BS113-4-AU-CO:
Animal Evolution, Ecology and Behaviour

The details
2024/25
Life Sciences (School of)
Colchester Campus
Autumn
Undergraduate: Level 4
Current
Thursday 03 October 2024
Friday 13 December 2024
15
08 March 2024

 

Requisites for this module
(none)
(none)
(none)
(none)

 

(none)

Key module for

BSC C100 Biological Sciences,
BSC C101 Biological Sciences (Including Year Abroad),
BSC C102 Biological Sciences (Including Placement Year),
BSC CD00 Biological Sciences (Including Foundation Year),
BSC C520 Ecology and Environmental Biology,
BSC C521 Ecology and Environmental Biology (Including Foundation Year),
BSC C522 Ecology and Environmental Biology (Including Year Abroad),
BSC C523 Ecology and Environmental Biology (Including Placement Year),
BSC C161 Marine Biology (Including Foundation Year),
BSC C164 Marine Biology,
BSC CC60 Marine Biology (Including Year Abroad),
BSC CC64 Marine Biology (Including Placement Year),
MSCIB097 Tropical Marine Biology,
MSCIBA97 Tropical Marine Biology (Including Placement Year),
MSCIBB97 Tropical Marine Biology (Including Year Abroad)

Module description

This module will discover the diversity of animal forms and functions and the role of natural selection in determining individual behaviour such as foraging, breeding and predator escape. It will explore how variation in the behaviour of interacting individuals leads to population level ecological dynamics.

Module aims

The aims of this module are:



  • To discover the diversity of animal forms and functions and the role of natural selection in determining individual behaviour such as foraging, breeding and predator escape.

  • To explore how variation in the behaviour of interacting individuals leads to population level ecological dynamics.

Module learning outcomes

By the end of this module, students will be expected to be able to:



  1. Describe the diversity of animal life and evolution.

  2. Describe populations and animal population interactions.

  3. Explain the study of animal behaviour, how behaviour evolves and its effects of individual fitness and population growth.

  4. Explain the basis of ecology and its relevance to finding solutions to environmental problems.

  5. Explain fundamental ecological concepts underpinning animal population growth, life histories, demography and evolution.

  6. Demonstrate knowledge of the tight coupling between ecology, behaviour and evolution.

  7. Demonstrate skills in collecting, presenting analysing and interpreting biological data.

Module information

Every population scale interaction that we witness in nature, competition between native and invasive species or responses of mobile insects to climate change for example, is underpinned by evolution of behaviour (e.g. timing of migration) and life history (e.g. investment in growth vs reproduction). It is this realisation that nothing in ecology and evolution makes sense except in light of each other, which forms the "newest synthesis" that we shall explore together in this module.

Learning and teaching methods

This module will be delivered via:

  • One 1-hour lecture per week.
  • One revision class before the MCQ exam.
  • One revision class before the summer exam.
  • Four 3-hour practical sessions.
  • Directed Learning (i.e. self study directions).

Bibliography

The above list is indicative of the essential reading for the course.
The library makes provision for all reading list items, with digital provision where possible, and these resources are shared between students.
Further reading can be obtained from this module's reading list.

Assessment items, weightings and deadlines

Coursework / exam Description Deadline Coursework weighting
Coursework   Mastering Biology (Moodle)    10% 
Coursework   Practical 2 - SPF  29/11/2024  60% 
Practical   Practical 1 (Moodle)    30% 
Exam  MCQ exam: In-Person, Closed Book, 50 minutes during January 
Exam  Main exam: In-Person, Open Book (Restricted), 60 minutes during Summer (Main Period) 
Exam  Reassessment Main exam: In-Person, Open Book (Restricted), 60 minutes during September (Reassessment Period) 
Exam  Reassessment MCQ exam: In-Person, Closed Book, 50 minutes during September (Reassessment Period) 

Exam format definitions

  • Remote, open book: Your exam will take place remotely via an online learning platform. You may refer to any physical or electronic materials during the exam.
  • In-person, open book: Your exam will take place on campus under invigilation. You may refer to any physical materials such as paper study notes or a textbook during the exam. Electronic devices may not be used in the exam.
  • In-person, open book (restricted): The exam will take place on campus under invigilation. You may refer only to specific physical materials such as a named textbook during the exam. Permitted materials will be specified by your department. Electronic devices may not be used in the exam.
  • In-person, closed book: The exam will take place on campus under invigilation. You may not refer to any physical materials or electronic devices during the exam. There may be times when a paper dictionary, for example, may be permitted in an otherwise closed book exam. Any exceptions will be specified by your department.

Your department will provide further guidance before your exams.

Overall assessment

Coursework Exam
33% 67%

Reassessment

Coursework Exam
33% 67%
Module supervisor and teaching staff
Dr Nick Aldred, email: nick.aldred@essex.ac.uk.
Dr Jennifer Hoyal Cuthill, Dr Chris Mackin
School Undergraduate Office, email: bsugoffice (Non essex users should add @essex.ac.uk to create the full email address)

 

Availability
Yes
No
No

External examiner

No external examiner information available for this module.
Resources
Available via Moodle
Of 30 hours, 12 (40%) hours available to students:
18 hours not recorded due to service coverage or fault;
0 hours not recorded due to opt-out by lecturer(s), module, or event type.

 

Further information
Life Sciences (School of)

Disclaimer: The University makes every effort to ensure that this information on its Module Directory is accurate and up-to-date. Exceptionally it can be necessary to make changes, for example to programmes, modules, facilities or fees. Examples of such reasons might include a change of law or regulatory requirements, industrial action, lack of demand, departure of key personnel, change in government policy, or withdrawal/reduction of funding. Changes to modules may for example consist of variations to the content and method of delivery or assessment of modules and other services, to discontinue modules and other services and to merge or combine modules. The University will endeavour to keep such changes to a minimum, and will also keep students informed appropriately by updating our programme specifications and module directory.

The full Procedures, Rules and Regulations of the University governing how it operates are set out in the Charter, Statutes and Ordinances and in the University Regulations, Policy and Procedures.