Ecology Foundations
Equivalent to level 2 study
This is a new course aimed at new learners, those wanting to change career, anyone who has not studied ecology elsewhere as well as those who want to do some revision in the subject. GCSE Science students would find the course useful to support the ecology section of the specification from AQA, OCR Community level systems, Ecosystems and material cycles in Pearson Edexcel, WJEC Cells, Organ systems and Ecosystems.
This course is a great start to learning about ecology and natural systems as well as providing a basis for further study and work.
Course fee: £195.00
Set at the equivalent to level 2 study (UK education standards) the assignments are straightforward with multiple-choice questions and the whole course could be completed within a couple of months. For time limits to complete this course see this page.
The course starts with ecosystems and energy flow and has two units for that area. You will find out about primary productivity, how energy is said to flow through an ecosystem, autotrophs, heterotrophs and be introduced to nutrient cycling.
Other units cover food chains and food webs, populations and communities, patterns and distributions of organisms and collecting and sampling for ecology.
Each unit has an assignment with a pass or, merit or distinction level of achievement.
Learning materials are sent by email as well as the assignment. When you have completed an assignment that is emailed to us for marking.
Course content
Unit 1 Ecosystems and organisms
Ecosystems, energy and energy transfer, autotrophs, heterotrophs, introduction to nutrient cycles, trophic levels
Unit 3 Food chains and food webs
Links and interdependence between organisms
Unit 5 Patterns and Distributions
Why species are distributed and patterns of distribution
Unit 2 Energy and Chemical Cycling in Ecosystems
Energy: photosynthetic light, primary productivity, nutrient cycles
Unit 4 Populations and Communities Species populations, communities of species, species' niches
Unit 6 Sampling for ecology
What to collect and how to sample
Course fee: £195.00
Instalments: these are made by standing order at £32.50 p.c.m. International transactions will incur additional fees. Click here for payment options including PayPal, instalments and bank transfer. You can try unit 1 before committing to the whole course for £19.50.
Course materials are sent via email but paper copies are available for an additional fee of £15 per unit. Postage charges may need to be added depending on your location.