Learning Partnerships, Unit Catalogue 2008/09 |
AS10190 Ecological systems and human intervention |
| Credits: 10 |
| Level: Certificate |
| Academic Year at Wiltshire College |
| Assessment: CW 80%, OR 20% |
| Requisites: |
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Aims: The aims of this unit are to:
* provide skills in identifying the dynamic processes and interactions (biotic and abiotic) within a range of UK habitats. * provide an appreciation of the relationship between phenotype and ecological niche. * enable conversance with spatial and temporal factors and their relationship to populations. * provide an awareness of the effect of primary, processing, manufacturing/retail industries and their associated processes which impact on habitats. * provide opportunities to examine examples of best practice in mitigating human impacts. Learning Outcomes: At the end of this unit students will be able to: * demonstrate a knowledge and understanding of key dynamic processes that maintain or develop plant and animal communities. * identify factors that affect the structure and dynamics of populations. * recognise the effects of human activities on ecological diversity and habitat quality. * identify factors impacting on habitat quality and apply sustainable, * remedial and prevention measures. Skills: During the unit students will gain the following skills: Intellectual: * gathering, processing and analysing technical information (A). * understanding a range of socio-economic objectives and their implications (T). Professional: * written and verbal presentation skills (A). Practical: * developing identification and observational skills to maintain records and contribute to reports (T). * developing a range of intrinsic skills to respond to situations (T). Key: * evaluating specifications and costs (T). * writing reports (A). * communicating to third parties (F). Content: This unit concentrates on: * dynamic processes (e.g. biogeochemical cycles and actions such as production, consumption and decomposition) in selected habitats including grassland, heathland, lowland woodland, bog and fen. * principal UK flora and fauna and their interactions within selected habitats. * phenotypic characteristics of key plant and animal species, e.g. halophytes, xerophytes, R and K strategies, breeding, dispersal and migratory strategies. * the biotic and abiotic factors governing changes in habitats by reference to models of succession, e.g. primary, secondary, climax and plagio-climax communities. * population relationships and trophic levels, community diversity (predator-prey relationships) and spatial factors, e.g. carrying capacity and genetic drift, and temporal factors, e.g. day length and seasonality. * inter and intra-specific interactions influencing the structure and dynamics of populations. * monitoring of selected species and analysis of environmental influences. * the effects of human interactions as primary intensive agrarian and pastoral systems, industrial processes and production. * examples of best industrial practice within an environment focused framework (auditing, energy and waste management plans). |