Module manager: Dr Cassandra Raby
Email: C.Raby@leeds.ac.uk
Taught: Semester 1 (Sep to Jan) View Timetable
Year running 2025/26
BLGY1307 (or alternative statistics experience)
| BLGY1307 | Research & Study Skills Level 1 |
| BLGY2305 | Developing Scientific Excellence |
This module is not approved as a discovery module
In the face of escalating ecological challenges such as habitat loss, climate change, invasive species, and biodiversity decline, understanding population dynamics and the interactions of species within communities and ecosystems is essential. This module, Population, Community, and Conservation Ecology, explores how species populations grow, interact, and adapt within their communities and how these dynamics inform conservation efforts. The module begins by examining population growth models and life history strategies to establish foundational concepts. It then builds upon this knowledge to address species interactions within communities, emphasising predator-prey dynamics, competition, and mutualisms, and how those interactions are impacted by environmental change. Finally, students will learn how these ecological principles apply to real-world conservation issues, such as managing invasive species, conserving populations in fragmented habitats, and identifying sites for protection, restoration, or other conservation actions. Through a mix of lectures, case studies, and practical exercises, students will gain hands-on skills in research and data analysis, preparing them to develop evidence-based solutions to pressing environmental problems.
This module examines the fundamental processes and mechanisms that explain patterns found in ecological populations, communities and ecosystems. This knowledge is then applied to a range of contemporary questions in ecology, such as population management, invasive species, responses to climate change, and conservation. Additionally, the module aims to develop skills in data analysis and scientific writing at Level 2, which can be applied in Level 3.
Learning activities will include lectures and independent learning to develop the subject knowledge. Laboratory practicals will allow conceptual lecture-based knowledge to be applied, by exploring species responses to changing conditions. Data from laboratory practicals will enable students to conduct analyses and report on these research outputs.
On successful completion of the module students will have demonstrated the following learning outcomes relevant to the subject:
1- Outline major concepts, processes and mechanisms on population dynamics and species interactions
2- Apply foundational ecological knowledge to conservation practices and decision-making
3- Demonstrate data collection in a laboratory setting
4- Interpret ecological data through analysis and visualisation and report results in an acceptable scientific style
Skills Learning Outcomes
On successful completion of the module students will have demonstrated the following skills learning outcomes:
5- Combine theories and examples from multiple sources to aid interpretation of complex scientific information.
6- Develop scientific writing skills to communicate ideas to an academic audience.
- Measuring population change
- Exploring life histories of different species
- Using predictive models for conservation
- Monitoring biodiversity and community interactions
- Implementing conservation strategies
| Delivery type | Number | Length hours | Student hours |
|---|---|---|---|
| Lectures | 23 | 1 | 23 |
| Practical | 1 | 2 | 2 |
| Practical | 4 | 3 | 12 |
| Seminar | 1 | 0.5 | 0.5 |
| Private study hours | 162.5 | ||
| Total Contact hours | 37.5 | ||
| Total hours (100hr per 10 credits) | 200 | ||
The first lab report for this module is a formative assessment. Marks and feedback will be returned to students in time for them to write their summative second lab report.
| Assessment type | Notes | % of formal assessment |
|---|---|---|
| Coursework | 2h OTLA | 70 |
| Coursework | Summative lab report | 30 |
| Total percentage (Assessment Coursework) | 100 | |
Laboratory reports use data collected from the laboratory sessions. Students will submit a group lab report. They will have the structure of: abstract; introduction; methods; results; discussion. Reports should follow standard formatting styles, including presenting references in the Leeds Harvard format. Data should be statistically analysed in a group, most students will use RStudio, but any software is suitable. Resits for failed coursework are not available.
The reading list is available from the Library website
Last updated: 30/04/2025
Errors, omissions, failed links etc should be notified to the Catalogue Team