Overview

Understanding how ecosystems work and what critical services they provide is fundamental to your degree. This module will teach aspects of biodiversity, soil science, and matter cycles (water, nutrient and carbon) within an ecosystem context. The processes which define ecosystems will be used to illustrate the services they deliver, particularly biomass and carbon sequestration. The module will give you an overview of biodiversity, ecosystem development, soil formation and properties, carbon and nutrient fluxes, covering diverse systems, from polar to tropical regions. The module will also examine ecosystem and plant tolerance to abiotic and biotic stress, which will be demonstrated using case studies from a range of ecosystem types. The material will be covered though lectures and several practical sessions in the laboratory and field; helping you to understand and apply the theory into practice.

1. Introduction ecosystem concepts and matter flows
2. Ecosystem services
3. Ecosystem development
4. Ecosystem Function & Biodiversity models
5. Ecosystem productivity
6. Ecosystem collapse
7. Climate and microclimate
8. Soil formation
9. Soil mineralogy and weathering
10. Soil organic matter and chemical properties
11. Ecosystem productivity
12. Food webs and below-ground biodiversity
13. Above and below-ground biodiversity
14. Root processes
15. Plant water relations
16. Plant reproduction
17. Plant structure
18. Photosynthesis types, pigments, environmental control
19. Plant stress tolerance I (moisture stress)
20. Plant stress tolerance II (heat and cold)
21. Temperate grasslands
22. Mangroves
23. Wetlands and salt marshes
24. Polar ecosystems

Practicals a) Wetland Ecology and GHG b) Soil Field Trip c) Water Quality - Nitrate practical d) Plant Reproduction / ecophysiology

Assessment Strategy

-threshold -Grade D- to D+ Understanding of the concepts of ecosystem and their developments, soils and soil properties, and element fluxes in ecosystems.

-good -Grade B- to B+ Good understanding of the concepts of ecosystem and their development, soils and soil properties, and element fluxes in ecosystems. The ability to interlink the ecosystems, soils and element fluxes.

-excellent -Grade A- and above In-depth understanding of the concepts of ecosystem and their development, soils and soil properties, and element fluxes in ecosystems. Understanding of the complexity of ecosystem and how biodiversity, soils and element fluxes determine the properties of ecosystems, as well as and understanding of these in key ecosystems.

Learning Outcomes

• Appreciation of the ecosystem function of a number of key ecosystems.

• Understanding of soils and soil development.

• Understanding of the concept of ecosystems and their dynamic nature.

• Understanding of the process involved in ecosystems carbon fluxes, such as photosynthesis, food webs and decomposition.