ES2S206 - British Landscapes and Habitats 01 Jul 2022 - 31 Aug 2028 | Version 1
Associated Module Information
| Module Code: | ES2S206 | ||
|---|---|---|---|
| Module Title: | British Landscapes and Habitats | ||
| Faculty: | Faculty of Computing, Engineering and Science | ||
| Faculty Group: | Applied Sciences | ||
| Faculty Sub Group: | Earth and Environment | ||
| Module Leader: | Amelia Grass, Ian Skilling | ||
| Module Team: | Ian Skilling, Richard Penrose, Niamh Breslin, Anthony Harris | ||
| First Intended Intake: | SEP 2027 | Final Year of Intake: | 2027 |
| Date Closed: | |||
| Credit Value: | 20 | Credit Level: | 5 |
| Language: | English | ||
| Percentage of Module Taught in Welsh: | 0 | ||
| Equivalent Module: | |||
| HECOS codes: | 100469 - environmental management | 101318 - biodiversity conservation | |
| HECOS Code Weighting: | 80 | 20 | |
Document Version Information
| Version | 1 |
|---|---|
| Valid From | 01 Jul 2022 |
| Valid To | 31 Aug 2028 |
Module Aims
Understanding UK landscapes from an ecological, geological and conservation perspective
Develop knowledge of the key U.K. habitats within those landscapes and understand the major conservation management tools and key natural and anthropogenic drivers of change.
Content Summary
Relationship between landscapes, habitats, surface processes, subsurface geology, climate and human activities
U.K. land cover, landscape and related biodiversity at scales ranging from country to regional to local
Human modification of landscapes from neolithic to present
Landscape evaluation metrics ranging from ecological to environmental
An introduction to key ecological characteristics of UK habitat types and their spatial distribution.
British climatic conditions and the potential impacts of projected climate change.
Key UK habitats will include:
Forestry and agroforestry.
Mountains and uplands.
Lowlands.
Peat bogs
Coastal landscapes.
Rivers and riparian zones.
Urban ecology and brownfield sites.
Hedgerows.
Wetlands
Island habitats.
Introduction to environmental law and policies relating to landscapes. Key players in policy including The Environment Agency, Natural Resources Wales, DEFRA.
Nature conservation designations, NNRs, SSSIs, AONBs and National Parks. Legacy EU directives including the Habitats Directive, SACs, MCA’s, etc. RAMSAR designations for Wetlands.
Introduction to Environmental Impact Assessment, legislation and practice. Ecological Impact Assessment. Post Brexit U.K. environmental policies.
Develop a critical understanding of the major impacts on biodiversity change/loss with reference to agriculture systems and major infrastructure schemes such as HS2.
Understanding of the key characteristics of Habitat fragmentation and the use of focal species as indicators of Ecological health. Measuring fragmentation using bespoke software such as ‘R’ based Landscape metrics. Habitat mapping using Remote Sensing tools.
Biodiversity offsetting. UK Priority Species. The impacts of Invasive Species.
Practicals including lab based and fieldwork.
Learning and Teaching Methods
| Activity Type | Hours |
|---|---|
| Lecture | 32 |
| Practical classes and workshops | 16 |
| Fieldwork | 16 |
| Independent Study | 116 |
| Problem / challenge based learning | 20 |
| Total Hours Selected | 200 |
Learning Outcomes
| # | Learning Outcome |
|---|---|
| LO1 | Develop an in-depth knowledge of UK landscapes and habitats and their conservation. |
| LO2 | Develop research and technical skills in analysing and understanding landscape and habitat changes over time. |
Module Requisites
N/A
Assessment Criteria
| Assessment Category | Assessment Type | Description | Duration | Word Count | Weight (%) | Best of? | Pass Mark |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Asynchronous Assessment | Practical Coursework 1 (Asynch) | RS and GIS based practical exercises studying habitat fragmentation | 0 | 200 | 50 | No | 40 |
| Asynchronous Assessment | Field coursework 1 | Fieldwork report | 0 | 1500 | 50 | No | 40 |
Assessment Matrix
| Assessment Type | Learning Outcomes | ||
|---|---|---|---|
| LO1 | LO2 | ||
| Practical Coursework 1 (Asynch) | ✔ | ✔ | |
| Field coursework 1 | ✔ | ✔ | |