Environmental Biology - U7UEBLGY

This module examines multiple types of animal behaviour in an evolutionary framework and considers neurophysiology, cognition, and the physiology of two important behaviours: foraging and communication. Practical classes focus on demonstrating the link between physiology, the environment and behaviour in invertebrates. There is a limited number of places on this module. Students are reminded that enrolments which are not agreed by the Offering School in advance may be cancelled without notice.

Through practical sessions, you will learn the techniques of biological image production and manipulation, including the ability to generate biological images of the highest technical quality and scientific value. You will build an understanding of the principles behind photography and how to get the most out of state of the art photographic and imaging equipment.

Modern biological and environmental science includes the study of complex systems and large data sets, including imaging data. This necessitates the use of computer models and analyses in order to understand these systems. This module contains an introduction to computer programming and modelling techniques that are used in the biological and environmental sciences. Specifically, it contains:  
   
(i) An introduction to computer programming and algorithms, using the Python programming language.  
   
(ii) An introduction the construction of mathematical models for biological and environmental systems using difference and differential equations, with a particular emphasis on population dynamics, and the use of computing to simulate, analyse these models and fit these models to data.  
 
Throughout the module, the focus will be on relevant examples and applications, e.g. environmental pollution, growth of microbial populations, disease epidemics, or computer manipulation of images of plants, animals or the natural environment

The course will focus on the processes that govern terrestrial ecosystem function. We will identify key ecosystem drivers and processes and explore how these have shaped the biosphere. Students will gain an understanding of the mechanisms that control changes in the physiochemical environment and their impact upon communities. Particular topics will include primary productivity, decomposition, herbivory, biodiversity and human impact on ecosystems. Classes comprise a mix of lectures, laboratory practicals, a computer practical, a seminar and fieldwork

Plant physiology is a key discipline relevant to agricultural, environmental and plant sciences and this module is broad in scope and aims to enable the student to understand the key mechanisms of plant physiology that can inform across these subjects.

Plant physiologists are the ‘engineers’ of botany, studying the physical and chemical mechanisms that drive plant growth and the adaptations that underly resilience and survival. Specifically this module provides an understanding of the mechanisms that plants use to capture and efficiently utilise physical resources of solar energy, water and nutrients and how they do this in diverse and challenging global habitats, including both natural and agricultural systems.

This module is delivered through lectures, practicals and group tutorials over 12 weeks covering various topics as follows:

• Week 1-2: Mechanisms of capture of light and CO2 for growth: whole plant regulation and feedback mechanisms.
• Week 3-4: Capture of water from soil; how water moves through plants; the regulation of transpiration
• Week 5-6: Environmental stress physiology and plant acclimation/adaptation. Drought, heat and light stress. Practical class on water use efficiency and photosynthesis with hands-on measurements of stomatal properties.
• Week 7-8: Nutrient uptake from soil. Nutrient efficiency and deficiency. Practical class on nitrogen use efficiency.
• Week 9-10: Whole plant physiology: the canopy-environment interface. The role of hormones in the regulation of physiological processes. Tutorial class on multi-species, cropping natural systems with self-directed learning.
• Weeks 11-12: Formative assessment with feedback. Integrated mechanisms of resource capture in the field and methods of measurement and phenotyping of plants in the field including remote sensing.

Introduces key evolutionary concepts and their application in the animal kingdom. Areas you will study include the history of evolutionary thinking, natural selection versus the neutral theory, sexual selection and human evolution. 

This module introduces students to forest environments and ecology within natural and semi-natural and planted ecosystems. Students examine environmental and ecological factors affecting forest/woodland composition, structure, biodiversity and distribution, developing practical skills in tree species identification and survey techniques during fieldwork and site visits. Students gain an understanding for how woodlands are managed for environmental, wildlife conservation and commercial timber extraction, looking at the scale, rates, distribution and causes of deforestation and forest degradation and the implications of this for global and local ecosystem services. Looking at environmental and ecological impacts of deforestation, commercial forestry and afforestation, looking at different management objectives including timber production, environmental services, amenity and conservation. We will examine the impact of invasive species and pests and disease on tree species and woodlands, particularly in the UK. 

20 credits in the Autumn semester.

In this module we will examine how insects are classified, the external and internal features of their bodies, their lifecycles and how they reproduce.  
 
