The final qualification will be obtained from only one
exam including questions on the three components of the subject (theory, seminars
and practicum). The weight of each section on the final mark will be
proportional to its time contribution to the subject (60%, 20%, 20%
respectively). In order to pass the subject it is necessary to pass simultaneously
each and every component. A failed mark in one of the three components will be
considered as “compensable mark” (i.e. an overall mean will be calculated) if
it is at least 4 over 10.

Attendance to both seminars and practicum is not
compulsory but it will be recorded. Students have the option to hand a notebook
summarizing the work developed during seminars and practicum. Deadline for
notebooks will be the day of the first call for the final exam. Notebooks
should be handwritten, except for tables and graphs, with and easy-to-read
calligraphy. They will be prepared following the directions specified in the
Moodle platform. Its qualification can contribute to offset possible
shortcomings in the corresponding part of the exam.

It is advisable to keep a copy of the notebook as the
original copy will be retained by the professors until the end of the following
academic year. However, students will be able to get their notebooks back in
order to improve them and study for the second final exam call in July. In case
of introducing some changes in the notebooks during this period these should be
clearly highlighted.

Notebooks can be prepared in pairs or groups but they
must be original work. Notebooks are individual work. Notebooks handed in
during the first exam call can help improve the final mark. Those handed in
during the second exam call will not help improve the final qualification, but they
can help to get a “compensable mark” in case seminar or practicum sections have
been failed in the exam. The notebook qualification obtained during the first
exam call will only be valid until the second exam call.

Notebooks should be presented separately for Seminars
1-4, Seminars 5-8 and Practicum as they are marked by different professors. Notebooks
will be handed in using A4 sheets of paper in a transparent cover, without any springs, clips or
staples on them, so that the material can be duly separated and recycled. Students
should clearly write in the front page their full name, type of notebook (as
above) and a brief table of contents.

Handing in all notebooks is a prerequisite in order to
obtain an Honours qualification, for those students with a top mark in the
final exam.

Learning outcomes	Study programme competences
To describe ecological concepts at the individual, population, community and ecosystem level.	A1 A24
To discuss ecological concepts by critically considering the evidences in support.		B8
To face with some success the specialised literature.	A30
To use some basic techniques from the vast ecological methodology.	A17 A20 A21 A26 A30	B4 B6 B7 B12

Topic	Sub-topic
Section 1. Ecology and evolution	Unit 1. Ecology and evolution
Section 2. Individuals and the environment	Unit 2. Generalities Unit 3. Responses to temperature, water and light Unit 4. Responses to other environmental variations
Section 3. The ecosystem	Unit 5. The ecosystem and its functioning Unit 6. Primary production Unit 7. Energy flow Unit 8. Matter cycles Unit 9. Decomposition Unit 10. Global biogeochemical cycles

Methodologies / tests	Competencies	Ordinary class hours	Student’s personal work hours	Total hours
Guest lecture / keynote speech	A1 A17 A20 A21 A24 A26 A30 B4 B6 B7 B8 B12	24	62.4	86.4
Laboratory practice	A1 A17 A20 A21 A24 A26 A30 B4 B6 B7 B8 B12	15	15	30
Seminar	A1 A17 A20 A21 A24 A26 A30 B4 B6 B7 B8 B12	8	20.8	28.8
Objective test	A1 A17 A20 A21 A24 A26 A30 B4 B6 B7 B8 B12	3	0	3

Personalized attention		1.8	0	1.8

(*)The information in the planning table is for guidance only and does not take into account the heterogeneity of the students.

Methodologies	Description
Guest lecture / keynote speech	Oral presentations to transfer knowledge and ease learning. Most of the graphical support of presentations is available in the virtual campus (Moodle).
Laboratory practice	For the students to learn effectively through the completion of practical activities in the field and/or in the laboratory.
Seminar	Demonstration and study of numerical models for a better understanding and resolution of ecological problems. Most models will be worked with Faculty PCs if students have no portables.
Objective test	Written exam on all aspects of the matter: theory, practicals and seminars.

