Gwybodaeth Modiwlau
Module Identifier
GG30520
Module Title
DYNAMIC BIOGEOGRAPHY
Academic Year
2008/2009
Co-ordinator
Semester
Semester 2
Course Delivery
Delivery Type | Delivery length / details |
---|---|
Lecture | 22 Hours. 11 x 2 hrs |
Seminars / Tutorials | 8 Hours. 4 x 2 hrs |
Assessment
Assessment Type | Assessment length / details | Proportion |
---|---|---|
Semester Assessment | Coursework. 3000 word report | 40% |
Semester Assessment | Coursework 10 minute seminar presentation (5% individual, 5% group) | 10% |
Semester Exam | 2 Hours Written Examination. 2 questions from 4 | 50% |
Supplementary Assessment | Resubmission of coursework report. | 40% |
Supplementary Exam | 2 Hours Written Examination. 2 questions from 4 | 60% |
Learning Outcomes
On successful completion of this module students should be able to:
* Explain how plant and animal populations respond to environmental change at a variety of space and time scales
* Demonstrate an understanding of ecological, biogeographic, and evolutionary processes at population and community levels
* Critically evaluate current research in biogeography from the primary literature in relevant scientific journals
Aims
Dynamic Biogeography aims to show how plant and animal species continually adapt to changing environmental conditions, human impacts, and diverse biological interactions. They do so by range changes, by redistribution of individuals within ranges, and by changes in the genetic composition of their populations. The module explains these processes, contributes to an understanding of evolutionary processes, and provides a conceptual basis for management and conservation of biodiversity.
Content
- Origins, aims and scope of biogeography
- Measuring and mapping biodiversity
- Climate and plant distribution
- Biodiversity through the last glacial-interglacial transition
- Why are the tropics so species-rich?
- Variation within species: geographic evidence for natural selection
- Island evolution: selection, speciation, radiation and extinction
- The dynamics of species ranges: natural invasions
- Postglacial forest dynamics in Europe and North America
- Alien invaders
- Past, present and future biodiversity
Reading List
Recommended TextAvise, J.C (2000) Phylogeography - the history and formation of species Harvard University Press Primo search Brown, J.H. and Lomolino, M.V (1998) Biogeography Sinauer Associates Primo search Gaston, K.J. and Spicer, J.I (1998) Biodiversity - an introduction Blackwell Primo search Hengeveld, R (1990) Dynamic Biogeography Cambridge University Press Primo search Hengeveld, R (1989) Dynamics of Biological Invasions Chapman Hall Primo search MacDonald, G Biogeography - Space, Time and Life Wiley Primo search Whittaker, R.J (1998) Island Biogegraphy - Ecology, Evolution and Conservation Oxford University Press Primo search
Notes
This module is at CQFW Level 6