School of Biology current student

Information for current students at the School of Biology

Biology Online Module Handbook

BL3309 Ecosystems and Conservation

(BL3309 online module handbook version 89)

cover image
This module will examine how ecosystems function and how they provide services for humans: information which is essential for ecologists, conservationists and land managers. The module will consider examples of natural systems being altered by man to demonstrate how ecosystems function and the consequences of anthropogenic change. Disturbance and regulation in ecosystems, atmospheric and hydrological regulation (including the greenhouse effect and acidification), soil ecology, conservation and management of natural resources, agricultural and grazed ecosystems (including GMOs), urban ecosystems and aspects of sustainable development will also be discussed.*

Credits: 20*

Semester: 2

Module Organiser
Prof Will Cresswell
wrlc@st-andrews.ac.uk
01334 463010
Pre-requisite Modules:
Before taking this module you must pass BL2307 and ( pass BL2303 or pass BL2304 or pass BL2308 )*
Anti-requisite Modules:
*
Post-requisite Modules:
*
Additional Module Information:


Biology Teaching Office:
Level 2, Biomolecular Sciences Building, University of St Andrews, North Haugh, St Andrews, Fife KY16 9ST

Email: bioteach@st-andrews.ac.uk      Phone: +44 (0)1334 46 3602 or 3566

BL3309: Timetable

Legend (not all modules have every event type):
lecture
tutorial
workshop
practical
other

Semester 2: Week 1

DATE & TIMEVENUESTAFFEVENT
Monday
15-01-2024
10:00 to 11:00
Bute Building
LTA
Prof Will Cresswell
-
Lecture L1: Ecosystems services and biodiversity as a resource
2023-4_BL3309_L1
Tuesday
16-01-2024
10:00 to 11:00
Bute Building
LTA
Prof Will Cresswell
-
Lecture L2: Stability, disturbance and regulation in ecosystems
2023-4_BL3309_L2
Wednesday
17-01-2024
10:00 to 11:00
Bute Building
LTA
Prof Will Cresswell
-
Lecture L3: Agricultural ecosystems
2023-4_BL3309_L3
Wednesday
17-01-2024
14:00 to 17:00
Bute Building
Bute Computer Lab
Prof Will Cresswell
-
Practical P1: Ecological modeling 1
2023-4_BL3309_P1
Analysis workshop
Friday
19-01-2024
12:00 to 13:00
Dyers Brae
Seminar Room
Prof Will Cresswell
-
Tutorial T1: Continuous assessment 1 troubleshooting
2023-4_BL3309_T1
Optional drop in tutorial

Semester 2: Week 2

DATE & TIMEVENUESTAFFEVENT
Monday
22-01-2024
10:00 to 11:00
Bute Building
LTA
Dr Verena Dietrich-Bischoff
-
Lecture L4: Soils
2023-4_BL3309_L4
Monday
22-01-2024
14:00 to 16:00
Dyers Brae
Seminar Room
Prof Will Cresswell
-
Tutorial T2: Continuous assessment 1 troubleshooting
2023-4_BL3309_T2
Optional drop in tutorial
Tuesday
23-01-2024
10:00 to 11:00
Bute Building
LTA
Dr Verena Dietrich-Bischoff
-
Lecture L5: Acidification
2023-4_BL3309_L5
Wednesday
24-01-2024
10:00 to 11:00
Bute Building
LTA
Dr Verena Dietrich-Bischoff
-
Lecture L6: Pesticides
2023-4_BL3309_L6

