GEOGG135 – Biological Indicators of Environmental Change
OPTION COURSE GEOGG135 – BIOLOGICAL INDICATORS OF ENVIRONMENTAL CHANGE (15 credits; Term 2)
Staff: Viv Jones, Chronis Tzedakis, Jonathan Holmes, Steve Brooks and others
Aims:
- to introduce students to the range of biological indicators used for determining environmental change
- to provide students with practical skills in the identification of biological indicators of environmental change
Content:
The course aims to cover the variety of biological indicators used in both present-day aquatic ecosystem monitoring and in assessing past conditions using a palaeoecological approach.
A selection from the following biological indicators are covered:
- diatoms
- pollen
- plant macrofossils
- chironomids
- ostracods
- foraminifera
Assessment:
Laboratory book from weekly practical exercises (50%)
Data analysis exercise (50%)
Format:
The course is based upon a 5 hr lecture and practical class which enables us to integrate the lectures and the practicals
Learning Outcomes:
At the end of the course students should:
- understand how to classify and identify a range of biological materials.
- have an experience of a range of microscopical techniques
- have an understanding of how biological proxies are used for aquatic monitoring and environmental reconstruction
- appreciate the advantages and disadvantages of different biological indicators of environmental change
