Module Identifier GG30520  
Module Title DYNAMIC BIOGEOGRAPHY  
Academic Year 2007/2008  
Co-ordinator Dr Henry F Lamb  
Semester Semester 2  
Course delivery Lecture   22 Hours. 11 x 2 hrs  
  Seminars / Tutorials   8 Hours. 4 x 2 hrs  
Assessment
Assessment TypeAssessment Length/DetailsProportion
Semester Exam2 Hours Written Examination. 2 questions from 4  50%
Semester Assessment Coursework 10 minute seminar presentation (5% individual, 5% group)  10%
Semester Assessment Coursework. 3000 word report  40%
Supplementary Exam2 Hours Written Examination. 2 questions from 4  60%
Supplementary Assessment Coursework. 3000 word report. Resubmission of coursework report.30%

Learning outcomes

On successful completion of this module students should be able to:



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

  1. Origins, aims and scope of biogeography
  2. Measuring and mapping biodiversity
  3. Climate and plant distribution
  4. Biodiversity through the last glacial-interglacial transition
  5. Why are the tropics so species-rich?
  6. Variation within species: geographic evidence for natural selection
  7. Island evolution: selection, speciation, radiation and extinction
  8. The dynamics of species ranges: natural invasions
  9. Postglacial forest dynamics in Europe and North America
  10. Alien invaders
  11. Past, present and future biodiversity

Reading Lists

Books
** Recommended Text
Avise, J.C (2000) Phylogeography - the history and formation of species Harvard University Press
Brown, J.H. and Lomolino, M.V (1998) Biogeography Sinauer Associates
Gaston, K.J. and Spicer, J.I (1998) Biodiversity - an introduction Blackwell
Hengeveld, R (1990) Dynamic Biogeography Cambridge University Press
Hengeveld, R (1989) Dynamics of Biological Invasions Chapman Hall
MacDonald, G Biogeography - Space, Time and Life Wiley
Whittaker, R.J (1998) Island Biogegraphy - Ecology, Evolution and Conservation Oxford University Press

Notes

This module is at CQFW Level 6