Semester 2: Week 3

DATE & TIMEVENUESTAFFEVENT
Monday
29-01-2024
10:00 to 11:00
Bute Building
LTA
Prof Will Cresswell
-
Lecture L7: Grazing and domestic animals in ecosystems
2023-4_BL3309_L7
Tuesday
30-01-2024
10:00 to 11:00
Bute Building
LTA
Prof Will Cresswell
-
Lecture L8: Biological control
2023-4_BL3309_L8
Tuesday
30-01-2024
16:00 to 17:00
Dyers Brae
Seminar Room
Prof Will Cresswell
-
Tutorial T3: Continuous assessment 1 troubleshooting
2023-4_BL3309_T3
Optional drop in tutorial
Wednesday
31-01-2024
10:00 to 11:00
Bute Building
LTA
Dr Verena Dietrich-Bischoff
-
Lecture L9: Climate change 1
2023-4_BL3309_L9
Wednesday
31-01-2024
15:00 to 16:00
Dyers Brae
Seminar Room
Prof Will Cresswell
-
Tutorial T4: Continuous assessment 1 troubleshooting
2023-4_BL3309_T4
Optional drop in tutorial

Semester 2: Week 4

DATE & TIMEVENUESTAFFEVENT
Monday
05-02-2024
10:00 to 11:00
Bute Building
LTA
Dr Verena Dietrich-Bischoff
-
Lecture L10: Climate change 2
2023-4_BL3309_L10
Tuesday
06-02-2024
10:00 to 11:00
Bute Building
LTA
Prof Will Cresswell
-
Lecture L11: Extractive exploitation
2023-4_BL3309_L11
Wednesday
07-02-2024
10:00 to 11:00
Bute Building
LTA
Prof Will Cresswell
-
Lecture L12: Recreation, ecotourism and culture
2023-4_BL3309_L12
Student briefings

Semester 2: Week 5

DATE & TIMEVENUESTAFFEVENT
Monday
12-02-2024
10:00 to 11:00
Bute Building
LTA
Prof Will Cresswell
-
Lecture L13: Urban ecosystems 1
2023-4_BL3309_L13
Tuesday
13-02-2024
10:00 to 11:00
Bute Building
LTA
Prof Will Cresswell
-
Lecture L14: Urban ecosystems 2
2023-4_BL3309_L14
Wednesday
14-02-2024
10:00 to 11:00
Bute Building
LTA
Prof Will Cresswell
-
Lecture L15: FEEDBACK on continuous assessment 1
2023-4_BL3309_L15
Wednesday
14-02-2024
14:00 to 17:00
Bute Building
Bute Computer Lab
Prof Will Cresswell
-
Practical P2: Ecological modeling 2
2023-4_BL3309_P2
Computer analysis practical

Semester 2: Week 6

DATE & TIMEVENUESTAFFEVENT
Monday
19-02-2024
10:00 to 11:00
Bute Building
LTA
Prof Will Cresswell
-
Lecture L16: Guest lecture
2023-4_BL3309_L16
Monday
19-02-2024
14:00 to 16:00
Dyers Brae
Seminar Room
Prof Will Cresswell
-
Tutorial T5: Continuous assessment 2 troubleshooting
2023-4_BL3309_T5
Optional drop in tutorial
Tuesday
20-02-2024
10:00 to 11:00
Bute Building
LTA
Prof Simon Northridge
-
Workshop W1: Class conservation hot topic priorities discussion
2023-4_BL3309_W1
Wednesday
21-02-2024
10:00 to 11:00
Bute Building
LTA
Prof Will Cresswell
-
Workshop W2: Class conservation hot topic priorities discussion part 2
2023-4_BL3309_W2
Wednesday
21-02-2024
14:00 to 15:00
Dyers Brae
Seminar Room
Prof Will Cresswell
-
Tutorial T6: Continuous assessment 2 troubleshooting
2023-4_BL3309_T6
Optional drop in tutorial
Thursday
22-02-2024
16:00 to 17:00
Dyers Brae
Seminar Room
Prof Will Cresswell
-
Tutorial T7: Continuous assessment 2 troubleshooting
2023-4_BL3309_T7
Optional drop in session

Spring Break: 26-Feb-2024 to 01-Mar-2024

Semester 2: Week 7

DATE & TIMEVENUESTAFFEVENT
Monday
04-03-2024
10:00 to 11:00
Bute Building
LTA

-
Lecture L17: Guest Lecturer 2
2023-4_BL3309_L17
Monday
04-03-2024
14:00 to 15:00
Dyers Brae
Seminar Room