We will look at the importance of insects and insect biodiversity, investigating the central role they play in ecosystem function.   

We will investigate how entomologists collect insects, how we measure populations and recent insect declines.  
   
We will examine the insects that humans describe as beneficial or harmful, looking at the impact of insects on plants, crops, livestock, and human health.

Module description to be confirmed.

In this module you’ll develop your understanding of how and why policies relating to agriculture, the environment and food are developed, and you will gain a valuable insight into how to influence policy. The module will be delivered via a series of lectures and guest speakers, which from organisations such as: Defra, the National Farmers Union (NFU), agri-businesses within the input supply chain and food retailers.

Overview: Soils are the most complex biomaterial on earth. An understanding of the basic concepts concerning the form and function of soils is important for future management strategies such as mitigating the effects of climate change and providing safe and sustainable food. This module focuses on the important soil properties from physical, chemical and biological perspectives including soil organic matter (microbiology and chemistry); soil chemical reactions (acidity, redox); soil fauna and flora; soil-water relations (irrigation and drainage).

10 credits

This module explores the evolution of key plant systems through deep time, and the significance of this process for understanding modern ecology and food security. You will learn about the challenges that plants faced when moving onto land and evolutionary innovations within the early spermatophytes. You will also gain an understanding of the power of natural selection in producing plant diversity over deep time.

The majority of people now live in urban areas and the combined impact of cities worldwide is an important cause of global environmental changes. Urban environments are places of intensive energy and water use and waste generation. Case studies from around the world will illustrate the impact of extreme events such as flooding, drought, and heatwaves. The module will focus on air quality, water and waste management and explore past, present and possible future responses to those challenges including the role of green infrastructure in supporting sustainable living in urban environments.

Animal-human interactions raise some prominent ethical issues. In this module, you’ll examine the ethical dimensions concerning animal agriculture, modern biotechnologies and research in the biosciences, in relation to both humans and non-human species. You’ll learn about the ethical frameworks used to analyse specific dilemmas raised by the human use of animals. Using specific animal and biotechnology case studies, you’ll interpret the main ethical theories and principles and apply them to the case studies to inform professional decision-making. You’ll have a mix of lectures and seminars to explore these concepts.

The course will focus on the function of arctic ecosystems. We will identify key terrestrial ecosystem drivers and processes in order to gain a broad understanding of arctic areas. During the field course, students will put ecological methodology into practice in projects that analyse landscape patterns and processes in different habitats. The course will also address climate change impacts on arctic ecosystems. The work will familiarise students with ecological methodology, experimental design, data collection and analysis, interpretation and presentation. Students are required to pay a contribution towards the cost of the field course.

10 credits in the Autumn semester.

Extend and develop your skills of creative and critical biological photography through this advanced module. You will continue to develop the practice and experience gained in Biological Photography and Imaging 1. You are encouraged to demonstrate increasing expertise in selected subject areas and/or specialist photographic techniques such as digital imaging and manipulation (using Photoshop software), digital video photography and editing, ecological and environmental photography, landscapes, macro and long lens photography and specialist lighting. Field and studio work continue to be essential elements of the module. You will have around three hours of lectures per week studying this module.

Modern biological and environmental science includes the study of complex systems and large data sets, including imaging data. This necessitates the use of computer models and analyses in order to understand these systems.

This module contains an introduction to computer programming and modelling techniques that are used in the biological and environmental sciences. Specifically, it contains:

1. Development, simulation and analysis for models in space and time, using the Python language, with applications in the biological and environmental sciences;
2. Analysis of long term behaviour of models in two or more dimensions;
3. Methods for fitting models to experimental and environmental data;
4. Analysis of image data. The module will focus on relevant applications in environmental and biological science, e.g. chemical, radioactive and biological pollution, crop development and pathogens and microbiology. The module will use the Python programming language throughout and be assessed by a patchwork assessment consisting of write-ups of assignments from during the semester.

20 credits in the Autumn semester.

The lecture module explores the application of genetic principles and tools to the conservation of biodiversity. Students will learn how genetic data can inform the management of endangered species, assess genetic diversity, and guide conservation strategies such as habitat restoration and species reintroduction. Key topics include inbreeding depression, genetic drift, gene flow, and inbreeding. The module also covers emerging technologies in genomics and their use in monitoring wildlife populations, managing genetic resources, and understanding the impacts of climate change on biodiversity. Through case studies and practical examples, students will gain a deeper understanding of how genetics can be used to conserve species and ecosystems.

