2017/18 Undergraduate Module Catalogue

BLGY2330 Terrestrial Ecology and Behaviour Field Course

10 creditsClass Size: 41

Module manager: Dr Steve Compton
Email: s.g.a.compton@leeds.ac.uk

Taught: Semester 2 (Jan to Jun) View Timetable

Year running 2017/18

Pre-requisite qualifications

Students taking this module MUST also choose EITHER BLGY2222 OR BLGY2223. You must be comfortable with the use of statistics software covered in BLGY2192.

Co-requisites

BLGY2192

Experimental Design and Analysis

Module replaces

BLGY2300

This module is not approved as a discovery module

Objectives

This course aims to give a taste of the pleasures and problems of field research and reinforce and expand upon the ecological, behavioural or field-base training students receive over their first two years at Leeds.

Some of the methods demonstrated in the first year will be practised, and used in projects to survey the flora and fauna, establish habitat preferences and population sizes, and address some fundamental ecological, behavioural and other field based questions.

Learning outcomes
On completion of the module students will be able to
- Research and prepare a brief review of published studies that address an ecological, behavioural or other field-based question related to your chosen research project.
- Used this review to write a brief research proposal for your project.
- Familiarised yourself with a range of ecological approaches and techniques by assisting other groups during the field course.

As a group you will have:
- Carried out a project safely and effectively, collecting data in a clearly structured and well-documented form.
- Analysed and interpreted your data making full use of statistical software, explaining your methods and choice of tests.
- Presented a report of your work in the form of a short talk, making full use of audio-visual aids.
- Carried out a series of mini-projects aimed at improving your field skills.

Syllabus

The field course is organised around group projects, which will study the terrestrial ecology of the plants and animals, and the behaviour of the animals, of Malham Tarn National Nature Reserve.

Example projects:
- Are there sex differences in the provisioning rates of nest-box breeding birds?
- How do light levels influence cave spider behaviour, and does this differ with age?
- What factors influence food capture rates of insectivorous plants?
- Are the songs and calls of birds adapted to their habitat and function?

Teaching methods

Delivery type	Number	Length hours	Student hours
Lecture	3	1.00	3.00
Practical	20	3.00	60.00
Private study hours			37.00
Total Contact hours			63.00
Total hours (100hr per 10 credits)			100.00

Opportunities for Formative Feedback

The module is a residential field course.

Each group of 2-3 students is closely monitored (guidance, feedback, other assistance) throughout the week at all stages of their work to ensure project design, execution, time management, teamwork, analysis and seminar preparation are optimised.

With 6-7 staff and <40 students, supervision is very close.

Methods of assessment

Coursework

Assessment type	Notes	% of formal assessment
Written Work	Written review proposal	25.00
Presentation	Project execution and seminar presentation skills	50.00
Project	Mini projects carried out during the course	25.00
Total percentage (Assessment Coursework)		100.00

Normally resits will be assessed by the same methodology as the first attempt, unless otherwise stated

Reading list

The reading list is available from the Library website

Last updated: 05/01/2018

Disclaimer

Browse Other Catalogues

• Undergraduate module catalogue
• Taught Postgraduate module catalogue
• Undergraduate programme catalogue
• Taught Postgraduate programme catalogue

Errors, omissions, failed links etc should be notified to the Catalogue Team.PROD