6 EC
Semester 1, period 1
5042PALE6Y
Current and future climate change arguably pose the greatest challenge for humanity today. To meet this challenge an intricate understanding of how the Earth system works and responds to change is required. While detailed computational models can provide insights into how the Earth system might respond to change, the only empirical evidence of Earth system function and response to change over timescales relevant to climate, ecology and societies comes from evidence left by changes in the past. In this course you will discover the complex array of methods that underpin our understanding of past environmental change, the challenge of disentangling human driven from naturally driven change, and the gaps in our understanding that remain to be filled.
The Palaeoecology course will provide you with a wide range of insights into how information about ecology and ecological change in the past can be obtained. To understand the ecology of the past we will also explore mechanisms related to past climatic change, physical processes in the landscape, and human activity. We will focus on the Quaternary period (last 2.6 million years), and evidence for past ecological change will be looked at over a range of timescales (from multi-millennial to annual). We will also explore spatial patterns of ecological change from local to global scales. Over the course of the lectures, practicals and discussions, we hope that you will gain a new perspective on ecological change that places the world you see around you today into a clearer context.
Recommended for overview of the subject: Lowe JJ, Walker MJC. 2015. Reconstructing Quaternary Environments. London: Routledge.
Theoretical & conceptual framework: 50%
Practical exercises: 50%
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Activity It is expected that you attend all aspects of the course and it is essential that you attend the laboratory and field work components. |
Hours |
|
Lectures |
18* |
|
Laboratory practicals |
20 |
|
Tutorial |
2 |
|
Digital practical |
6* |
| Excursion A series of 5 excursions will take place in the region of Amsterdam. All excursions will be reachable via public transport. During these excusions you will gain practical palaeoecological and environmental survey experience, you will see evidence of past ecological and environmental change, and you will generate the field data for your group projects. |
32 |
|
Presentations |
8* |
|
Question hour |
2 |
|
Exam |
3* |
|
* = additional self-study time required for these activities. |
77 |
|
Total 6EC |
168 |
Programme's requirements concerning attendance (OER-B):
Additional requirements for this course:
Attendance at lectures is highly recommended. Attendance during laboratory practicals, field excursions and presentations is mandatory (from Teaching and Examination Regulations).
| Item and weight | Details |
|
Final grade | |
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1 (100%) Tentamen |
The knowledge of participants is evaluated as individuals at six points during the course. The final grading (1-10) is based on:
Students pass the course when each interim component is graded with 5 or higher, and when the final grade is 5.5 of higher. Students who do not pass the exam should contact the course coordinator. If you are unable to complete or attend an assessed component due to COVID-19 related restrictions please inform the course coordinator as soon as possible so that an alternative assessment can be organised.
Grades for interim components are valid until the end of the academic year.
Contact the course coordinator to make an appointment for inspection.
For at least twenty working days after the announcement of the results of a written examination, the student can, on request, inspect his/her assessed work, the questions and assignments set, as well as the standards applied for marking. The place and time will be announced via the digital learning environment (from Teaching and Examination Regulations).
In week 1 you will learn how to operate the microscopes and develop microfossil identification skills. You will be tested on your ability to identify microfossils and your ability to interpret these.
At the end of week 1 you will participate in a group discussion session focused on a topic related to the field excursion the following week. You will be graded individually on your participation in this discussion.
Throughout the course you will spend time in the field discovering sites and collecting data. You need to make a record of each of these days to demonstrate you ability to record things accurately in the field. You will be graded on the clarity and accuracy of the notes that you make during these excursions.
In week 3 you will participate in a group presentation. This presentation will draw together and interpret the data from the group project . You will be graded individually for your contribution to the group presentation.
In week 4 you will take a written examination. This examination will draw on your experience in all aspects of the course (lectures, laboratory, field and discussion). It will include the interpretation of figures and/or data, and a discursive (essay style) component.
The 'Regulations governing fraud and plagiarism for UvA students' applies to this course. This will be monitored carefully. Upon suspicion of fraud or plagiarism the Examinations Board of the programme will be informed. For the 'Regulations governing fraud and plagiarism for UvA students' see: www.student.uva.nl
Week 1: Lectures (6 hours), Laboratory practical (16 hours), Fieldwork (8 hours), Tutorial (2 hours).
Week 2: Lectures (6 hours), Laboratory practical (4 hours), Fieldwork (16 hours), Digital practical (2 hours).
Week 3: Lectures (6 hours), Digital practical (4 hours), Fieldwork (8 hours), Presentations (8 hours).
Week 4: Question hour (2 hours), Written examination (3 hours).
Language: The course will be in English.
Location: Science Park 904 and field work in the region of Amsterdam (accessible via public transport).