BIOL30020 Landscape Ecology

Academic Year 2021/2022

The module aims to develop an understanding of the ecological principles that underpin integrated landscape management. Integrated landscape management considers how the landscape can provide multiple benefits for a large variety of users. In the module, we are going to learn basic ecological concepts that guide ecological analysis of structures and processes occurring in landscapes. These concepts will help us interpret landscapes in terms of how they evolved in the past and how they cope with environmental constraints and disturbances or design landscapes so ecological processes are enhanced. Many parts of the Irish landscape are influenced by human use and management. We will learn how different habitats in the landscape can be managed to conserve and enhance biodiversity. The concept of adaptive management will be introduced, which takes into consideration not just the initial state of the landscape but considers how things change over time in order to adapt human interventions to changing circumstances. Adaptive management can be used to enhance resilience in ecosystems and climate change adaptation, thus contributing to halting the loss of biodiversity. Throughout the module theoretical learning will be illustrated by case studies and a campus walk about.
Student feedback: this module is being revised every year based on feedback received from students. Changes that will be implemented as a result of feedback from last year (2019) will be that students take a more active role in their learning by completing assigned readings. The overall time of lectures will be reduced in favor of peer-to-peer interactions to help with achieving learning outcomes