Module Catalogue 2025/26

Pre Requisite Comment

N/A

Co Requisite Comment

N/A

Aims

This module will provide an introduction to ecological interactions between organisms and their environment, and will explore conservation principles, policies and how these can be implemented.

Outline Of Syllabus

The lecture material provides the theoretical framework for ecology and conservation and will cover topics such as:
•       Introduction to ecological concepts
•       Research methods in ecology
•       Climate, air, water and chemicals
•       Intraspecific and interspecific interactions, predation
•       Succession, population dynamics, communities, biogeography
•       Applied ecology
•       Conservation principles, policy and practice
•       Valuing biodiversity
•       Threats to biodiversity
•       Conservation of habitats, populations and species
•       Practical Conservation
•       UN Sustainable Development Goals

The lecture programme is complemented by field trips in which practical aspects of ecology and conservation are introduced and practiced.

Intended Knowledge Outcomes

PC1 Knowledge Application: Develop fundamental biological knowledge and an awareness of how this fits into the wider context. Recognise the broad biological concepts that underpin the discipline and how these impact the world around them. This module will provide the student with the knowledge to apply ecological and conservation concepts at the level of individuals, populations, communities and ecosystems.

Intended Skill Outcomes

PC2 Information Literacy: Find and correctly interpret appropriate sources of information on scientific topics. Incorporate and reference sources appropriately within assignments. In this module, students will be taught and be encouraged to review relevant literature (scientific papers, specialist reports, websites) to obtain information about the latest work in conservation and ecology. Introduced, assessed.

PC3 Practical Skills: Implement the scientific method and fundamental disciplinary practical techniques through appropriate experiential designs. In this module, students will learn skills in field and computer-based ecological and conservation approaches, including data collection and mapping. Introduced, assessed.

PC4 Data Literacy: Identify, validate and visualise different types of data. Describe ways of managing data. In this module, students will learn to find data sources online and then analyse data collected during field-practical sessions. Assessments will involve analysing and presenting data. Introduced, assessed.

PC6 Digital Literacy: Identify with guidance different types of digital technology appropriate to the discipline and communicate scientific concepts clearly, concisely, and correctly in a variety of digitally enhanced formats. In this module, students will obtain an appreciation about digital technology including, citizen science-based apps and mapping software. Introduced, assessed.

PC7 Ethics Literacy: Show awareness of and compliance with relevant ethical concepts that apply to a broad range of scientific knowledge (e.g. academic conduct, risk assessment, inclusivity, and research ethics), within a structured environment. In the module, students will gain an appreciation about ethical concerns when undertaking conservation, both from a landscape and anthropogenic perspective. Introduced.

PC8 Collaboration: Begin to develop effective collaboration skills and reflect on your professional and digital interactions. Recognise the importance of success in shared endeavours and the role of group work and collaboration in enhancing scientific outcomes. During field practical sessions and assessments associated with these, students will work collaboratively in groups to generate, interpret and present ecological data. Introduced, assessed.

PC9 Professional Skills & Career Management: Develop awareness of the different career paths and sectors a science graduate may go into. Reflect on and broaden understanding of own skillset and begin to develop a personal action plan to develop relevant skills, knowledge, and experiences. This module will provide students with relevant industry knowledge and skills, including information about possible career paths in the sector. Introduced.

PC10 Integrated Problem Solving: Appreciate the complexity of biological systems and the diversity of solutions and approaches that are required to further knowledge in the biological sciences. In this module, we will provide students with problems in terms of field collection methods, ethics, and show how to implement successful conservation and ecological approaches with varying contrasting factors. Introduced, assessed.

Teaching Rationale And Relationship

The lectures provide a theoretical framework for ecology and conservation, illustrated with examples. The field classes support the lecture material by means of actual examples of the concepts and processes. The field classes also enable the students to gain experience of collecting and presenting their own data. Literature searching and citing references from scientific sources will be included in reports.

Assessment Rationale And Relationship

The practical reports will assess: insight into the major concepts used to understand ecology or conservation; application of ideas in lectures to address a choice of problems with the use of supporting scientific literature; and data handling, basic understanding of experimental design and statistics. The practical classes explore how to apply concepts in lectures to real-world examples. The computer test will assesses understanding across all of the lectures and practical sessions.

The resits will be the same as the original assessments.

General Notes

N/A