The information below is subject to change as the course is still being developed. The information will be made definite in June 2025.
Admission requirements
This course is part of the BSc Science for Sustainable Societies. The course is an obligatory course for students who are admitted to the BSc Science for Sustainable Societies. It has no further requirements.
Description
We currently face the 6th mass extinction, losing biodiversity at unprecedented rates. To understand human impacts on biodiversity, biodiversity impacts on people, and how to conserve our biodiversity, we first need an understanding of how natural systems function. How do species interact with each other and the environment? Why do some ecosystems harbor more species than other? What theories and frameworks do we use to describe these complex systems and predict future changes? This course provides the foundations for later courses such as Earth Systems Science in the Anthrocopene (1st year) and the Biodiversity and Livelihoods course (2nd year).
This course provides an overview and insight into basic ecological concepts (biodiversity; keystone species; food webs; nutrient cycling; energy flow in ecosystems) and theories (evolution through natural selection; island biogeography theory; ecological stoichiometry) which are important in the context of socio-ecological systems. Students will learn about spatial differences in biodiversity, energy flow, nutrient cycles and how those relate to variation in the environment.
We will cover ecosystems across the globe and use examples of different ecosystems to explain the basic ecological context and theories. In addition, we will have several local excursions to help students understand these concepts and theories in practice. Lastly, students will start practicing their presentation skills and working in a group by presenting a key ecological concept in groups which are evaluated by other students. This peer review approaches helps students develop a critical and reflective approach to presenting information.
The course aligns well with the overall theme of year one: food. We cover topics like primary productivity, nutrient cycling, open vs close ecosystems, all important for our food production systems.
Course objectives
Upon successful completion of this course, you are able to:
Content:
Describe what is meant by ecological concepts such as: habitat, niche, biome, community
Explain key ecological theories such as ecological stoichiometry
Explain similarities and differences in structure and function of ecosystems across the globe
Methods/skills:
- Identify the key aspects needed to develop and execute a clear presentation
Mode of instruction
This course has in-person lectures and in-person practical sessions.
Preparation before classes and active participation in classes are fundamental for the success of our programme. In Science for Sustainable Societies we stimulate discussions and participation in classes so that everyone can bring and share their experience, values, and opinions with their peers. For this reason, there is a mandatory attendance. Please see the course manual on Brightspace for the specific rules concerning attendance in this course.
If you have medical, family, or other personal circumstances that make it difficult to attend class, please contact the study advisor.
Assessment method
Assessment
This course has the following assessments:
Final exam (60%)
Report (20%)
Group presentation (20%)
More information about these assessments will be provided on Brightspace.
Weighing
The final grade for the course is determined by the weighted average of above mentioned assessments. The minimum grade to pass a course is a 5.5. In uSis, this will be registered as a 6.0. Please note that final grades between a 5.45-5.49 will be rounded as a 5.0.
The minimum grade for a partial grade is a 5.0, unless otherwise stated.
Please note that the final grade is expressed as a number between 1 and 10, rounded to the nearest half. The rounding process is only applied at the end for the final calculation.
Resit
Inspection and feedback
Via Brightspace and/or in class, students are informed about when and how they can inspect their graded assessment and receive feedback.
Reading list
Elements of ecology by Smith and Smith
Food and Sustainability by Behrens, Bosker and Erhardt
Science Skills Platform on Brightspace, module Presentation
There will be other reading materials made available on Brightspace.
Registration
All first-year bachelor students will be registered by the Student Services Centre (SSC) for the lectures, tutorials, and the exam (excluding re-sits) of the courses offered in the first semester. For the second semester courses and all re-sits students must register themselves for all course components (lectures, tutorials, exams, and re-sits) in MyStudyMap. You can register up to 5 days prior to the start of a course and up to 10 days prior to an exam or re-sit.
In this short video, you can see step-by-step how to enroll for courses in MyStudyMap.
For more information about the procedures and deadlines, see the enrolment procedure.
Please note:
It is mandatory to enroll for all activities of a course that you are going to follow.
Your enrolment is only complete when you submit your course planning in the ‘Ready for enrolment’ tab by clicking ‘Send’.
Not being enrolled for an exam/re-sit means that you are not allowed to participate in the exam/re-sit.
Brightspace
Brightspace is the digital learning environment of Leiden University.
Brightspace gives access to course announcements and electronic study material. Assignments will also be submitted in Brightspace. Announcements about and changes to courses are made using Brightspace. Students are advised to check Brightspace daily to remain informed about rooms, schedules, deadlines, and details of assignments. Lecturers assume that all students read information posted on Brightspace.
The homepage for Brightspace is: Brightspace
Please log in with your ULCN-account and personal password. On the left you will see an overview of My Courses.
You need to be enrolled for the respective courses to access them on Brightspace.
Contact
Course coordinator: Kat Stewart
Study advisors: Kiki Boomgaard and Marisa Beunk
Remarks
BYOD and software
The BSc Science for Sustainable Societies has a ‘Bring Your Own Device’ policy. The Faculty of Science uses the software distribution platform Academic Software. Through this platform, you can access the software needed for specific courses in your studies. For some software, your laptop must meet certain system requirements, which will be specified with the software. It is important to install the software before the start of the course. More information about the laptop requirements can be found on the student website.