BIOL30020 Landscape Ecology

Academic Year 2022/2023

The module aims to develop an understanding of the ecological principles that underpin green infrastructure planning and nature-based solutions. Green infrastructure and nature-based solutions are providing multiple benefits for a variety of users. In the module, we are going to address the challenges of a fictional Irish town to restore and enhance its biodiversity and create multi-functional green infrastructure. We will discuss how the different habitats in and around an Irish town function ecologically and how they can be restored and managed to enhance their multiple benefits. 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 related to the development scenarios for our fictional Irish town. We will also visit some nature-based solutions and green infrastructure developments in the Dublin area on two field trips.

This year an active learning component has been added to the module that includes a project to create green infrastructure for a fictional Irish town.

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Curricular information is subject to change

Learning Outcomes:

On completion of this module students should be able to:
- Utilise principles of landscape ecology for green infrastructure design and biodiversity conservation and restoration.
- Develop familiarity with some of the most important habitats and wildlife encountered in and around Irish towns and their requirements for management.
- Appraise strategies for, and the implications of, landscape management for climate change adaptation and multiple end-uses.
- Understand the five principles (systems thinking, multi-benefit, stakeholder engagement, adaptive management, evaluating system performance) for implementing nature-based solutions.

Indicative Module Content:

Indicative module content:
Introduction to green infrastructure and nature-based solutions
Ecosystem services
Climate change
Upland habitats
Saltmarshes
Freshwater
Soil biodiversity
Pollinator habitats
Urban gulls
Connectivity
Adaptive management

Student Effort Hours: 
Student Effort Type Hours
Lectures

12
Conversation Class

12
Field Trip/External Visits

5
Specified Learning Activities

48
Autonomous Student Learning

48
Total

125
Approaches to Teaching and Learning:
The module consists of lectures interspersed with challenges to apply what was learned to planning green infrastructure in a fictive Irish town. There are also two half-day field trips in the module to see green infrastructure and nature-based solutions implemented in the Dublin region. 
Requirements, Exclusions and Recommendations

Not applicable to this module.


Module Requisites and Incompatibles
Equivalents:
Landscape Ecology (AESC30140), Landscape Ecology (ERM30060)


 
Assessment Strategy  
Description Timing Open Book Exam Component Scale Must Pass Component % of Final Grade
Essay: 1500 word, referenced essay Coursework (End of Trimester) n/a Graded No

70
Assignment: Infographic Coursework (End of Trimester) n/a Graded No

30

Carry forward of passed components
Yes
 
Resit In Terminal Exam
Spring No
Please see Student Jargon Buster for more information about remediation types and timing. 
Feedback Strategy/Strategies

• Feedback individually to students, post-assessment
• Group/class feedback, post-assessment
• Peer review activities

How will my Feedback be Delivered?

Feedback will be provided at the end of module along with grading.

Name Role
Dr Paul Brooks Lecturer / Co-Lecturer
Ms Martina Caplice Lecturer / Co-Lecturer
Dr Tancredi Caruso Lecturer / Co-Lecturer
Dr Simone Ciuti Lecturer / Co-Lecturer
Dr Grace Cott Lecturer / Co-Lecturer
Assoc Professor John Fry Lecturer / Co-Lecturer
Dr Tamara Hochstrasser Lecturer / Co-Lecturer
Dr Adam Kane Lecturer / Co-Lecturer
Professor Mary Kelly-Quinn Lecturer / Co-Lecturer