Module BSX-3150:
Life in a Changing Climate

Module Facts

Run by School of Natural Sciences

20.000 Credits or 10.000 ECTS Credits

Semester 2

Organiser: Dr Alison Cameron

Overall aims and purpose

The purpose of this module is to allow students to develop a detailed understanding of the scientific principles underlying how a changing climate can affect aspects of zoology. This includes evolution, ethology, phenology, physiology, species distributions and patterns in biodiversity. It will provide students with an understanding of ecological concepts and how they may be affected by climate change, such as trophic cascades.

Course content

The course will cover how climate change and aspects of zoology and biodiversity are connected and how they interact. Social implications of these factors will also be covered, along with potential ecosystem conservation and management practices needed to cope with a changing climate. Some ecosystem case studies will be included, for example on the effects of climate change on wetlands.

Assessment Criteria

excellent

An excellent student should have a high levels of detailed factual knowledge across all aspects of the module, and be able to detail examples where appropriate. Written answers should demonstrate an ability to think critically about the subject and to synthesise lecture material and information from extensive background reading. Practical reports should display a high level of critical understanding of data, analysis, interpretation and presentation.

threshold

A threshold student should have a basic knowledge of the essential facts and key concepts presented in the module. Written answers should demonstrate an ability to organise relevant lecture material into a coherent argument. Practical reports should demonstrate a basic ability to analyse data and interpret and present results.

good

A good student should have thorough factual knowledge across all aspects of the module, and be able to name examples where appropriate. Written answers should demonstrate an ability to think about the subject and to synthesise lecture material and some information from background reading. Practical reports should display a good level of understanding of data, analysis, interpretation and presentation.

Learning outcomes

  1. Explain in detail how aspects of zoology and biodiversity are affected by the climate, and the interactions between them.

  2. Critically evaluate any social implications current interactions between zoology and climate change are having, and could have in the future.

  3. Have a comprehensive understanding of the conservation and management practises of natural ecosystems – in terms of aspects of zoology – to cope with a changing climate.

  4. Demonstrate the ability to articulate complex scientific principles, theories and arguments through a variety of media.

Assessment Methods

Type Name Description Weight
GROUP PRESENTATION Group Debate Exercise

I have requested time-tabling to schedule the group debates in the week starting 28th March. The exact dates will show on the module time-table when it is released. The purpose of a debate is to argue the "pros" and "cons" of a controversial issue in order to convince an audience or judge that one side of the argument is more logically sound than the other. Each debate group will be composed of a chair and two teams of 4 members (i.e. ideally 9 people in total, though some groups may be of 7). You will be allocated to a debate group and given a topic before the debate preparation session. Debating is a team exercise, so your performance will depend on how well you prepare individually and together. Further to this the performance of the chair and both of the teams (for and against the motion) during the debate will affect how everyone else in the debate performs on the day. So, we expect you to prepare by researching the topic individually and then to work as a group to prepare. Sufficient time has been time-tabled for group preparation, so no group meetings are required outside of these.
We have a tailored assessment form (available on the module BlackBoard site) and a tailored grading strategy (explained in the group debate document on the BlackBoard site).

 25.00
EXAM End of Module Exam

This is an open book exam with essay style questions, and must be completed within a 24 hour period. Answer two essay questions from a choice of 4.
Each essay should be a maximum of 1500 words (there is no +/- 10% rule, there is no minium and 1500 is a strict upper limit). Submit the essays the module BlackBoard site, via the Turn-It-In submission point. The CNS essay rubric will be used for marking.

 50.00
ESSAY Report on UNFCC COP

Essay Title: How effective are the agreements reached at the UNFCC Conference of the Parties ("COP 26") in Glasgow, in 2021, likely to be in limiting global climate change to less than 1.5oC?

1500 word limit. The word limit is a strict 1500 limit (not +/-10%). If you write less than 1500 words you will be graded on the content you have written, if you write more I wont read beyond the 1500 word mark. So please take great care not exceed the word limit. One of the challenges here is to write concisely, to meet the word limit. Your title and reference list do not count towards your word limit. If you chose to include figures the figure legend text does not count - and make sure to indicate the sources of info in figures in the legend text and reference list. In text citations do count towards the word limit, as there is no way they can be separated out in a word count. Please use Harvard referencing style in your in-text citations and your reference list. This will be graded using the CNS Essay Grading Rubic which is available on the module Blackboard site and will be explained in class.

 25.00

Teaching and Learning Strategy

Hours
Lecture

25 hours of tpic based lectures (in one or two hour sessions). See the time-table with topics and instructors indiated per session on the module BlackBoard Site under the Module Information Tab.

 25
Group Project

2 hours group preparation sesssion supported by the module co-ordinator and Graduate Teaching assistant, followed by a "clinic" to work together and seek further help from the teaching team, then by a 2 hour assessed group debate session (each group debate is no longer than 25 minutes). Module co-ordinator is also available for group or indivirual meetings by appointment.

 7
Private study

Approximately 15 hours researching and writing the UNFCC COP report.
Approximately 7.5 hours Reading and individual preparation for group debate Approximately 144.5 hours of supplimentary reading arround lectures and exam revision. The exact time allocations to each of the above will vary per student.

 166
Workshop

Revision & feedback sessions to A) prepare for assignments B) review and discuss assignments, C) prepare for exams. These will be interactive sessions.

 2

Transferable skills

  • Literacy - Proficiency in reading and writing through a variety of media
  • Numeracy - Proficiency in using numbers at appropriate levels of accuracy
  • Computer Literacy - Proficiency in using a varied range of computer software
  • Self-Management - Able to work unsupervised in an efficient, punctual and structured manner. To examine the outcomes of tasks and events, and judge levels of quality and importance
  • Exploring - Able to investigate, research and consider alternatives
  • Information retrieval - Able to access different and multiple sources of information
  • Inter-personal - Able to question, actively listen, examine given answers and interact sensitevely with others
  • Critical analysis & Problem Solving - Able to deconstruct and analyse problems or complex situations. To find solutions to problems through analyses and exploration of all possibilities using appropriate methods, rescources and creativity.
  • Presentation - Able to clearly present information and explanations to an audience. Through the written or oral mode of communication accurately and concisely.
  • Teamwork - Able to constructively cooperate with others on a common task, and/or be part of a day-to-day working team
  • Argument - Able to put forward, debate and justify an opinion or a course of action, with an individual or in a wider group setting

Subject specific skills

  • Develop and identify research question(s) and/or hypotheses as the basis for investigation.
  • Conduct fieldwork and/or laboratory work competently with awareness of appropriate risk assessment and ethical considerations
  • Recognize and apply appropriate theories and concepts from a range of disciplines.
  • Consider issues from a range of interdisciplinary perspectives.
  • Apply subject knowledge to the understanding and addressing of problems.
  • Collect, analyse and interpret primary and/or secondary data using appropriate qualitative and/or quantitative techniques.
  • Engagement with current developments in the biosciences and their application.
  • Appreciation of the complexity and diversity of life processes through the study of organisms.
  • Engage in debate and/or discussion with specialists and non-specialists using appropriate language.

Resources

Reading list

Module reading list

NB: The Summary for Policy Maker sections of the IPCC 5th Assemssment Reports are compulsory reading for this module. These are available for download at https://www.ipcc.ch/report/ar5/

Courses including this module

Compulsory in courses:

Optional in courses: