BI3EUA2: Ecology of Urban Areas

Module code: BI3EUA2

Module provider: School of Biological Sciences

Credits: 20

Level: Level 3 (Honours)

When you'll be taught: Semester 2

Module convenor: Dr Phil Baker, email: p.j.baker@reading.ac.uk

Module co-convenor: Dr Chris Foster, email: c.w.foster@reading.ac.uk

Pre-requisite module(s):

Co-requisite module(s):

Pre-requisite or Co-requisite module(s):

Module(s) excluded:

Placement information: NA

Academic year: 2024/5

Available to visiting students: Yes

Talis reading list: No

Last updated: 21 May 2024

Overview

Module aims and purpose

For the first time in history, humans are now an "urbanspecies" as more than 50% of the global population now lives in towns and cities. This change in the distribution of humans away from a predominantly agricultural existence has been rapid, mostly occurring in the 200-250 years since the Industrial Revolution. Unsurprisingly, therefore, the construction ofurbanareas has been associated with significant negative impacts on global flora and fauna. Whilst some species are not able to survive in urban landscapes (urban avoiders) leading to their localised extirpation, others exploit them less successfully (urban exploiters) whilst some species actively thrive in these novel habitats (urban adapters), including a broad range of non-native / invasive species introduced deliberately or accidentally by humans. Such profound changes to the structure of ecological communities have important implications for key ecological processes within the urban landscape, but also represent the day-to-day pattern of interaction with nature for millions of people with potential implications for human physical and mental health, human-wildlife conflicts and for shaping attitudes to, for example, global wildlife conservation. 

This module will provide you with a detailed knowledge of: (i) the global concept ofurbanareas and how these have, and continue, to change over time in different parts of the world; (ii) how the physical and ecological characteristics ofurbanareas, along with the behaviour of human residents, affect the behaviour, density and reproductive output of different taxonomic groups both positively and negatively; (iii) how wildlife can provide a range of important social, cultural and other ecosystem services in urban landscapes but might also be associated with conflicts with human residents (“ecosystem disservices”) which may need to be managed; and (iv) howurbanareas could potentially be managed sympathetically as an important conservation resource for some species. This module will also examine issues relating to the ecology of roads and the impacts of theurbanenvironment on human health and how both nature-based and technological-based approaches could be used to create significant benefits for individuals and society. Examples discussed will focus on a broad range of different taxonomic groups / species (including mammalian carnivores, companion cats and dogs, birds, reptiles, amphibians, invertebrates, and plants) from around the globe. 

Module learning outcomes

By the end of the module, it is expected that students will be able to: 

1. Critically discuss and compare the historic, current and future growth of urban areas in different regions and how differences can affect research studies  
2. Critically evaluate how ecological factors, species-specific traits and anthropogenic activities affect abundance, population dynamics, reproductive output and behaviour of urban species and communities 
3. Critically evaluate how different factors affect interactions between human residents and wildlife and nature and the existing management options. 
4. Search for, summarise and effectively communicate scientific literature to different audiences in addition to preparing a grant application for a hypothetical field experiment with associated budget and timetable. 

Module content

Lecture material includes the following topics: 

• Introduction to Urban Ecology 
• Urban mammals 
• Domestic cats 
• Domestic dogs 
• Urban mammals 
• Amphibians and invertebrate 
• Effects of pollutants on urban birds 
• Anthropogenic feeding of birds 
• Supply of artificial refugia for garden birds 
• Factors affecting urban avian community structure 
• Road ecology 
• Human health and wellbeing 
• Human-Wildlife conflicts: zoonoses, non-zoonotic diseases, attacks on human beings, predation of companion animals, thievery, over-abundance, damage to property 
• Conservation: concept of sustainable cities and what this does / does not mean from an ecological perspective; challenges associated with urban landscapes as conservation tools 

Structure

Teaching and learning methods

The learning outcomes will be met through a mixture of lectures, tutorials, drop-in/feedback sessions with staff, self-directed learning and directed independent study. Appropriate supplementary information and reading lists will be provided on Blackboard.  

Study hours

At least 52 hours of scheduled teaching and learning activities will be delivered in person, with the remaining hours for scheduled and self-scheduled teaching and learning activities delivered either in person or online. You will receive further details about how these hours will be delivered before the start of the module.

Please note the independent study hours above are notional numbers of hours; each student will approach studying in different ways. We would advise you to reflect on your learning and the number of hours you are allocating to these tasks.

Semester 1 The hours in this column may include hours during the Christmas holiday period.

Semester 2 The hours in this column may include hours during the Easter holiday period.

Summer The hours in this column will take place during the summer holidays and may be at the start and/or end of the module.

Assessment

Requirements for a pass

Students need to achieve an overall module mark of 40% to pass this module.

Summative assessment

Penalties for late submission of summative assessment

The Support Centres will apply the following penalties for work submitted late:

Assessments with numerical marks

• where the piece of work is submitted after the original deadline (or any formally agreed extension to the deadline): 10% of the total marks available for that piece of work will be deducted from the mark for each working day (or part thereof) following the deadline up to a total of three working days;
• the mark awarded due to the imposition of the penalty shall not fall below the threshold pass mark, namely 40% in the case of modules at Levels 4-6 (i.e. undergraduate modules for Parts 1-3) and 50% in the case of Level 7 modules offered as part of an Integrated Masters or taught postgraduate degree programme;
• where the piece of work is awarded a mark below the threshold pass mark prior to any penalty being imposed, and is submitted up to three working days after the original deadline (or any formally agreed extension to the deadline), no penalty shall be imposed;
• where the piece of work is submitted more than three working days after the original deadline (or any formally agreed extension to the deadline): a mark of zero will be recorded.

Assessments marked Pass/Fail

• where the piece of work is submitted within three working days of the deadline (or any formally agreed extension of the deadline): no penalty will be applied;
• where the piece of work is submitted more than three working days after the original deadline (or any formally agreed extension of the deadline): a grade of Fail will be awarded.

The University policy statement on penalties for late submission can be found at: https://www.reading.ac.uk/cqsd/-/media/project/functions/cqsd/documents/qap/penaltiesforlatesubmission.pdf

You are strongly advised to ensure that coursework is submitted by the relevant deadline. You should note that it is advisable to submit work in an unfinished state rather than to fail to submit any work.

Formative assessment

Formative assessment is any task or activity which creates feedback (or feedforward) for you about your learning, but which does not contribute towards your overall module mark.

Reassessment

Additional costs