Life Sciences

Population & Community Ecology

Module code: C1861
Level 5
15 credits in spring semester
Teaching method: Laboratory, Workshop, Lecture
Assessment modes: Coursework, Report

Community formation and interactions within populations are fundamental to ecosystem function. They impact how species survive, thrive and become extinct.

On this module, you’ll be introduced to core principles, including:

• population dynamics
• predator-prey interactions
• analyses of different levels of diversity (alpha, beta)
• trait analyses
• community assembly rules.

Through lectures, practicals and lab work you’ll develop the knowledge and skills required to understand community and population ecology. You’ll also learn how to apply them in fieldwork.

Using the data sets generated from monitoring on campus, you’ll apply analytical methods learnt on the module. This will include species accumulation curves, rarefaction and trait analyses.

You’ll expand on material introduced in Biodiversity and Ecology. You’ll develop knowledge and skills for employment and advanced study in ecology and conservation, from ecological restoration to the conservation of endangered species.

Module learning outcomes

• Discuss and explain key principles in population and community ecology (e.g., trophic networks and energy flow, measures of biodiversity, community assembly rules)
• Use long-term monitoring data appropriately, taking into account their limitations, to address a key question in population and community ecology
• Write concisely, with scientific rigour and to present complex data clearly to a lay audience
• Critically assess and interpret population and community ecology datasets using appropriate statistical methods.