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ESM426Sciences2 Unitsintermediate

Biogeography

This course explores the principles of biogeography, focusing on the ecosystem concept and its development. It examines energy flow, population, and community ecology, and delves into specific ecosystems such as forests, grasslands, deserts, and marine environments. The course aims to provide a comprehensive understanding of the interactions between living organisms and their environment, and the factors influencing their distribution and stability.

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150h
Study Time
13
Weeks
12h
Per Week
basic
Math Level
Course Keywords
EcosystemBiogeographyEnergy FlowPopulation EcologyMarine Ecosystem

Course Overview

Everything you need to know about this course

Course Difficulty

Intermediate Level
Builds on foundational knowledge
65%
intermediate
➕
Math Level
Basic Math
📖
Learning Type
Theoretical Focus

Course Topics

Key areas covered in this course

1

Ecosystem Concept

2

Ecological Succession

3

Ecosystem Stability

4

Energy Flow in Ecosystems

5

Population Ecology

6

Forest Ecosystems

7

Grassland Ecosystems

8

Desert Ecosystems

9

Marine Ecosystems

Total Topics9 topics

Ready to Start

No specific requirements needed

This course is designed to be accessible to all students. You can start immediately without any prior knowledge or specific preparation.

Assessment Methods

How your progress will be evaluated (3 methods)

assignments

Comprehensive evaluation of course material understanding

Written Assessment

tutor-marked assessments

Comprehensive evaluation of course material understanding

Written Assessment

final examination

Comprehensive evaluation of course material understanding

Written Assessment

Career Opportunities

Explore the career paths this course opens up for you

Environmental Consultant

Apply your skills in this growing field

Conservation Biologist

Apply your skills in this growing field

Ecologist

Apply your skills in this growing field

Environmental Manager

Apply your skills in this growing field

Wildlife Biologist

Apply your skills in this growing field

Industry Applications

Real-world sectors where you can apply your knowledge

Environmental ConservationAgricultureForestryWildlife ManagementMarine Biology

Study Schedule Beta

A structured 13-week journey through the course content

Week
1

Module 1: The Ecosystem Concept

4h

Unit 1: The Ecosystem Concept

4 study hours
  • •Define the ecosystem concept.
  • •Understand the structure of the ecosystem.
  • •Identify different levels of organization in the biosphere.
  • •Identify the components of the ecosystem and some of their characteristics.
Week
2

Module 1: The Ecosystem Concept

4h

Unit 1: Strategy of Ecosystem Development

4 study hours
  • •Define ecological succession.
  • •Identify the different types of succession.
  • •Identify the various stages of ecological succession and the various factors involved.
Week
3

Module 1: The Ecosystem Concept

4h

Unit 2: Climax Concept and Ecosystem Stability

4 study hours
  • •Understand the climax concept and its relation to ecosystem stability.
  • •Differentiate between monoclimax and polyclimax hypotheses.
  • •Identify factors influencing climax community composition.
Week
4

Module 1: The Ecosystem Concept

4h

Unit 3: Concepts of Ecosystem Stability and Fragility

4 study hours
  • •Define ecosystem stability and fragility.
  • •Understand the factors influencing ecosystem resilience.
  • •Differentiate between relative resilience, amplitude, and elasticity.
Week
5

Module 1: The Ecosystem Concept

4h

Unit 4: Fragile and Resilient (Durable) Ecosystem

4 study hours
  • •Identify characteristics of fragile ecosystems.
  • •Understand the factors contributing to the fragility of tropical rainforests, arctic tundra, and island ecosystems.
Week
6

Module 1: The Ecosystem Concept

4h

Unit 5: Resilient (Durable) Ecosystem

4 study hours
  • •Identify characteristics of resilient ecosystems.
  • •Understand the factors contributing to the resilience of arid deserts, semi-natural permanent grasslands, and estuaries.
Week
7

Module 2: Energy Flow in the Ecosystem

4h

Unit 1: Energy Flow in the Ecosystem

4 study hours
  • •Understand the sources of energy for the ecosystem.
  • •Explain the process of photosynthesis and biological production.
  • •Describe the flow of energy through trophic levels and food chains.
Week
8

Module 3: Population and Community Ecology

4h

Unit 1: Population and Community Ecology

4 study hours
  • •Understand the structure and functioning of ecological populations and communities.
  • •Discuss the various attributes of population and individuals composing them.
  • •Explain the concept of ecological dominants and species population.
Week
9

Module 4: The Forest Ecosystem

4h

Unit 1: The Forest Ecosystem

4 study hours
  • •Identify the geographic distribution of forest ecosystem and the factors responsible.
  • •Identify and describe the sub-divisions of forest ecosystem.
  • •Describe the differences in the structural and functional characteristics of the different forest types.
Week
10

Module 5: The Grassland Ecosystem

4h

Unit 1: The Grassland Ecosystem

4 study hours
  • •Discuss the geographic distribution of grassland ecosystem and the factors influencing their distribution.
  • •Outline the structural and floristic composition of the grassland ecosystem.
  • •Differentiate between tropical and temperate grasslands.
Week
11

Module 6: The Biological Deserts

4h

Unit 1: The Biological Deserts

4 study hours
  • •Understand the characteristics of biological deserts.
  • •Identify the factors leading to low productivity in deserts.
  • •Differentiate between hot and cold deserts.
Week
12

Module 7: The Marine Ecosystem

4h

Unit 1: The Marine Ecosystem

4 study hours
  • •Understand the unique attributes of the marine ecosystem.
  • •Explain why the marine environment provides a more conducive environment for life than land.
  • •Explain the factors responsible for the salinity of the marine environment and its implications for life.
Week
13

Course Review

6h

Final Revision and Examination Preparation

6 study hours
  • •Review all modules and units.
  • •Prepare for assignments and final examination.

This study schedule is in beta and may not be accurate. Please use it as a guide and consult the course outline for the most accurate information.

Course PDF Material

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Study Tips & Exam Preparation

Expert tips to help you succeed in this course

1

Create concept maps linking ecosystem components (Units 1-2) to energy flow (Module 2).

2

Practice calculating population growth rates using formulas from Module 3.

3

Compare and contrast the characteristics of forest, grassland, and desert ecosystems (Modules 4-6) in a table.

4

Focus on understanding the adaptations of organisms in extreme environments (Module 6).

5

Review the key concepts of marine ecosystems, including salinity and productivity (Module 7).

6

Review all TMAs and assignments, focusing on areas where you had difficulty.

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