Registry

Module Specifications

Current Academic Year 2012 - 2013
Please note that this information is subject to change.

Module Title	Pollution & Biosphere
Module Code	BE208
School	School of Biotechnology
Online Module Resources
Module Co-ordinator	Semester 1: Michael Parkinson Semester 2: Michael Parkinson Autumn: Michael Parkinson
NFQ level	8	Credit Rating	5
Pre-requisite	None
Co-requisite	None
Compatibles	None
Incompatibles	None

Description

The purpose of this module is to develop an understanding of ecological principles relevant to ecosystem dynamics, pollution control in air, land and water and to relate this understanding to practical and simulated field ecology. An integral component of the module is a half-day field trip to bull island.

Learning Outcomes

1. Explain how organisms interact in the environment.
2. Discuss how energy and nutrients flow through ecosystems, how this impacts upon biomass at each level, and the consequences for environmental pollution.
3. Carry out a field examination of a terrestrial and an aquatic ecosystem.
4. Examine data from an ecosystem and draw appropriate conclusions.
5. Write up reports on ecosystem ecology.

Workload	Full-time hours per semester
*Type*	*Hours*	*Description*
Lecture	15	theory
Group work	3	Practical Field trip to Bull island to examine coastal ecology
Directed learning	12	Study on global warming
Directed learning	12	Study of data from an aquatic ecosystem
Independent learning time	83	Independent study
Total Workload: 125

All module information is indicative and subject to change. For further information,students are advised to refer to the University's Marks and Standards and Programme Specific Regulations at: http://www.dcu.ie/registry/examinations/index.shtml

Indicative Content and Learning Activities

Students will work in groups of 4-6 throughout this module..
Weeks 1-3 Ecosystem Ecology.

Interactions between organisms, ecological niches, predator/prey relationships, biomes, succession.
Week 4 Field trip.

Bull Island Field trip.
Weeks 5-6 Energetics.

Trophic levels. Flow of nutrients and energy through ecosystems. Microbial energetics and the consequences for nutrient cycling and pollution..
Weeks 7-9 Aquatic pollution.

Data from a polluted aquatic ecosystem. Students need to examine the ecosystem to determine: the likely source of the pollutant; the likely nature of the pollutant; the timescale of pollution and the prognosis..
Weeks 10-12 Global warming.

Students will be given an ecosystem and need to write up a report detailing: how the ecosystem is likely to respond to global warming; the evidence for global warming..

Assessment Breakdown
Continuous Assessment	100%	Examination Weight	0%

Course Work Breakdown
Type	Description	% of total	Assessment Date
Computerised test/exam	Assessment of the breadth of knowledge of ecosystem interactions	25%	Week 3
Computerised test/exam	Assessment of the breadth of knowledge of Microbial energetics and Nutrient cycling	17%	Week 6
Report (s) (written / oral)	Write-up on Bull Island fieldtrip	25%	Week 8
Report (s) (written / oral)	Report on global warming	17%	Week 10
Report (s) (written / oral)	River water quality report	16%	Week 12

Reassessment Requirement
Resit arrangements are explained by the following categories; 1 = A resit is available for all components of the module 2 = No resit is available for 100% continuous assessment module 3 = No resit is available for the continuous assessment component
This module is category 2

Indicative Reading List