This module provides training in environmental biotechnology, with particular emphasis on the interaction between microorganisms and the environment. The main topics covered will be wastewater treatment, bioremediation of organic and inorganic pollutants, microbes as indicators of risk factors in the environment, microbes in agriculture (biocontrol and biofertilisers) and the role of microorganisms in bioenergy production.

Considers current knowledge of, and research into, the ecological causes and evolutionary processes that govern natural selection, adaptation and microevolution in natural populations. You will examine three approaches to the study of evolutionary ecology: theoretical and optimality models; the comparative method; and direct measurement of natural selection in the wild. You will have two-to three hours of lectures each week in this module.

Palaeobiology explores the relationship between life and the Earth's physical and chemical environment over geological/ evolutionary time. The module will focus on the geological consequences of evolution and how life has influenced physical and chemical environment. Topics covered will include: Origins and evolution of life; Evolution of the atmosphere and biosphere; the geobiology of critical intervals in both palaeobiology and evolutionary ecology. Students will gain an in depth knowledge of the mechanisms that control changes in the physiochemical environmental and their impact upon evolution. In order to gain a broad understanding the module will explore past changes as seem in the fossil record, together with present day processes that underpin these responses. The lectures and course work will give students knowledge of the tools that are used to reconstruct past environmental conditions and the effect of future changes in the abiotic stimuli that drive environmental change.

10 credits in the Autumn semester.

How does light cause variation in crop yields? In this module, you’ll study the influence of the light environment on the physiology of native and crop species, extending from the cellular to community level. You’ll learn how to differentiate between different light signalling pathways in plants and demonstrate how these pathways function in plants. You’ll be able to explain how light is absorbed by plants to initiate energy transfer systems and to stimulate development and ultimately plant yield. You’ll then be able to apply your knowledge in understanding the causes of variations in crop yields and how these may be used to assist in the search for improved varieties and increased productivity in agricultural systems. You’ll have a mix of lectures, demonstrations and field trips to see what you’ve learnt in practice.

This module examines plant adaptations to extreme conditions, which are increasingly affecting our society. This includes things like: drought, flood, salinity, heavy metals, plant-plant interactions (allelopathy and mycorrhiza networks) and nutrient deficiencies. Below-ground biological processes, including water and nutrient uptake, are covered within these themes. Both agricultural and natural systems will be discussed throughout these themes to stimulate discussion on future ways we can use beneficial traits to improve crop productivity and resource management under variable climate/soil conditions.

A large part of the module is learning to work collaboratively - a key employability skill. In your group, you'll make a 10-minute documentary video explaining one of the module themes.

The aim of this module is to provide students with practical experience of a range of environmental pollution issues within urban environments. Students will undertake a series of field exercises involving sampling and observation based on key topics such as particulate and gaseous air pollution. The field excursion will take place before the start of the Autumn term. These will be followed up by sessions in Autumn semester during which samples collected in the field will be processed and data analysis undertaken. Students are required to pay a contribution towards the cost of the field course.

Soils underpin the sustainability of all terrestrial ecosystems on our planet. Alongside forming the basis of agricultural production soils provide us with a range of vital ecosystem services including storing water and atmospheric greenhouse gases, mediating the impact of pollutants and providing habitats for soil organisms.

Globally soils are under threat from a wide range of processes. This module covers the environmental issues associated with the management of soils. You will explore and debate the sustainable management options open to land managers to prevent degradation and its adverse effects on soil functions and services, while helping to enhance food security.

This module will introduce students to a range of topics relating to ecology and conservation, with a particular focus on the tropical context. During the course students will:

• Consider the threats and problems that tropical ecosystems and biodiversity are currently facing, including topics such as the impacts of climate change, land-use change, and exploitation of wildlife.
• Consider a range of possible approaches for conservation and more sustainable management. These will take into account ecological, socio-political, and economic factors, and will include a wide range of strategies such as habitat management, land-use planning, and policy change.
• Examine case studies detailing real-life example of problems and solutions, across a variety of tropical contexts.