The zone of life on earth, or ‘biosphere’, obeys simple natural principles, but these interact to create complex and sometimes unexpected responses. First, we examine how biodiversity is distributed at local to global scales and what factors and mechanisms are responsible for these patterns. We will explore how species organise into communities and how energy and other resources flow through ecosystems. Then we build on these underlying principles to develop understanding of how ecosystems respond to environmental change. The module is taught via lectures, supported by field activities and data analysis practicals. Assessments include presentations based on practical-supported analysis of data students collect on the field class, and an exam based on a mix of data interpretation and short-answer questions. The module builds foundational ecological understanding, embedded in with real-world examples to enable students to develop skills to relate theory, data and analysis to understand real-world ecological challenges.