Cycles In Nature (Biological Cycles)
- Education
- 400 level
- 2 credit units
- 104 pages
- 15 units
This course explores the cycles in nature, focusing on biological, geological, and geographical cycles. It covers biochemical, chemical, and physical cycles, including food chains, carbon, oxygen, nitrogen, and water cycles. The course also examines geological cycles like geochemical and tectonic cycles, and geographical cycles such as erosion in arid climates and marine erosion. Students will gain an understanding of the interconnections within ecosystems and the processes that drive these natural cycles.
About this course
- Difficulty
- Intermediate
- Study hours
- 45 hours
- Maths
- Basic
- Content
- Theoretical
- Practical work
- No
- Assignments
- Tutor marked assessments
- Final examination
What you'll read
The real module and unit structure of SED421, taken from the course material NOUN publishes.
One paragraph, so you can see how it reads
SED421 · UNIT 1 FOOD CHAIN AND FOOD WEB
A food chain is a linear sequence of links in a food web starting from species that are called producers in the web and ends at species that are called decomposers in the web. A food chain shows how the organisms are related with each other by the food they eat.
What you should be able to do
- Explain the interconnections between biological, geological, and geographical cycles.
- Describe the processes involved in the carbon, oxygen, nitrogen, and water cycles.
- Analyze the impact of human activities on natural cycles.
- Discuss the concepts of plate tectonics and their effects on Earth's surface.
- Explain the geographical cycles of erosion in different climates.
- Apply knowledge of natural cycles to environmental management and conservation.
What it prepares you for
- Environmental Scientist
- Geologist
- Hydrologist
- Conservation Officer
- Environmental Consultant
- Environmental Management
- Water Resource Management
- Geological Surveying
- Climate Change Research
- Agriculture
Where it gets hard
The units students slow down on, and what makes each one heavy.
- Module 1: Biochemical, Chemical and Physical Cycles
Unit 3: Nitrogen Cycle, Water Cycle, Canoe, and Atmospheric Photochemistry
The unit covers multiple complex cycles (Nitrogen, Water, Atmospheric Photochemistry) with interconnected processes, requiring a strong understanding of chemical and biological interactions.
- Module 2: Geological Cycles
Unit 4: Concepts of Plate Tectonic
Understanding the forces and processes behind tectonic plate movement requires spatial reasoning and comprehension of geological timescales.
A suggested way through it
13 weeks, about 48 hours in total. Yours will differ.
- Week 1Module 1: Biochemical, Chemical and Physical Cycles
Unit 1: Food Chain and Food Web · 3 hours
Define food chains and food webs.. Explain the different levels in a food chain.. Discuss the linkages and trophic levels in a food web..
- Week 2Module 1: Biochemical, Chemical and Physical Cycles
Unit 2: Carbon/Carbon dioxide Cycle and Oxygen Cycle · 3 hours
Explain the carbon/carbon dioxide cycle and its importance.. Describe the oxygen cycle and its role in respiration.. Discuss the effects of human activities on these cycles..
- Week 3Module 1: Biochemical, Chemical and Physical Cycles
Unit 3: Nitrogen Cycle, Water Cycle, Canoe, and Atmospheric Photochemistry · 4 hours
Describe the nitrogen cycle and its major transformations.. Explain the water cycle and its processes.. Discuss the impact of human activities on these cycles..
- Week 4Module 1: Biochemical, Chemical and Physical Cycles
Unit 4: Physical Cycles, Entropy and Carnot Cycle · 3 hours
Explain physical cycles and biorhythms.. Describe the concepts of entropy and the Carnot cycle.. Discuss the implications of these cycles..
- Week 5Module 1: Biochemical, Chemical and Physical Cycles
Unit 5: Diesel Cycle, Magnetic Fieldand Lorentz Force · 3 hours
Explain the Diesel cycle and its processes.. Describe magnetic fields and Lorentz forces.. Discuss the significance of the Lorentz force..
