Programme/Approved Electives for 2024/25
None
Available as a Free Standing Elective
No
The module in Conservation Biology takes a practical approach to introduce students to the many threats to Earth's biodiversity and how conservation can be used to protect species, habitats and ecosystems from human-caused extinction. Students will work in teams on a real world ecological consultancy scenario that is independently written up. Through the use of field-based tutorials and desk-top studies, students will produce a conservation management plan for a site of biological, geological and historical importance, demonstrating the often conflicting interests that have to be taken into consideration. Guest speakers from conservation organisations (e.g., zoos, etc) and site visits will be used to demonstrate the various practical aspects of conserving nature.
Aims
The module aims to enhance student learning by using an applied evidence-based approach to introduce students to the science and practice of Conservation Biology. The module builds on the Ecology and Environment theme that runs through the degree. The practical nature of this module will prepare students for a career in ecological consultancy.
Talis Aspire Reading ListAny reading lists will be provided by the start of the course.http://lists.lib.keele.ac.uk/modules/lsc-30043/lists
Intended Learning Outcomes
explain the fundamental principles of Conservation Biology: 2critically appraise the role of conservation programmes in maintaining biodiversity over a range of resolutions, from genes to biomes: 2critically evaluate practical management techniques for conservation: 2appraise the conservation status of a habitat and carry out a UK Hab survey to use biodiversity net gain calculations:
Active learning:20 hours of tutorials (debates, field sessions, report writing and exam revision support, etc)5 hours of guest lectures72 hours of engagement with asynchronous content (active learning hours) (assumes ~6 hours watching videos, reading core texts and writing notes, etc., for each weekly topic)Independent study:18 hours of data analysis, research and write-up of consultancy report2 hours online authentic assessment33 hours of private study
Human biology students must have undertaken LSC-20097 (Environmental biology) International/transfer students must have a module in ecology or equivalent.
Description of Module Assessment
1: Portfolio weighted 60%Biodiversity Net Gain reportPortfolio comprises:
1. 2000 word "Biodiversity net gain report", assessing a site using UK hab survey methods initially and using this to calculating biodiversity net loss / gain. Every site now has a requirement for net 10 % gain and you attempt appropriate mitigation to achieve this 10 % using the Defra metric.
2. Desk study - using specialist databases to evaluate biodiversity and site protection status.
2: Online Tasks weighted 40%Online open book assessmentThe paper will be released on the KLE as a Word document at 9am on the morning of the work based task. This is an online open-book assessment with an 8 hour window to complete. This is representative of a work based scenario, where you will be completing a habitat management report based on one of the three scenarios given at 9 am.
Work will be submitted to Turnitin no later than 5pm on the day of release.
Although students have been given significant time to complete this assessment script (9am-5pm), we expect most students to spend no more than 2 hrs.