2024/25 Taught Postgraduate Module Catalogue
BLGY5156M Masters Ecology Field Course
15 creditsClass Size: 15
Module manager: Dr Alastair Ward
Email: A.I.Ward@leeds.ac.uk
Taught: Semester 2 (Jan to Jun) View Timetable
Year running 2024/25
This module is mutually exclusive with
| BLGY5153M | African Field Ecology |
Module replaces
BLGY5155MThis module is not approved as an Elective
Objectives
On completion of this module, students should have experience in the ecology of a Mediterranean environment, and of at least one focal system within it. They should also be able to design and carry out simple ecological field research projects. Students will develop research proposals, conduct field work, analyse their data, and present their findings both in written form and in the form of a research seminar.Learning outcomes
On completion of this module, students will have gained:
1. Increased familiarity with semi-arid habitats and specific focal taxa;
2. Experience in fieldwork health and safety and ethics considerations;
3. Experience in experimental design and field protocol testing;
4. Experience in carrying out ecological research in field settings;
5. Experience in standardised data collection and compilation;
6. Experience in statistical analysis of research data;
7. Experience in reviewing and applying published research findings;
8. Experience in composing and presenting a research talk;
9. Experience in teamwork and collaboration.
Syllabus
Students will work in small groups. Each group will choose a research topic from a list of options or develop a topic of their own in consultation with the module manager. Each student will do background reading relevant to the subject prior to the field course and spend the duration of the field course carrying out the research. At the end of the 11 day field course, each group will present a seminar and a written report outlining its findings.
There is a participation charge of £700 (approximately) which includes flights, transfers to the Research Station, food and accommodation.
Teaching methods
| Delivery type | Number | Length hours | Student hours |
| Office Hour Discussions | 2 | 1.00 | 2.00 |
| Lecture | 3 | 1.00 | 3.00 |
| Practical | 8 | 8.00 | 64.00 |
| Seminar | 1 | 4.00 | 4.00 |
| Private study hours | 77.00 | ||
| Total Contact hours | 73.00 | ||
| Total hours (100hr per 10 credits) | 150.00 | ||
Private study
Preparation for trip, background reading relevant to project, preparing seminar, preparing final report (77 hours total)Opportunities for Formative Feedback
- Two meetings with project supervisor prior to field course and several meetings a day on average with supervisor during field course;- literature review is conducted by the student individually on a topic relevant to their planned fieldwork, and submitted at the beginning of the field course. Each research group will give a seminar near the end of the field course, presenting their findings. A small proportion of the module mark will be awarded by module staff based on fieldwork performance, including a component for self/peer assessment.
Methods of assessment
Coursework
| Assessment type | Notes | % of formal assessment |
| Literature Review | Literature review | 45.00 |
| Presentation | Group Presentation | 45.00 |
| Self/Peer Assessment | Field performance | 10.00 |
| 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 websiteLast updated: 31/07/2024
Browse Other Catalogues
- Undergraduate module catalogue
- Taught Postgraduate module catalogue
- Undergraduate programme catalogue
- Taught Postgraduate programme catalogue
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