6 EC
Semester 1, period 1
5042PALE6Y
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.
Image J (https://imagej.nih.gov/ij/)
R studio (https://rstudio.com)
C2 (https://www.staff.ncl.ac.uk/stephen.juggins/software/C2Home.htm)
Theoretical & conceptual framework: 50%
Practical exercises: 50%
Due to the current restrictions on face-to-face teaching all activities will follow a slightly non-standard format. See associated notes with each activity type for further information. It is important that you schedule time to prepare completely before online or face-to-face meetings take place. Online meetings will require active participation so please be prepared to have your audio and video feeds active throughout.
|
Activity |
Hours |
|
Lectures |
22* |
|
Laboratory practical: Charcoal analysis Laboratory practical: Archaeobotany - Both the laboratory practicals will take place face-to-face in groups of no more than 10 students plus instructors. |
each 2 (per group) |
|
Digital practical |
18* (per group) |
| Excursion A practical learning excursions will take place near the Institute for Biodiversity & Ecosystem Dynamics. During this excursions you will come face-to-face with ancient bones and artefacts, and discover how palaeoecological information is collected in the field. The excursions will take place face-to-face in groups of 10 students plus instructors. |
4 (per group) |
|
Presentations |
8* |
|
Question hour |
2 |
|
Essays writing |
* |
|
* = additional self-study time required for these activities. |
105 |
|
Total 6EC |
168 |
The course will lead to the following learning outcomes.
Students will be able to:
Programme's requirements concerning attendance (OER-B):
Additional requirements for this course:
Attendance at lectures, digital laboratory, excursions is highly recommended. Attendance during microscope laboratory and presentations is mandatory (from Teaching and Examination Regulations).
| Item and weight | Details |
|
Final grade | |
|
1 (100%) Assignments | |
|
5% Data Report Part 1: Charcoal image files | Mandatory |
|
5% Data Report Part 2: Charcoal data sheet | Mandatory |
|
20% Individual contributions to group paper presentations and discussions | Mandatory |
|
20% Individual contribution to group project presentations | Mandatory |
|
25% Written Essay 1 | Mandatory |
|
25% Written Essay 2 | Mandatory |
The knowledge of participants is evaluated as individuals at four 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.
Grades for interim components are valid until the end of the academic year.
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 be assigned a sample, you will capture digital images of this sample using a camera mounted on a microscope (in microscope practical), you will then digitally analyse your images and compile a short report on your analysis.
In week 1 and 2 you will have to research three topics as a group and present information back to the rest of the class. You must present at at least one of these sessions. You will be graded on your specific presentation, and your contribution to the overall discussions.
In week 3 you will participate in a group presentation. This presentation will draw together and interpret the data from the Data Reports of all group members (see above), the colour analysis, and previously acquired data from the same samples. You will be graded individually for your contribution to the group presentation.
In week 4 you will choose 2 essay titles from 6 possible choices. Following the guidelines you will use the knowledge that you have gained throughout the course, and from your additional research, to write two essays. These essays should be unique and will be subject to plagiarism checks.
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
Table 1: Structure of taught component
|
Week |
Activity |
Hours |
|
1 |
Lectures |
10 |
|
|
Microscope laboratory |
2 |
|
|
Digital laboratory |
6 |
|
2 |
Lectures |
8 |
|
|
Microscope laboratory |
2 |
|
|
Digital laboratory |
8 |
|
3 |
Lectures |
4 |
|
|
Excursion (IBED) |
2 |
|
|
Digital laboratory |
4 |
|
4 |
Question hour |
2 |
|
|
|
|
The schedule for this course is published on DataNose.
Student numbers: There is a maximum of 40 students for this course (due to practical/logistical constraints).
Language: The course will be in English.
Location: The majority of this course will be taught online due to current restrictions on face-to-face teaching. Some face-to-face teaching will take place every week at Science Park 904.