Module Information

The module is introduced by the powering of ecosystems by sunlight and green plants. Energy and cycling of resources, from simple primary productivity to the global level, are discussed. The evolution of vegetation as a dominant factor in the history of the biosphere is outlined, leading to consideration of recent climate change as a consequence of human impacts on fossil fuels, and its implications for living vegetation.

Plant forms and physiology are described with particular reference to ecological adaptations, such as specialised photosynthesis, and drought or flooding tolerance. Human exploitation of plants will also be emphasized, including economic (and illicit) crops, biofuels, and their relevance to global sustainability and food security. Genetic modification of crops will be discussed.

The biodiversity of vegetation is reviewed in sufficient detail to provide a basic foundation for ecological surveying skills. The forms and life histories of the major classes of land flora and important seed plant families are outlined. An introduction to important UK habitats and their classification are provided along with an insight into the National Vegetation Classification System, Conservation and Habitat Action Plans. The co evolution of seed plants and their insect or vertebrate pollinators is discussed.

Fundamental principles of ecology are covered. These include the transfer of energy between different trophic levels, and the cycling of nutrients within systems with emphasis on the key role of soils. Arctic tundra as a model plant community is explored in terms of the soil-plant-animal system. Population growth and carrying capacity are discussed, along with competition and predation. Resource utilisation is explored to understand the position of species within ecological systems, generally defined as the niche. Within its distribution a species will often show specific adaptation to particular situations; examples of such ecotypic variation are presented.