- Week 6Module 2: Geological Cycles
Unit 1: Geochemical Cycles · 3 hours
Define geochemical cycle and explain its processes.. Describe the movement of elements through different reservoirs.. Draw a geochemical cycle diagram..
- Week 7Module 2: Geological Cycles
Unit 2: Tectonic Cycle · 4 hours
Explain the tectonic cycle and its stages.. Describe rifting and the development of ocean basins.. Discuss the initiation of rifting..
- Week 8Module 2: Geological Cycles
Unit 3: Major Tectonic Episodes · 3 hours
Describe the tectonic episodes in Lebanon.. Identify the geological time periods associated with these episodes.. Explain the main features of each episode..
- Week 9Module 2: Geological Cycles
Unit 4: Concepts of Plate Tectonic · 3 hours
Explain plate tectonics and its driving forces.. Describe the theory of continental drift.. Differentiate between the three types of plate boundaries..
- Week 10Module 3: Geographical Cycles
Unit 1: Geographical Cycles of Erosion in Arid Climate · 3 hours
Explain the geographical cycle of erosion in arid climates.. Describe the features of an arid climate.. Discuss the activities that lead to weathering and erosion..
- Week 11Module 3: Geographical Cycles
Unit 2: Protein Interraction Cycle and Karst Erosion Cycle · 4 hours
Explain protein-protein interaction and its types.. Describe factors that regulate protein interaction.. Explain the karst cycle and its conditions..
- Week 12Module 3: Geographical Cycles
Unit 3: The Marine Erosion Cycle · 3 hours
Describe the marine erosion cycle for a steeply sloping shoreline.. Explain the stages of the marine erosion cycle.. Differentiate between the stages..
Unit 4: Hydraulogical Cycle · 3 hours
Explain the hydrological cycle and its processes.. Describe how water supply and sewage disposal fit into the cycle..
- Week 13Module 3: Geographical Cycles
Unit 5: The Patterns of Water Movement in the Ocean · 3 hours
Describe the patterns of water movement in the ocean.. Explain ocean currents, waves, and tides.. Discuss the factors affecting these movements..
Unit 6: The Patterns of Water Movement in the Atmosphere · 3 hours
Explain the patterns of water movement in the atmosphere.. Describe the role of the ocean in shaping climate zones.. Discuss how the ocean distributes heat..
Preparing for the exam
- Create diagrams illustrating the carbon, nitrogen, and water cycles (Units 2 & 3, Module 1).
- Focus on the key processes and transformations within each cycle.
- Review the impact of human activities on these cycles and potential mitigation strategies.
- Compare and contrast the different types of plate boundaries (Unit 4, Module 2).
- Understand the forces driving plate tectonics and their effects on Earth's surface.
- Study the stages of erosion in arid and marine environments (Units 1 & 3, Module 3).
- Pay attention to the unique features and processes in each environment.
Questions students ask about this course
What is SED421 about?
This course explores the cycles in nature, focusing on biological, geological, and geographical cycles. It covers biochemical, chemical, and physical cycles, including food chains, carbon, oxygen, nitrogen, and water cycles. The course also examines geological cycles like geochemical and tectonic cycles, and geographical cycles such as erosion in arid climates and marine erosion. Students will gain an understanding of the interconnections within ecosystems and the processes that drive these natural cycles.
How many units does SED421 have?
SED421, Cycles In Nature (Biological Cycles), has 15 units across 3 modules, over 104 pages of course material. You can read it one unit at a time.
How many credit units is SED421?
SED421 carries 2 credit units, at 400 level in Education.
Is SED421 hard?
SED421 is rated intermediate level, with basic mathematical content. It is mostly theoretical work.
How long does SED421 take to study?
About 45 hours of study, spread across its 15 units.
How is SED421 assessed?
SED421 is assessed by assignments, tutor marked assessments and final examination.
What can I do with SED421?
Environmental Scientist, Geologist, Hydrologist, Conservation Officer and Environmental Consultant.