2021 Faculty Courses School of Environment and Society Department of Transdisciplinary Science and Engineering Graduate major in Global Engineering for Development, Environment and Society
Landscape Ecology
- Academic unit or major
- Graduate major in Global Engineering for Development, Environment and Society
- Instructor(s)
- Akira Tanaka
- Class Format
- Lecture
- Media-enhanced courses
- -
- Day of week/Period
(Classrooms) - 5-6 Fri
- Class
- -
- Course Code
- GEG.E513
- Number of credits
- 100
- Course offered
- 2021
- Offered quarter
- 1Q
- Syllabus updated
- Jul 10, 2025
- Language
- English
Syllabus
Course overview and goals
Landscape ecology is an applied science which practically focuses on ecosystem complex from the viewpoints of spatial expanse and the scenery, and theoretical basis for ecosystem management, greenery development and nature restoration in actual society. This course will introduce the basis of ecology, methods for habitat evaluation, and discuss social systems to keep the balance between human activities and ecosystem management through recent advanced cases inside and outside Japan.
Course description and aims
At the end of this course, students will be able to:
1) explain the structure of ecosystem complex from the viewpoints of spatial expanse and the scenery
2) evaluate habitat with Habitat Suitability Index (HSI)
3) explain social systems such as Environmental Impact Assessment for ecosystem management through advanced cases inside and outside Japan.
Keywords
Eco-System, Wild life, Red Data Book, Biodiversity, Sustainable Development, Environmental Impact Assessment, Mitigation Banking, Habitat Evaluation Procedures, Habitat Suitable Index
Competencies
- Specialist skills
- Intercultural skills
- Communication skills
- Critical thinking skills
- Practical and/or problem-solving skills
Class flow
The course basically provides lectures.
Course schedule/Objectives
| Course schedule | Objectives | |
|---|---|---|
| Class 1 | Viewpoints of landscape ecology | Acquire knowledge of basic viewpoints for landscape ecology as well as structure of this class. |
| Class 2 | Positive and negative impacts of human activities to the environment | Acquire knowledge of impacts of human activities to natural environment. |
| Class 3 | Quantitative Habitat Evaluation Procedures (HEP) | Acquire knowledge of quantitative evaluation method on habitat. |
| Class 4 | Habitat Suitable Index (HSI) | Acquire knowledge of modelling for habitat evaluation. |
| Class 5 | Application cases of HEP | collect cases of HEP. |
| Class 6 | Impacts of projects and the mitigation | Acquire knowledge of mitigation methods of project impacts. |
| Class 7 | Biodiversity offset and banking | Acquire knowledge of offset and banking methods for biodiversity management. |
Study advice (preparation and review)
To enhance effective learning, students are encouraged to spend approximately 100 minutes preparing for class and another 100 minutes reviewing class content afterwards (including assignments) for each class.
They should do so by referring to textbooks and other course material.
Textbook(s)
None required.
Reference books, course materials, etc.
Kazuhiko Takeuchi, "Creating a New Eco-environment", University of Tokyo Press, ISBN 978-4-13-063306-2 (Japanese)
Akira Tanaka, "Theory and Practices for Habitat Evaluation Procedure (HEP) in Japan", Asakura Publishing, ISBN 978-4-254-18036-7 (Japanese)
Evaluation methods and criteria
Evaluate understanding of habitat evaluation and systems for ecosystem management as well as specific methods (exercises in the class 50%, final report 50%).
Related courses
- GEG.S401 ： Environmental Policy
- GEG.E501 ： Environmental Impact Assessment
Prerequisites
No prerequisites.
Other
Not applicable.