Understanding Amphibians

Overview

With over 9,000 species worldwide, amphibians vary from massive two-metre-long giant salamanders to a fingernail-sized frog - the world’s smallest vertebrate. They are also unique in many aspects of their life histories, development, physiology and ecology and often have significant importance in both the human and aquatic environment. Globally, amphibian diversity and numbers are under extreme threat through habitat fragmentation, diseases, water course management and exploitation.

During this course, and within the setting of their worldwide diversity, learners will learn to identify common British amphibians at all life stages and will have the option to gain practical experience of identification and of using field survey methods. The course will also cover threats to species and habitats as well as legal protection.

Using Blackboard, our online learning environment, learners will complete two self-paced, introductory units online before attending an optional day of in-person practical teaching at the Llysdinam Field Centre in mid Wales. Learners will then complete a final online unit and submit their assessments. The tutor will provide online support for the duration of the course.

The optional in-person teaching will occur over one day (a Saturday in mid to late March) at the Llysdinam Field Centre, near Newbridge on Wye, Llandrindod Wells.

Understanding Amphibians can be studied as a stand-alone course, but it is also a key module for the Certificate of Higher Education in Field Ecology.

Programme

This is a blended learning module so one part of the module is delivered as self-paced online learning units and the other is delivered as an optional 1 day in-person field teaching session.
The online content is delivered using Video PowerPoint lectures and external video content. Activities, discussion boards and mini quizzes will be embedded throughout the units so the tutor can provide support and feedback. A number of the activities will help the students to prepare for the assignments. It will be possible to successfully complete the course without attending the optional field day however a short, written account of how to identify common amphibians will be required as part of the assessments. Field day attendees will complete this during the day.

Unit 1 – Introduction (Online)

• Course structure and welcome. Blackboard orientation.
• Microsoft Teams meet and greet.
• A brief overview of amphibians worldwide, their variety of form and varied habitats.

Unit 2 – British Species (Online)

• Get to know the British species of amphibians, their identification, ecology and environmental status.

Unit 3 – Optional, in-person field day (approx. 5 hours)

• Identifying common British amphibians in the field and a short identification test.
• Practical field survey techniques including netting, trapping etc.
• Optional evening fieldwork to see amphibian migration and see newt breeding displays.

Unit 4 – Conservation and Habitat Management (Online)

• Examples of conservation and habitat management techniques.
• Threat mitigation e.g. toad tunnels
• Legislation and other protection measures
• Essay preparation

Students should be able to identify common British amphibians and analyse the related threats and legal protections. They should also be able to carry out some basic survey techniques.

Learning Outcomes

On completion of this module, students should be able to:

1. Identify the common British amphibians and demonstrate an understanding of their morphology and diagnostic characters.
2. Demonstrate an understanding of basic survey techniques used to monitor amphibians.
3. Explain the distribution, life histories, habitat and conservation requirements of amphibians in the UK.
4. Analyse the threats and legal protections that relate to amphibians in the UK.

Assessments

1. Identification Report (300 words; 30%)
2. Written Assignment (1500 words; 70%) 

Reading Suggestions

Amphibian Habitat Management Handbook (2011) Baker, Beebee, Buckley, Orchard (This is available as a free download from www.arc-trust.org/habitat-management-handbooks) Arc also have some excellent free amphibian identification material.

Field Studies Council produce a very modestly priced fold-out chart on the identification of British Reptiles and Amphibians (www.field-studies-council.org/publicat

Entry Requirements

This course is for everyone. No previous experience is needed and there are no formal entry requirements. 

What Do I Need?

As this is an online course, you would need the following:

• Internet access.
• Access to a laptop or computer with a web camera and microphone; the use of headphones might also benefit.
• Use of the Chrome web browser where possible.