Module Information
Module Identifier
BR11520
Module Title
ANIMAL DIVERSITY
Academic Year
2011/2012
Co-ordinator
Semester
Semester 2 (Taught over 2 semesters)
Mutually Exclusive
Other Staff
Course Delivery
| Delivery Type | Delivery length / details |
|---|---|
| Lecture | 2 x 1 hour lectures per week in Semester 1 |
| Lecture | 1 x 1 hour lecture per week in Semester 2 |
| Practical | 4 x 3 hour practicals |
Assessment
| Assessment Type | Assessment length / details | Proportion |
|---|---|---|
| Semester Assessment | Assessed practical 1 Outcomes 1, 2, 3 | 10% |
| Semester Assessment | Assessed practical 2 Outcomes 3, 4 | 10% |
| Semester Assessment | 2 x mid-term MCQ quizzes | 20% |
| Semester Exam | 1.5 Hours Outcomes 1-4 | 60% |
| Supplementary Assessment | 1.5 Hours Examination 60%; Assignment 40% Students must take elements of assessment equivalent to those that led to failure of the module. Outcomes 1-4 | 100% |
Learning Outcomes
On successful completion of this module students should be able to:
1. Describe basic vertebrate evolution and phylogeny
2. Compare and contrast the morphology and anatomy of the major groups and be able to identify representatives of the groups
3. Discuss physiological adaptations in the context of environmental conditions, drawing upon a wide range of examples.
4. Describe, compare and discuss the locomotion, reproduction, feeding and digestion of a range of animals of relevance to the students' degree schemes
Brief description
The module will describe the major animal vertebrate and invertebrate groups. It will give an introduction to the physiology of these animals with respect to sensing the environment, muscle and locomotion, nutrition, endocrinology, cardiovascular respiratory systems, and homeostasis. A wide range of examples will be used to illustrate key principles. After completing the introductory lectures students can choose to follow a pathway in either zoology or animal science.
Content
1. Content delivered to all students (25 lectures):
The section of the module delivered to all students will draw upon a wide range of examples in order to illustrate the key principles. Animal biodiversity (including a brief overview of key extinct and extant groups); major invertebrate and vertebrate animal groups; sensing the environment (invertebrate and vertebrate nervous systems, including sensory physiology); muscles and movement; animal glands and secretions (including an introduction to endocrinology); circulation; respiration; osmoregulation; thermoregulation; feeding & digestion (including the diversity of strategies).
2. Students also to choose ONE of the following branches:
Branch 1: Zoology (applicable to zoology and related degrees; 10 lectures): Invertebrate and vertebrate locomotion, reproductive strategies, feeding and digestion.
Branch 2: Animal Science (applicable to Agriculture, Animal Science and related degrees; 10 lectures): Digestion, lactation, muscles, locomotion, and reproduction and fertility, with respect to cattle, sheep, horses and other domestic animals.
The section of the module delivered to all students will draw upon a wide range of examples in order to illustrate the key principles. Animal biodiversity (including a brief overview of key extinct and extant groups); major invertebrate and vertebrate animal groups; sensing the environment (invertebrate and vertebrate nervous systems, including sensory physiology); muscles and movement; animal glands and secretions (including an introduction to endocrinology); circulation; respiration; osmoregulation; thermoregulation; feeding & digestion (including the diversity of strategies).
2. Students also to choose ONE of the following branches:
Branch 1: Zoology (applicable to zoology and related degrees; 10 lectures): Invertebrate and vertebrate locomotion, reproductive strategies, feeding and digestion.
Branch 2: Animal Science (applicable to Agriculture, Animal Science and related degrees; 10 lectures): Digestion, lactation, muscles, locomotion, and reproduction and fertility, with respect to cattle, sheep, horses and other domestic animals.
Module Skills
| Skills Type | Skills details |
|---|---|
| Application of Number | Collection and scrutiny of data in terms of quality and quantity. Data interpretation. These will be assessed in the assignment and feedback will be given there also. |
| Communication | Students will develop effective written communication skills in the examination and assignments, where these will be assessed. Feedback will be given in the assessment. |
| Improving own Learning and Performance | Outside the formal contact hours, students will be expected to research materials, manage time and meet deadlines for the assignments and exam. Students will be able to review and monitor their progress and plan for improvement of personal performance. Some of these will be assessed in both the examination and assignment. Feedback will be given in the assignment. |
| Information Technology | Accessing the web for reliable information sources and using databases to find literature in preparation for the assignments and the exam. Use of information technology will be assessed in both the assignment and exam. Feedback will be given in the assignment. |
| Personal Development and Career planning | |
| Problem solving | Practical classes will allow students to gain experience in designing, executing, interpreting data and writing-up assessed physiology experiments using animal models. Students will develop creative approaches to experimental design, critically evaluate their proposed solutions and construct rational proposals in response to experimental challenge. |
| Research skills | The assignments and exam will require students to research topics beyond the depth and scope of the lecture material. Information from a variety of sources will be used. How to do this will be discussed in lectures. Research skills will be assessed in both the examination and assignment. |
| Subject Specific Skills | Students will be able to describe the key physiological principles that underpin animal life. Students will be able to discuss physiological adaptations within the context of changing environmental conditions. Students will gain key skills in manipulating specimens. These will be assessed in both the assignment and the exam. Feedback will be given in the assignment. |
| Team work | Students will work in pairs/small groups during practical sessions. They will need to discuss their experimental design and work effectively as a small team in practical classes. This will not be assessed. |
Notes
This module is at CQFW Level 4