BS243-5-SP-CO:
Applied Wildlife Sciences
2023/24
Life Sciences (School of)
Colchester Campus
Spring
Undergraduate: Level 5
Current
Monday 15 January 2024
Friday 22 March 2024
15
08 March 2024
Requisites for this module
(none)
(none)
(none)
(none)
(none)
This module takes a critical look at the state of nature in the United Kingdom and globally. In this module we expose ourselves to the issues that conservation biologists and practitioners face while trying to reverse biodiversity loss and/or species decline.
This module will cover legislation, conservation interventions at different scales, whether and what conservation actions deliver, conflicts in conservation and consider what is conservation – including looking at restoration and rewilding.
The aim of this module is:
- To consider the biodiversity crisis and the evidence for the role of conservation and all its controversies in reversing that crisis.
By the end of this module, students will be expected to be able to:
- Discuss the key issues surrounding contemporary applied wildlife conservation.
- Discuss conflicts in conservation and the role of science and evidence in overcoming them.
- Describe key legislation in the context of UK and European environments.
- Have experience of reading and evaluating scientific literature on conservation biology.
- Develop their ability to study and learn on their own, and have developed skills in presentation design and delivery.
- Develop data collection/sampling and data analysis skills.
- Have had an opportunity to meet environmental stakeholders.
- Develop skills in wild animal handling and demographic research.
Throughout this module you will be exposed to new people, practitioners, worldviews and ideas. The module largely considers terrestrial biodiversity but the issues we discuss are applicable to all conservation problems whether they are on land, river or sea.
This module will be delivered via:
- One 1-hour lecture per week.
- One revision class before the summer exam.
- Two 3-hour practicals or equivalent.
-
Brehony, P.
et al. (2020) 'Incorporating social-ecological complexities into conservation policy',
Biological Conservation, 248. Available at:
https://doi-org.uniessexlib.idm.oclc.org/10.1016/j.biocon.2020.108697.
-
Mace, G.M. (2014) 'Whose conservation?',
Science, 345(6204), pp. 1558–1560. Available at:
https://doi.org/10.1126/science.1254704.
-
Lindsey, P.A.
et al. (2016) 'Life after Cecil: channelling global outrage into funding for conservation in Africa',
Conservation Letters, 9(4), pp. 296–301. Available at:
https://doi.org/10.1111/conl.12224.
-
Hart, A.G.
et al. (2020) 'Threats posed to conservation by media misinformation',
Conservation Biology [Preprint]. Available at:
https://doi.org/10.1111/cobi.13605.
-
Lindsey, P.A.
et al. (2006) 'Potential of trophy hunting to create incentives for wildlife conservation in Africa where alternative wildlife-based land uses may not be viable',
Animal Conservation, 9(3), pp. 283–291. Available at:
https://doi.org/10.1111/j.1469-1795.2006.00034.x.
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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 |
P1 Model and Mini SPF |
|
50% |
| Coursework |
P2 Fieldwork DAI |
|
50% |
| Exam |
Main exam: In-Person, Open Book (Restricted), 120 minutes during Summer (Main Period)
|
| Exam |
Reassessment Main exam: In-Person, Open Book (Restricted), 120 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
Reassessment
Module supervisor and teaching staff
Prof Leanne Hepburn, email: l.hepburn@essex.ac.uk.
Dr Chris Mackin, External Speakers
School Undergraduate Office, email: bsugoffice (Non essex users should add @essex.ac.uk to create the full email address)
Yes
No
No
Prof Edgar Turner
University of Cambridge
Professor of Insect Ecology
Available via Moodle
Of 30 hours, 20 (66.7%) hours available to students:
10 hours not recorded due to service coverage or fault;
0 hours not recorded due to opt-out by lecturer(s), module, or event type.
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