BI3S206 - Global Ecological Challenges 01 Jul 2022 - 31 Aug 2028 | Version 1

Associated Module Information

Module Code: BI3S206
Module Title: Global Ecological Challenges
Faculty: Faculty of Computing, Engineering and Science
Faculty Group: Applied Sciences
Faculty Sub Group: Biological Sciences
Module Leader: David Lee, Rhian Newman
Module Team: Emma Higgins, Anthony Harris, Natalie Lubbock, Anthony Caravaggi, Claire Tanner, Cerith Jones
First Intended Intake: SEP 2027 Final Year of Intake: 2027
Date Closed:
Credit Value: 20 Credit Level: 6
Language: English
Percentage of Module Taught in Welsh: 0
Equivalent Module:
HECOS codes: 100347 - ecology 100864 - ecosystem ecology and land use
HECOS Code Weighting: 50 50

Document Version Information

Version 1
Valid From 01 Jul 2022
Valid To 31 Aug 2028

Module Aims

On successful completion of this module, students will be able to:

  • Apply scientific knowledge and skills to interpret ecological responses to anthropogenic impacts, including land and sea use change and climate change.
  • Explore the ecological consequences of human-driven stressors on biodiversity, species distributions and extinctions, habitat condition and fragmentation, and the provision of co-beneficial ecosystem services.
  • Investigate different biological scale effects and spatiotemporal responsive patterns of change in a range of ecological landscapes alongside options for remediating impacts on ecological systems and processes, biodiversity, and people.
  • Convey the challenges of, and potential solutions to complex ecological issues using different forms of scientific communication.

Through the exploration and interpretation of real-world ecological challenges, students will develop their skills in communication, enquiry and analysis, information technology, problem solving, critical reflection, and working with others.

In engaging with the module appropriately, students will fully achieve the following level-appropriate Behaviour Domains of the USW Graduate Attributes:

Commercial Awareness: Behaviour 2

Communication: Behaviour 1, 2, 3

Innovation and Enterprise: Behaviour 1, 2

Project Management: Behaviour 1, 2, 3

Digital Literacy: Behaviour 3

Leadership: Behaviour 2, 3

The Capabilities associated with these behaviours are found in the Graduate Attributes table at the end of the descriptor.

Content Summary

While this module has a contemporary content basis guided by international conservation directives and the ecological zeitgeist, and including the themes of invasive species and disease, pollution, land and sea use change, degradation and loss, species overexploitation, and climate change, it follows a student-centred or driven model whereby students have some freedom to explore specific themes based on their interest and assessment of how important a particular global challenge may be. This includes selecting key topics to focus on and input into how module assessments are completed and marked.

Within this framework, topics covered may include, but are not limited to:

  • Human impacts on ecological systems, processes, and biodiversity.
  • Ecological and biodiversity responses to human stressors.
  • Climate variables and controls on habitats and species.
  • Modelling future climate change to generate scenarios for specific climatic envelopes, climate change vulnerability and environmental impacts.
  • Scale-related approaches to managing landscapes and species in response to ecological change, including futureproofing.
  • The importance of ecological networks and connectivity to support population and system functionality.
  • Co-benefits of functioning ecological systems.
  • Conservation payment schemes.
  • Research needs and future horizons in response to projected ecological changes.

Each theme selected by the students follows a broad progression from quantifying impacts, assessing responses, designing management, to identifying co-benefits and future horizons.

Learning and Teaching Methods

Activity Type Hours
Tutorial 24
Independent Study 100
Directed Study 50
Formative Assessment - Independent 2
Practical classes and workshops 24
Total Hours Selected 200

Learning Outcomes

# Learning Outcome
LO1 Critically evaluate how species, populations and communities have or will respond to different human-driven stressors based on a clear understanding of past, present and projectedanthropogenic impacts upon ecological systems, processes and biodiversity.
LO2 Critically appraise conservation measures, actions and interventions to mitigate and compensate co-beneficially for current and future anthropogenic impacts in different landscapes.

Module Requisites

Code Title Requisite Type
MOD012781 Principles of Ecology pre-requisite
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Assessment Criteria

Assessment Category Assessment Type Description Duration Word Count Weight (%) Best of? Pass Mark
Asynchronous Assessment Research Plan / Proposal / Project/ Log 1 Grant proposal 0 3000 60 No 40
Asynchronous Assessment Presentation (Asynchronous) 1 Podcast recording 10 N/A 40 No 40

Assessment Matrix

Assessment Type Learning Outcomes
LO1 LO2
Research Plan / Proposal / Project/ Log 1 ✔ ✔
Presentation (Asynchronous) 1 ✔ ✔

Reading List

Bonan, G. (2016). Ecological Climatology: Concepts and Applications. 3rd ed. New York, NY:

Cambridge University Press.

Coomes, D.A., Burslem, D.F.R.P. and Simonson, W.D. (2014). Forests and Global Change.

Ecological Reviews. Cambridge: Cambridge University Press.

Spellerberg, I.F. (2005). Monitoring Ecological Change. 2nd ed. Cambridge: Cambridge University Press.

Particularly relevant scientific journals include: Global Change Biology, Global Ecology and Biogeography, Global Ecology and Conservation, Journal of Applied Ecology, Nature, Science.