Gwybodaeth Modiwlau
Course Delivery
Assessment
Due to Covid-19 students should refer to the module Blackboard pages for assessment details
| Assessment Type | Assessment length / details | Proportion |
|---|---|---|
| Semester Assessment | Conservation Management Plan (2500 words) | 40% |
| Semester Assessment | Assignment report (1500 words) | 30% |
| Semester Exam | 1.5 Hours | 30% |
| Supplementary Exam | 1.5 Hours Students must take elements of assessment equivalent to those that led to failure of the module. | 30% |
| Supplementary Assessment | Students must take elements of assessment equivalent to those that led to failure of the module. | 70% |
Learning Outcomes
On successful completion of this module students should be able to:
1. Explain how the motivations of science and society lead to conservation biology and policies, legal powers and designations that protect wildlife and habitats.
2. Appreciate the ecological concepts and principles that drive changes in species, habitats and ecosystems and the biotic and abiotic factors (including land use) that affect the size, genetic diversity and viability of wildlife populations.
3. Distinguish different wildlife habitats according to national classifications and identify their distinctive plant and animal species.
4. Select and use appropriately a range of species surveying and monitoring techniques to assess the status and direction of change in habitat condition and wildlife populations.
5. Apply the principles of nature conservation audit, conservation management action planning with habitat and species monitoring to achieve appropriate management objectives and delivery within a Conservation Management Plan.
Brief description
This module covers the ecological principles plus the practical skills of species conservation and monitoring through habitat management that are required by today’s professional conservation practitioner. An understanding of applied population and community ecology is developed, which includes coverage of basic population genetics, in conjunction with the ability to recognize and monitor dynamic ecological processes. Management planning methods are evaluated in protected areas as well as in the wider countryside with particular emphasis on agricultural and forestry management modified to conserve remnant, semi-natural habitats and general biodiversity (ecosystem approach) or adapted according to the specific resource requirements and life histories of priority species for conservation. Cross-cutting themes will address the current status of wildlife and conservation law and significant designations that apply to conservation management; conservation grazing and impacts of invasive, non-native species. The techniques used to maintain, enhance, restore and re-create the conservation value of a range of habitats are examined.
Content
1. Ecological theory and societal values of biodiversity that informs wildlife conservation policy and practice: conservation biology; population biology and genetics; ecological succession and habitat creation.
2. Four cross-cutting themes of: conservation grazing; invasive, non-native, species; wildlife and habitat law; and molecular methods in conservation biology.
3. Recognition of semi-natural habitats (NVC plant communities) and their management for wildlife species: woodland, heathland, grassland, wetland and coastal biotopes.
4. Conservation management planning: plant and animal species identification; ecological survey methods; evidence-based conservation.
Module Skills
| Skills Type | Skills details |
|---|---|
| Application of Number | Assess and present population data for plant and animal species after field survey. |
| Communication | Written communication will be developed through the assignment report and preparation of a full Conservation Management Plan as a major assignment. |
| Improving own Learning and Performance | Knowledge of habitat and species classifications and ecological theory applied to nature conservation. |
| Information Technology | Presentation of complex information and data. Access to and adaptation of maps for Conservation Management Plan. Produce professional report format using Word Processing software. |
| Personal Development and Career planning | Several aspects of practical nature conservation covered in module of relevance to site management as Local Authority Ranger or Nature Reserve Warden. |
| Problem solving | Creative thinking related to future management of a site to enhance nature conservation value: state of typical habitats and species. |
| Research skills | Learning about sampling methods and design to assess populations and assemblages of plant and animal species. Literature search and review and interpretation and application of taxonomic dichotomous keys. |
| Subject Specific Skills | Awareness and application of Conservation Management Planning procedure used in many conservation agencies and organizations. |
| Team work | Team-working activities of species recording and habitat mapping during conservation audit in the field prior to individual assignment write-up. |
Notes
This module is at CQFW Level 5