View Specification DocumentMovement and Landscape Ecology 4B option BIOL4303
- Academic Session: 2026-27
- School: School of Biodiversity One Health Vet Med
- Credits: 20
- Level: Level 4 (SCQF level 10)
- Typically Offered: Semester 2
- Available to Visiting Students: Yes
- Collaborative Online International Learning: No
- Curriculum For Life: No
Short Description
This course explores why organisms move, how they move, and the ecological consequences of their movements. As organisms usually live in heterogenous environments, the course will also explore the origins of landscape structure and change and how this affects movement patterns and ecological processes.
Timetable
This option is assigned to block S2-B. Normally, one 1-hour morning session and one 3-hour afternoon session on Tuesdays.
Requirements of Entry
Normally, only available to final-year Life Sciences students in the Animal Biology programme. Visiting students may be allowed to enrol, at the discretion of the Life Sciences Chief Adviser and the Course Coordinator.
Excluded Courses
None
Co-requisites
None
Assessment
The course will be assessed by a final written exam (60%) and in course lab reports (40%). There will be 3 in-course lab reports, all of which are summative: (1) literature review (10%), (2) methodological design (10%) and analysis of movement data (20%).
Main Assessment In: April/May
Course Aims
The aim of the course is to develop an understanding of the ways in which organisms interact with the environment and the principles that govern movement and space use. Students will be introduced to the major concepts in movement and landscape ecology, and to the methods used in the discipline.
Intended Learning Outcomes of Course
By the end of this course students will be able to:
■ Discuss and critically appraise the current state of understanding of the principles governing organism movement and landscape structure.
■ Identify different movement processes and analyse landscape patterns.
■ Critically assess the impact of human activities on landscape structure and the movement of organisms.
■ Conduct quantitative analyses and effectively communicate research findings.
■ Explain the interdisciplinary nature of movement and landscape ecology, discussing how ecological principles intersect with other scientific disciplines and impact societal issues.