GG30510 - DYNAMIC BIOGEOGRAPHY

Module Identifier	GG30510
Module Title	DYNAMIC BIOGEOGRAPHY
Academic Year	2001/2002
Co-ordinator	Dr Henry Lamb
Semester	Intended for use in future years
Next year offered	N/A
Next semester offered	N/A
Course delivery	Lecture	24 Hours 12 x 2 hour lectures
Assessment	Course work	Critical reviews of recent research articles.	33%
	Exam	2 Hours Answer 2 questions from 4.	67%
	Resit assessment	The resit examination will consist of 1 x 2-hour examination only.

Module objectives / Learning outcomes

On completion of this module students will be able to:

explain long-term changes in plant and animal distributions in relation to environmental change

discuss biogeographic processes at the population and community levels

debate current research in biogeography through the primary literature of scientific journals

Module Aims

Dynamic Biogeography aims to show how plant and animal species continually adapt to changing environmental conditions, and to diverse biological interactions. They do so by range changes, by redistribution of individuals within ranges, and by changing the genetic composition of their populations. Biogeography is the study of these processes, both past and present. The subject aims to explain the distribution of plants and animals, to contribute to an understanding of evolutionary processes and to provide a conceptual basis for management and conservation of biodiversity.

Module Outline (Lecture Themes)

Origins, aims and scope of biogeography

Measuring and mapping biodiversity

Why are the tropics so species-rich?

Geographic variation within species

Speciation by geographical isolation

Climate and plant distribution

The dynamics of species ranges

Human intervention

Maintaining biodiversity

Reading Lists

Books
Gaston, K.J and Spicer, J.I. (1998) Biodiversity - an introduction. Blackwell
Hengeveld, R.. (1989) Dynamics of Biological Invasions. Chapman Hall
Hengeveld, R.. (1990) Dynamic Biogeography. Cambridge University Press
Pielou, E.C.. (1979) Biogeography. John Wiley
Terborgh, J.. (1992) Diversity and the Tropical Rainforest. Scientific American Library
Vincent, P. (1990) The Biogeography of the British Isles - An Introduction. Routledge
Brown, J.H. & Gibson, A.C.. (1983) Biogeography. C.V. Mosby