Module: BIO4001-20 Conservation Biology

Level: 4

Credit Value: 20

Module Tutor: Stephanie Greshon

Module Tutor Contact Details: s.greshon@bathspa.ac.uk

1. Brief description and aims of module

This module is designed to equip you with knowledge and understanding of the biological diversity of the world and ways in which we may conserve it. It will also enable you to develop associated practical skills.

Biological diversity (biodiversity) is a highly topical issue that impacts on us all. Maintaining biodiversity is crucial for the environmental, social and economic health of the world. The module will develop your understanding of conservation issues and how they relate to principles and practices.

It will particularly appeal if you want to specialise in wildlife conservation topics within Biology. It will also give students from other subjects an understanding of the current issues relating to Biodiversity and Conservation and their impact on the environment.

2. Outline syllabus

This module introduces the rich diversity of organisms in the biological world. It explores modern classification of species and highlights the key biological characteristics of the major plant and animal phyla. Key use and construction will also be demonstrated and practised.

The applied discipline of conservation biology is discussed, highlighting the issues associated with identifying species, habitats or landscapes to conserve. The problems of securing appropriate resources to apply conservation biology techniques are also considered.

3. Teaching and learning activities

You normally have two three hour sessions each week. Some sessions will be entirely practical based, whilst others will be more lecture orientated. Lectures introduce the central topics of the module and these are developed and illustrated through practical work and field visits. You will work individually and in small groups, for example in fieldwork in a range of habitats.

An important aspect of this is the field project. Working in small groups, you will carry out surveys of plants or animals in an environment on campus or the surrounding estate, and investigate factors that influence their abundance and distribution. This exercise develops your sampling techniques and selected analytical methods. The data collected are used to develop a group presentation in an assessed session.

Through a series of exercises the module helps you to develop skills which will be used in subsequent modules. Transferable skills, addressed within a scientific context, include: writing and reporting, visual and oral presentation, researching literature, data interpretation, statistical analysis, use of ICT, and group working. Subject specific skills include sampling for field biology in a range of habitats, environmental survey techniques, and plant and animal identification using keys.

Assessment Item 1:

• Assessment Type: Exam

• Description: Interpretation test

• % Weighting: 40%

Assessment Item 2:

• Assessment Type: Course Work

• Description: Group project presentation

• % Weighting: 60%