Behavioural Ecology Field Course
| Code | School | Level | Credits | Semesters |
| LIFE2011 | Life Sciences | 2 | 20 | Spring UK |
- Code
- LIFE2011
- School
- Life Sciences
- Level
- 2
- Credits
- 20
- Semesters
- Spring UK
Summary
A residential field course in Portugal based on intensive research projects in animal behaviour and ecology carried out in small groups. There is a limited number of places on this module. Students are reminded that enrolments which are not agreed by the Offering School in advance may be cancelled without notice. Priority will be given to students from the School of Life Sciences who are also taking Ecology and Animal Behaviour and Physiology.
Target Students
Available to students registered for BSc or MSci in Biology, Zoology, and Genetics. Priority will be given to second year students from the School of Life Sciences who are also taking Ecology (LIFE2081) and Animal Behaviour and Physiology (LIFE2060). Students are reminded that enrolments which are not agreed by the Offering School in advance may be cancelled without notice. There is a limited number of places on this module.Third year students from Life Sciences, and second and third year students from Biosciences, will be allowed to take the module only if there is space.
Classes
This module may be delivered through lectures, seminars, workshops and labs etc
Assessment
- 30% Coursework 1: On course assessment
- 70% Coursework 2: Project write up
Assessed by end of spring semester
Educational Aims
To introduce students to techniques of field behavioural ecology, population and community ecology. To enable them to apply theoretical and practical techniques to a range of vertebrate and invertebrate species by designing intensive field projects, analysing and interpreting the results, presenting their findings in a groupseminar and writing a report individually in the form of a scientific paper.Learning Outcomes
Knowledge and understanding of:
A1. the relationship between the life and environmental sciences and other disciplines and forms of knowledge (t+l+a)
A2.current trends and developments with the life and environmental sciences (t+l+a)
A3. appropriate terminology, nomenclature and classification (t+l+a)
A5. organism behaviour
A7. interaction of organisms and their environment (t+l+a)
Intellectual Skills - the ability to:
B1. critically analyse and interpret published information and data (t+l+a)
B2. think independently while giving due weight to the arguments of others (t+l+a)
B3. understand complex ideas and relate them to specific problems or questions (t+l+a)
B4. acquire substantial quantities of information systematically, process it effectively, and draw appropriate conclusions (t+l+a)
B5. make and record accurate observations and measurements (t+l+a)
B11. to approach problem solving in a creative and innovative manner
Professional Skills - the ability to:
C1. carry out scientific research and evaluate and make use of the material so acquired (t+l+a)
C2. articulate knowledge and understanding of scientific concepts (t+l+a)
C3. write and construct scientific documents (e.g. papers, reports, posters etc) using appropriate styles, conventions, and terminology (t+l+a)
C4. work safely in the laboratory and the field and to assess related safety issues
C5. undertake appropriate experimental design and statistical analysis
C6. undertake practical experimental work using appropriate equipment and instruments
Transferable Skills - the ability to:
D1. work productively with others
D2. communicate effectively in writing (t+l+a)
D4. organise and manage working time, schedule tasks, and meet deadlines (l)
communication technology (l)
D6. reflect upon and assess your own progress, strengths and weaknesses (l)
D7. manage and manipulate numerical data
D8. to solve problems creatively and innovatively