-
Tutorial T8: Continuous assessment 1 troubleshooting
2023-4_BL3309_T8
Optional drop in tutorial
Tuesday
05-03-2024
10:00 to 11:00
Bute Building
LTA
Prof Will Cresswell
-
Workshop W3: Class hot topic preparation
2023-4_BL3309_W3
Wednesday
06-03-2024
10:00 to 11:00
Bute Building
LTA
Dr Miguel Barbosa
-
Lecture L18: Conservation in a marine context: marine protected areas
2023-4_BL3309_L18
Student briefings
Wednesday
06-03-2024
14:00 to 15:00
Dyers Brae
Seminar Room

-
Tutorial T9: Continuous assessment 1 troubleshooting
2023-4_BL3309_T9
Optional drop in tutorial

Semester 2: Week 8

DATE & TIMEVENUESTAFFEVENT
Monday
11-03-2024
10:00 to 11:00
Bute Building
LTA
Prof Simon Northridge
-
Lecture L19: The causes of extinction
2023-4_BL3309_L19
Tuesday
12-03-2024
10:00 to 11:00
Bute Building
LTA
Prof Simon Northridge
-
Lecture L20: Evaluating the risk of extinction
2023-4_BL3309_L20
Wednesday
13-03-2024
10:00 to 11:00
Bute Building
LTA
Prof Simon Northridge
-
Lecture L21: The metapopulation concept and area based conservation
2023-4_BL3309_L21

Semester 2: Week 9

DATE & TIMEVENUESTAFFEVENT
Monday
18-03-2024
10:00 to 11:00
Bute Building
LTA
Prof Simon Northridge
-
Lecture L22: Harvesting and managing wild populations
2023-4_BL3309_L22
Tuesday
19-03-2024
10:00 to 11:00
Bute Building
LTA
Dr Miguel Barbosa
-
Lecture L23: Ecological economics - valuing Biodiversity and Ecosystem Services
2023-4_BL3309_L23
Wednesday
20-03-2024
10:00 to 11:00
Bute Building
LTA
Dr Miguel Barbosa
-
Lecture L24: Conservation education
2023-4_BL3309_L24

Semester 2: Week 10

DATE & TIMEVENUESTAFFEVENT
Monday
25-03-2024
10:00 to 11:00
Bute Building
LTA
Prof Will Cresswell
-
Lecture L25: Species and habitat conservation
2023-4_BL3309_L25
Tuesday
26-03-2024
10:00 to 11:00
Bute Building
LTA
Prof Will Cresswell
-
Lecture L26: Sustainable development 1
2023-4_BL3309_L26
Wednesday
27-03-2024
10:00 to 11:00
Bute Building
LTA
Prof Will Cresswell
-
Lecture L27: Sustainable development 2
2023-4_BL3309_L27

Semester 2: Week 11

DATE & TIMEVENUESTAFFEVENT
Monday
01-04-2024
10:00 to 11:00
Bute Building
LTA
Prof Will Cresswell
-
Lecture L28: FEEDBACK on continuous assessment 2
2023-4_BL3309_L28
Tuesday
02-04-2024
10:00 to 11:00
Bute Building
LTA
Prof Will Cresswell
-
Lecture L29: Optional Revision and exam question session
2023-4_BL3309_L29
Friday
05-04-2024
10:00 to 13:00
Bute Building
LTD
Prof Will Cresswell
-
Workshop W4: Conservation planning presentations
2023-4_BL3309_W4
Note Bute Lecture Theatre D
Data Sources: information in this online module handbook is gathered from several sources.
Small footnote marks beside content, or by section titles indicate the source.
* University of St Andrews Module Catalogue
School of Biology Symbiosis Database (module organisers only)
University of St Andrews MMS (St Andrews users only)

BL3309: Assessment

3-hour Written Examination = 50%, Coursework = 50%*

The following related information applies to all Biology modules:

School of Biology Marking Criteria: See JH booklet info (st-andrews.ac.uk) 
Late submission of continuous assessment work:

All late submissions of coursework that do not require electronic submission should be made via the Biology Teaching Office, Level 2, BMS Building, North Haugh.
Exam details: See School of Biology UG Handbook JH booklet info (st-andrews.ac.uk)  : All Biology exams will be conducted online for 2022-23.
Exam timetable: See Timetables - Exams - University of St Andrews (st-andrews.ac.uk) 
Expected attendance: See JH booklet info (st-andrews.ac.uk)  for detailed attendance requirements.
Good Academic Practice & Avoiding Academic Misconduct: See JH booklet info (st-andrews.ac.uk)
University Student Handbook: University Student Handbook
School and University regulations in the School and University Undergraduate Handbook relating to absence reporting, penalties and rules for late submission of work, extensions for coursework, return of coursework, S-coding, good academic practice and Academic Alerts.: JH booklet info (st-andrews.ac.uk)
University Student Handbook
Data Sources: information in this online module handbook is gathered from several sources.
Small footnote marks beside content, or by section titles indicate the source.
* University of St Andrews Module Catalogue
School of Biology Symbiosis Database (module organisers only)
University of St Andrews MMS (St Andrews users only)

Who to ask

(Information in this section applies to all Biology Modules)

Before contacting staff, students should check the content of the Biology Undergraduate Handbook, the module handbook and specific task instructions.

Questions about Contact
General teaching matters Biology Teaching Office ( bioteach@st-andrews.ac.uk )
Rescheduled or cancelled events Check your University email
Lecture or practical content The lecturer who presented the material
Completing assessed practical assignments The lecturer who set the assignment
Completing assessments Module Organiser (Prof Will Cresswell wrlc@st-andrews.ac.uk)
Marking on continuous assessment The Demonstrator or Module Organiser (Prof Will Cresswell wrlc@st-andrews.ac.uk)
Marking on exams Module Organiser (Prof Will Cresswell wrlc@st-andrews.ac.uk)
Rearranging practical days
Module Organiser (Prof Will Cresswell wrlc@st-andrews.ac.uk)
Absence and/or extensions Module Organiser (Prof Will Cresswell wrlc@st-andrews.ac.uk)

and the Biology Teaching Office ( bioteach@st-andrews.ac.uk )

Difficulties with academic progress which impact more than one module:

Year Coordinator

See School of Biology UG Handbook for list:
JH booklet info (st-andrews.ac.uk)

Overall performance, progress or future directions:

Advisor of Studies

Disability:

Disability Coordinator ( biodisabilities@st-andrews.ac.uk )

For advice and support on any issue e.g. academic, financial, international, personal or health matters, or if you are unsure of who to go to for help:

Advice & Support Centre

Address: 79 North Street, St Andrews

Email: theasc@st-andrews.ac.uk

Web: https://www.standrews.ac.uk/ask-a-question/

Tel: 01334 462020

University assistance with urgent matters out of office hours:

Tel: 01334 476161

Web: https://www.st-andrews.ac.uk/students/advice/counselling/incrisis/

Biology Teaching Office:

We are happy to hear from you about teaching matters. The School of Biology Teaching Office is open Monday to Friday 09.00 - 13.00 and 14.00 - 17.00. School of Biology staff will respond to your emails during these hours. Our team will provide a response to you within three working days.

Biology Teaching Office (Level 2), University of St Andrews, Biomolecular Sciences Building, North Haugh, St Andrews, Fife KY16 9ST

Email: bioteach@st-andrews.ac.uk

Tel: 01334 46 3602 or 3566

BL3309: Contributing Staff

Prof Will Cresswell
(Module Organiser)

Professor of Biologywrlc@st-andrews.ac.uk
Dr Miguel BarbosaLecturer in Marine Biologymb334@st-andrews.ac.uk
Prof Will Cresswell
(Module Organiser)
Professor of Biologywrlc@st-andrews.ac.uk
Dr Verena Dietrich-BischoffLecturer (Education-Focused)vdb@st-andrews.ac.uk
Prof Simon NorthridgeHead of Schoolspn1@st-andrews.ac.uk
Data Sources: information in this online module handbook is gathered from several sources.
Small footnote marks beside content, or by section titles indicate the source.
* University of St Andrews Module Catalogue
School of Biology Symbiosis Database (module organisers only)
University of St Andrews MMS (St Andrews users only)

