MODULE SPECIFICATION TEMPLATE
MODULE DETAILS
Module title
Module code
Credit value
Level
Applied Ecology & Conservation
BY301
20
Level 4
Level 5
Level 6
X
Level 7
Level 8
Mark the box to the right of the
appropriate level with an ‘X’
Entry criteria for registration on this module
Pre-requisites
A level 5 ecology module e.g., BY213, B217, BY218, BY242 or equivalent
Specify in terms of module codes or
equivalent
Co-requisite modules
Specify in terms of module codes or
equivalent
Module delivery
Mode of delivery
Taught
Other
X
Distance
Placement
Pattern of delivery
Weekly
X
Block
Other
Online
When module is delivered
Semester 1
Semester 2
Throughout year X
Other
Brief description of module This module provides an ecological perspective to some of the problems
content and/ or aims
associated with human exploitation of the environment, and in particular it
Overview (max 80 words)
looks at the ways in which knowledge of ecology and conservation may be
applied to aid understanding and management of some of the affected
systems.
Module team/ author/
Dawn Scott, Anja Rott, Maureen Berg and other member of the Biology
coordinator(s)
and Biomedical Sciences Division
School
Pharmacy and Biomolecular sciences
Site/ campus where
Moulsecoomb
delivered
Course(s) for which module is appropriate and status on that course
Course
BSc Biological Sciences
BSc Ecology
BSc Environmental Sciences
BSc Ocean & Earth Sciences
BSc Environmental Hazards
Status (mandatory/ compulsory/ optional)
O
C
O
O
O
MODULE AIMS, ASSESSMENT AND SUPPORT
Aims
To provide an ecological perspective on contemporary environmental
issues including the exploitation of natural environmental resources.
The module examines how ecology and ecological techniques may be
applied to aid understanding and management of some of the affected
systems and should provide students with a thorough understanding of
Module descriptor template: updated Aug 2012
Learning outcomes
Content
Learning support
the key ecological concepts of habitat and species conservation and
management.
After completing the module students should be able to:
1) Discuss the relative merits of different methods of exploiting and
managing specific natural resources.
2) Form an objective and balanced assessment of the possible
environmental cost and benefits resulting from the exploitation of
natural populations and resources.
3) Demonstrate an ability to apply relevant aspects of ecological
theory to the development and evaluation of possible
management strategies for the exploitation of natural resources.
4) Critically evaluate differing ecological explanations for
environmental change at differing spatial scales.
5) Critically evaluate issues relating to conservation implementation
Lectures and case studies will be selectively based around current
contemporary ecological and conservation issues such as:
 Current and topical issues in conservation and wildlife
management
 Conservation biology
 Wildlife and biodiversity economics and ethics
 Species, habitat and ecosystem conservation
 World population growth and resource demand - impacts of
agricultural systems
 Pest species control – pesticides, integrated pest management and
biological control.
 Sustainable management and exploitation of nature resources
 Anthropogenic effects on environment – e.g. environmental
pollution and ecotoxicology
 Climate change and potential
impacts on natural systems,
biodiversity and humans society
 Biofuels – potential and impacts
The topic covered each year will partly be determined by their currency
and relevance to developing national and international environmental
issues and policy.
Key resources, current editions of:
Allendorf, F. W. Conservation and the genetics of populations. Oxford:
Blackwell Press.
Beedy A & AM Brennan. First Ecology. Oxford University Press.
London.
Fiedler, P.L. & Kareiva, P.M. Conservation biology: for the coming
decade. New York; London :Chapman & Hall
Goudie, A. The Human Impact on the Natural Environment, Past,
Present & Future. Blackwells Publishing.
Krebs, CJ. Ecology. Benjamin Cummings.
Mason, C.F. Biology of Freshwater Pollution. Longman, London.
May R., & A. McLean.
Theoretical Ecology: Principles and
Applications. Oxford University Press.
Newman, E.I. Applied Ecology and Environmental Management.
Blackwell Scientific, Oxford.
Newman, M.C. & M.A. Unger. Fundamentals of Ecotoxicology. Taylor &
Francis.
Primack, R.B. A Primer of Conservation Biology. Sinauer Associates.
Primack R.B. Essentials of Conservation Biology. Sinauer Associates.
Scott Mills, l. Conservation of wildlife populations : demography,
genetics, and management . Blackwell Oxford.
Sinclair, ARE et al. Wildlife ecology, conservation and management.
Blackwell.
Townsend, C. Ecological Applications. Towards a Sustainable World.
Blackwell Publishing. Oxford
This will be supplemented by selected papers from Journal of Applied
Ecology, Ecological Restoration and Conservation Biology.
Module descriptor template: updated Aug 2012
The module will be supported by supplementary material and links
placed on the Student Central via ASPIRE
Teaching and learning activities
Details of teaching and
learning activities
The module will comprise 200 nominal hours. The module content will
typically be delivered using a combination of lectures and seminars (50
hrs), 10 hours tutorials and student presentations, independent group
work (40 hrs) in addition to a substantive independent study component
(100 hrs) in which the student explores theoretical aspects of ecology
and their application to environmental and conservation issues. The
module will emphasise the links between theory and the practical
applications of ecology and conservation
Allocation of study hours (indicative)
Study hours
Where 10 credits = 100 learning hours
SCHEDULED
This is an indication of the number of hours students can expect to
spend in scheduled teaching activities including lectures, seminars,
tutorials, project supervision, demonstrations, practical classes and
workshops, supervised time in workshops/ studios, fieldwork,
external visits, and work-based learning.
60
GUIDED INDEPENDENT
STUDY
All students are expected to undertake guided independent study
which includes wider reading/ practice, follow-up work, the
completion of assessment tasks, and revisions.
140
PLACEMENT
The placement is a specific type of learning away from the University
that is not work-based learning or a year abroad.
TOTAL STUDY HOURS
200
Assessment tasks
Details of assessment for
this module
Types of assessment task1
100 % Coursework.
Coursework consisting of three components.
1. Critical Problem Based Essay on a current ecological issue (3000
words, LO1, LO3, LO5) 50 %
2. Communication Exercise on a critical conservation issue
undertaken as a group presentation (40%) and individual personal
reflection l (10%) (LO2, LO4, LO5) 50%
3. Personal reflective log of the key issues covered in each lecture
(pass/fail).
% weighting
Indicative list of summative assessment tasks which lead to the award of credit or which are required for
progression.
(or indicate if
component is
pass/fail)
WRITTEN
Written exam
COURSEWORK
Written assignment/ essay, report, dissertation, portfolio, project
output, set exercise
50%
PRACTICAL
Oral assessment and presentation, practical skills assessment, set
exercise
50%
EXAMINATION INFORMATION
Area examination board
Biology and Biomedical Sciences
External examiners
1 Set exercises, which assess the application of knowledge or analytical, problem-solving or evaluative skills, are included
under the type of assessment most appropriate to the particular task.
Module descriptor template: updated Aug 2012
Name
Position and institution
Date appointed
Date tenure
ends
Diana Bell
Senior Lecturer, University of East Anglia
01/10/11
30/09/15
QUALITY ASSURANCE
Date of first approval
1991
Only complete where this is not the
first version
Date of last revision
2011
Only complete where this is not the
first version
Date of approval for this
version
2013
Version number
6
Modules replaced
BY301
Specify codes of modules for which
this is a replacement
Available as free-standing module?
Module descriptor template: updated Aug 2012
Yes
x
No