why organisms move, how they move, and the ecological consequences of their movements. As organisms usually live in heterogenous environments, the course will also explore the origins of landscape structure and change and how this affects movement patterns and ecological processes.

This option is assigned to block S2-B. Normally, one 1-hour morning session and one 2-hour afternoon session on Tuesdays. 

Normally, only available to final-year Life Sciences students in the Animal Biology programme. Visiting students may be allowed to enrol, at the discretion of the Life Sciences Chief Adviser and the Course Coordinator.

None

None

The course will be assessed by in-course assessment only consisting of a written assignment (50%) and lab reports (50%).

The written assignment will involve the design of a movement ecology experiment aimed at answering a research question provided by the staff. There will be 6 laboratory reports, only 4 of which will be summative.

Reassessments are normally available for all courses, except those which contribute to the Honours classification. Where, exceptionally, reassessment on Honours courses is required to satisfy professional/accreditation requirements, only the overall course grade achieved at the first attempt will contribute to the Honours classification. For non-Honours courses, students are offered reassessment in all or any of the components of assessment if the satisfactory (threshold) grade for the overall course is not achieved at the first attempt. This is normally grade D3 for undergraduate students and grade C3 for postgraduate students. Exceptionally it may not be possible to offer reassessment of some coursework items, in which case the mark achieved at the first attempt will be counted towards the final course grade. Any such exceptions for this course are described below. 

The aim of the course is to develop an understanding of the ways in which organisms interact with the environment and the principles that govern movement and space use. Students will be introduced to the major concepts in movement and landscape ecology, and to the methods used in the discipline.

By the end of this course students will be able to:

■ Discuss and critically appraise the current state of understanding of the principles governing organism movement and landscape structure.

■ Identify different movement processes and analyse landscape patterns.

■ Critically assess the impact of human activities on ecosystems.

■ Conduct quantitative analyses and effectively communicate research findings.

■ Explain the interdisciplinary nature of movement and landscape ecology, discussing how ecological principles intersect with other scientific disciplines and impact societal issues.

Students must submit at least 75% by weight of the components (including examinations) of the course's summative assessment.