Methodologies	Competencies	Description	Qualification
Objective test	A1 A17 A20 A21 A24 A26 A30 B4 B6 B7 B8 B12	Written exam on all aspects of the matter: theory, practicals and seminars (see Assessment comments).	100

Assessment comments
The final qualification will be obtained from only one exam including questions on the three components of the subject (theory, seminars and practicum). The weight of each section on the final mark will be proportional to its time contribution to the subject (60%, 20%, 20% respectively). In order to pass the subject it is necessary to pass simultaneously each and every component. A failed mark in one of the three components will be considered as “compensable mark” (i.e. an overall mean will be calculated) if it is at least 4 over 10. Attendance to both seminars and practicum is not compulsory but it will be recorded. Students have the option to hand a notebook summarizing the work developed during seminars and practicum. Deadline for notebooks will be the day of the first call for the final exam. Notebooks should be handwritten, except for tables and graphs, with and easy-to-read calligraphy. They will be prepared following the directions specified in the Moodle platform. Its qualification can contribute to offset possible shortcomings in the corresponding part of the exam. It is advisable to keep a copy of the notebook as the original copy will be retained by the professors until the end of the following academic year. However, students will be able to get their notebooks back in order to improve them and study for the second final exam call in July. In case of introducing some changes in the notebooks during this period these should be clearly highlighted. Notebooks can be prepared in pairs or groups but they must be original work. Notebooks are individual work. Notebooks handed in during the first exam call can help improve the final mark. Those handed in during the second exam call will not help improve the final qualification, but they can help to get a “compensable mark” in case seminar or practicum sections have been failed in the exam. The notebook qualification obtained during the first exam call will only be valid until the second exam call. Notebooks should be presented separately for Seminars 1-4, Seminars 5-8 and Practicum as they are marked by different professors. Notebooks will be handed in using A4 sheets of paper in a transparent cover, without any springs, clips or staples on them, so that the material can be duly separated and recycled. Students should clearly write in the front page their full name, type of notebook (as above) and a brief table of contents. Handing in all notebooks is a prerequisite in order to obtain an Honours qualification, for those students with a top mark in the final exam.

Basic	Alstad DN (2001). Basic Populus models of ecology. New Jersey: Prentice-Hall Rodríguez J (2010). Ecología. Pirámide Smith TM & Smith RL (2007). Ecología. Madrid: Pearson Piñol J & Martínez-Vilalta J (2006). Ecología con números. Barcelona: Lynx Begon M, Harper JL & Townsend CR (1999). Ecología: individuos, poblaciones y comunidades. Barcelona: Omega Ricklefs RE (1998). Invitación a la ecología: la economía de la naturaleza. Madrid: Panamericana Alstad DN (). www.cbs.umn.edu/populus. Piñol J & Martínez-Vilalta J (). www.ecologiaconnumeros.uab.es.
	One of the basic references for seminars is Piñol & Martínez-Vilalta (EC-650). The models in the CD included in this book are also available in its web page. From Alstad’s link the program “Populus” can be freely downloaded, containing models on general biology and also others for some particular seminars. It includes a PopulusHelp.PDF (mostly in English) that was edited as a book in 2001 (EC-505). For most of these basic references there are more recent editions and also English versions.
Complementary	Gotelli NJ (1995). A primer of ecology. Sinauer Margalef R (1974). Ecología. Barcelona: Omega Molles M (2006). Ecología: Conceptos y Aplicaciones. McGraw Hill Krebs CJ (1986). Ecología: el análisis experimental de la distribución y la abundancia. Pirámide Odum EP, Barret GW (2006). Fundamentos de ecología. Mexico: Thomson
	There are more recent editions of these complementary references, and also English versions.

Other comments
Understanding rather than memorization is favored.