BL3309: Learning Outcomes

Students completing module BL3309 successfully should be able to:

  • List and explain the functional basis of the types of relationships between organisms and abiotic factors
  • Describe how diversity arises from the physical processes that limit this
  • Describe how ecosystem functions result from how other organisms ameliorate or intensify limiting abiotic conditions.
  • Give specific detailed examples of how relationships between organisms at an ecosystem level, and ecosystem processes, arise from combinations of abiotic and biotic factors and how organisms and communities themselves then affect abiotic factors.
  • Understand the concept of ecosystem services
  • Understand how humans are affecting ecosystem functions and processes and so ecosystem services.
  • Give specific detailed examples of how humans can change and manage ecosystem services.
  • Appreciate that how humans affect ecosystem functions and processes is fundamental to future quality of life, and how conservation, urban planning and sustainable development can lead to positive solutions.
  • Analyse and interpret complex ecological data sets typical of environmental monitoring.
Data Sources: information in this online module handbook is gathered from several sources.
Small footnote marks beside content, or by section titles indicate the source.
* University of St Andrews Module Catalogue
School of Biology Symbiosis Database (module organisers only)
University of St Andrews MMS (St Andrews users only)

BL3309: Acquired Skills

Practical Skills

  • Field sampling methods (Vertebrates)
  • Sustainability related practical skills

Transferable Skills

  • Group discussion - leading
  • Group discussion - participating
  • Leading short activity
  • Short individual presentation on given topic (up to 15 min)
  • Short informal presentation (using PowerPoint or not)
  • "Full" practical write-up (Intro, Methods, Results, Discussion)
  • Critically evaluating sources/information
  • Finding information on the web
  • Finding literature
  • Referencing
  • Searching databases
  • Sourcing figures/tables
  • Computer programming
  • Generating questions
  • Impact considerations
  • Peer assessment
  • Reflective analysis
  • Problem-solving questions
  • ANOVA/Kruskal-Wallis test
  • Biodiversity analysis
  • Chi-square test
  • Data analysis
  • Data analysis (depending on project)
  • Data presentation
  • Deal with outliers
  • Decimal places
  • Descriptive statistics
  • Distinguish different types of data
  • Draw a line of best fit
  • Generalised Linear Models
  • Handling big data
  • Interpolation
  • Linear regression
  • Logarithms
  • Non-linear fit
  • Pearson/Spearman rank correlation
  • Produce graphs/figures
  • Produce tables
  • Shapiro-Wilk test for normality
  • SI units
  • Significant figures
  • Survival analysis
  • t-test/Wilcoxon test
  • Two-way ANOVA
  • Use Excel
  • Use R or R Studio
  • Sustainability Related Skills
  • Managing a team
  • Organising group work
  • Working in pairs/small groups
Data Sources: information in this online module handbook is gathered from several sources.
Small footnote marks beside content, or by section titles indicate the source.
* University of St Andrews Module Catalogue
School of Biology Symbiosis Database (module organisers only)
University of St Andrews MMS (St Andrews users only)

Policies

(Information in this section applies to all Biology Modules)

  • The procedures and regulations followed by the School of Biology are outlined in the University Handbook and in the School of Biology UG handbook  JH booklet info (st-andrews.ac.uk) 
  • All coursework associated with the module must be completed and submitted by its due date.
  • Specific School regulations relating to absence reporting, penalties and rules for late submission of work, extensions for coursework, return of coursework, S-coding, Good Academic Practice and Academic Alert are stated in the School of Biology UG hand book JH booklet info (st-andrews.ac.uk)  and students are required to carefully read these regulations.
  • Students are also referred to the University Handbook, available at: http://www.st-andrews.ac.uk/studenthandbook/