Biodiversity and Conservation | BIOL6066 | University of Southampton

Module overview

This module concerns global biodiversity, what we understand by it and why it is in crisis, and current efforts to conserve and manage it. We begin with an appraisal of different values of diversity at scales from genetic to species, communities and ecosystems. We then consider the causes and consequences of losing biodiversity, the nature and scale of its loss, countermeasures at global, national and local scales, and the costs we may face in replacing services that depend on biodiversity. During the second half of the module, we take a community ecology approach, focusing on interactions between species, rather than species per se. We look at networks of interactions, and consider how they have been used to address practical issues in conservation. Finally, we consider global impacts on ecosystems, how they interact with one another, and how we might mitigate their impacts. The module seeks to engage discussion and debate,and inform opinion, on biodiversity and conservation.

Linked modules

Pre-requisite: BIOL2001

Aims and Objectives

Learning Outcomes

Having successfully completed this module you will be able to:

Appreciate how different global impacts can interact to affect ecosystems.
Understand the importance of conserving ecological interactions.
Describe the global biodiversity crisis
Evaluate the pros and cons of species introductions and reintroductions
Write a review article on a topical aspect of biodiversity and/or conservation
Discuss examples of how ecological networks can be used in conservation.
Outline the main reasons for decline and threats to biodiversity worldwide
Describe ecological networks and what they can tell us.
Argue the case for and against conserving biodiversity

Syllabus

The module begins by defining concepts and scales relevant to biodiversity and its conservation. We will have a workshop early on about the damaging impacts of invasive species on biodiversity, which raises important issues about paying for our past misuses of the environment. We then cover causes and consequences of biodiversity loss and ways of measuring it. We consider efforts to tackle the biodiversity crisis at global, national and local scales. The second half of the module focuses on interactions between species and what we can gain from looking at interactions rather than species. We look at networks of interactions and consider how a network approach provides a tool for addressing practical issues in conservation. Finally, we consider global impacts on ecosystems, how different global impacts might interact with one another, and how we might mitigate their impacts.

Learning and Teaching

Teaching and learning methods

Lectures, workshops, independent study, and a review assignment.

Desirable modules taken in years 1 and 2 include: BIOL1003 (Ecology and Evolution), BIOL2004 (Pure and Applied Population Ecology), BIOL2047 (Animal Conservation).

Study time
Type	Hours
Independent Study	128
Lecture	18
Workshops	4
Total study time	150

Assessment

Assessment strategy

Examination: You will be given two sets of two questions (1A and1B and 2A and 2B) and need to select one of question from the first set (1A or 1B) and one question from the second set (2A or 2B).

Coursework: Review

Coursework: Critical analysis

Re-assessment Method

Examination: You will be given two sets of two questions (1A and1B and 2A and 2B) and need to select one of question from the first set (1A or 1B) and one question from the second set (2A or 2B).

Coursework review article: marks carried forward

Coursework critical analysis: marks carried forward

Summative

This is how we’ll formally assess what you have learned in this module.

Breakdown
Method	Percentage contribution
Written assessment	100%

Referral

This is how we’ll assess you if you don’t meet the criteria to pass this module.

Breakdown
Method	Percentage contribution
Written assessment	100%

Repeat Information

Repeat type: Internal & External