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LSC-40143 - Module Specification
School of Life Sciences
Faculty of Natural Sciences

For academic year: 2025/26 Last Updated: 04 December 2025

LSC-40143 - Biodiversity Skills
Coordinator: Ellie Harrison Room: 174
Lecture Time: See Timetable...
Level: Level 7
Credits: 15
Study Hours: 150
School Office: 01782 734414

Programme/Approved Electives for 2025/26

None

Available as a Free Standing Elective

No

Co-requisites

None

Prerequisites

None

Barred Combinations

None

Description for 2025/26

This module will equip you with essential skills in understanding and applying biodiversity assessment methods through lectures and tutorials. You will explore key survey techniques, develop specialist taxonomy knowledge, and critically evaluate different approaches. The module will also focus on enhancing your taxonomic knowledge of a group of interest to you. Through lectures, you will gain proficiency in identification skills, with opportunities to engage with local and national experts to enhance your professional networks.

Aims
This module aims to help you develop research and identification techniques for assessing biodiversity.
This module will also help you develop specialist skills in the identification of a selected taxon to species level (i.e. amphibians or invertebrates).

Intended Learning Outcomes

Analyse and critically evaluate the context, methodology and results of primary scientific literature and secondary data sources.: 1
Critically evaluate the morphological, anatomical or genetic features used to define a specified taxonomic group and communicate this to a range of audiences.: 1
Develop specialist identification skills of key taxa and habitats within the UK.: 1

Study hours

Lectures: 24 hours
Tutorials: 10 hours
Practicals/lab work: 28 hours
Field visits: 8 hours
Preparation for field visits/lab work: 6 hours
Preparation for lectures/ tutorials: 10 hours
Preparation for lab book: 18 hours
Wider reading: 46 hours

School Rules

None

Description of Module Assessment

1: Laboratory Book weighted 100%
Biodiversity skills logbook
The student will prepare an illustrated log book to show evidence of taxonomic competence development for selected taxa. This is expected to be around 3000 words equivalent. There will be a section on identification of distribution and abundance of species based on scientific literature and secondary data source, alongside the illustrated log book to demonstrate your understanding of the taxonomic group.

The University undertakes a continuous review of its teaching and research provision to ensure programmes are of a high quality and changes may be made to modules where it is necessary and reasonable to do so. Please be aware that minor changes to modules, such as a change to an individual assessment, can occur up until enrolment, although we endeavour to give you as much notice as possible of any changes. Details about the circumstance in which changes are made to programmes can be found in the Student Agreement, available at: https://www.keele.ac.uk/legalgovernancecompliance/governance/actcharterstatutesordinancesandregulations/studenttermsconditions/

Last Updated: 04 December 2025