Module BO4102: Plant Community Ecology
| Co-ordinator: | Professor Daniel Kelly |
|---|---|
| Other Lecturer: | Professor Jane Stout |
| Course Type: | Mandatory (Plant Sciences), Optional (Environmental Sciences) |
| Assessment: | 50% Examination, 50% Continual Assessment |
| ECTS: | 5 credits |
| Prerequisites: | None |
Contact hours:
| Lectures: | 9 hours |
|---|---|
| Practicals: | 32 hours |
| Total | 41 hours |
Description:
The complexity of plant communities – of plant species interacting with each other and with the biotic and physical environment – has long been a challenge to ecologists. The module begins with a field trip in which we encounter the practical problems of recording vegetation of different kinds and scales. The data collected on the trip are used through the rest of the module. We review conflicting theories concerning the nature of the plant community and consider different approaches to the classification of vegetation. We consider the challenges of mapping vegetation and the different approaches that have been employed through time. We explore the impacts of invasive species on plant communities. We discuss ordination techniques and how they can be used to explore gradients in vegetation data. We explore how patterns in vegetation can be related to variations in one or more environmental factor.
Learning outcomes:
On successful completion of this module students should be able to:
- Design and carry out a survey of vegetation in a range of habitats and at a range of scales
- Analyse vegetation data using a range of statistical techniques and computer packages
- Relate first-hand observations to what is presented in the scientific literature
- Relate patterns in vegetation to the environmental and biotic factors that govern them
- Explain the theoretical and practical implications of plant invasions.