NES1304 : UK Wildlife
- Offered for Year: 2024/25
- Module Leader(s): Dr Richard Bevan
- Lecturer: Dr Mark Shirley
- Owning School: Natural and Environmental Sciences
- Teaching Location: Mixed Location
- Capacity limit: 60 student places
Semesters
Your programme is made up of credits, the total differs on programme to programme.
| Semester 2 Credit Value: | 10 |
| ECTS Credits: | 5.0 |
| European Credit Transfer System | |
Aims
Through the lectures the course aims:
• To introduce stage 2 students to the major terrestrial vertebrate groups in the UK, namely the amphibians,
reptiles and mammals (but excludes birds).
• To introduce the characteristics of the various groups within the classes as well as their ecology and some
of the threats to the different groups/species
• To instruct the students in the various survey techniques used to study the animals.
The practicals provide the students with an opportunity to undertake some of the field surveys outlined in the lecture material while the preparation of the Wildlife Documentary Proposal provides the students with the opportunity to apply the information provided in the lectures and practicals to a particular species or habitat and to work collegiately within a group.
Outline Of Syllabus
The lecture material will introduce the students to UK Wildlife and could cover:
• Amphibians
• Reptiles
• Rodents
• Shrews, moles and Hedgehogs
• Rabbits and hares
• Bats
• Marine mammals
• Ungulates
• Carnivores
• Invasive species
For each animal group, the identifying characteristics for the group and those for the different species making up that group will be outlined (morphology, markings, footprints etc.). The ecology of the various groups will be examined as will their conservation status.
Practicals will introduce field skills such as:
• Survey techniques
• Diet analysis
• Radio tracking
Teaching Methods
Teaching Activities
| Category | Activity | Number | Length | Student Hours | Comment |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Guided Independent Study | Assessment preparation and completion | 1 | 8:00 | 8:00 | Online quiz via Canvas (40%) |
| Structured Guided Learning | Lecture materials | 18 | 0:30 | 9:00 | Online via Canvas - A combination of short recordings of lecture material etc. published on canvas |
| Scheduled Learning And Teaching Activities | Lecture | 22 | 1:00 | 22:00 | Weekly in-person lectures used to consolidate the material provided online (includes module intro) |
| Guided Independent Study | Assessment preparation and completion | 1 | 15:00 | 15:00 | Wildlife Documentary Proposal (60%) |
| Guided Independent Study | Directed research and reading | 1 | 16:00 | 16:00 | Lecture follow-up |
| Scheduled Learning And Teaching Activities | Small group teaching | 3 | 1:30 | 4:30 | Small group sessions to discuss group proposal |
| Scheduled Learning And Teaching Activities | Fieldwork | 2 | 3:00 | 6:00 | Practicals linked to small mammal trapping at Cockle Park |
| Guided Independent Study | Independent study | 1 | 19:30 | 19:30 | Researching literature |
| Total | 100:00 |
Teaching Rationale And Relationship
The online lectures will provide information on the identification of the different species as well as their biology, ecology and conservation. The in-person lectures will support the on-line material and will also introduce the different survey and analytical techniques used in monitoring the species in the wild. The practicals will provide an opportunity for the students to undertake some of the techniques commonly used to survey for the animal groups such as small mammal trapping, spraint analysis and radio tracking. The seminars will be used for the student groups to work on their Wildlife Documentary Proposal; providing them with time and space to discuss their ideas between group members and with teaching staff.
Assessment Methods
The format of resits will be determined by the Board of Examiners
Other Assessment
| Description | Semester | When Set | Percentage | Comment |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Prof skill assessmnt | 2 | M | 60 | Wildlife documentary proposal (10-15 powerpoint slides in note format) |
| Computer assessment | 2 | M | 40 | Canvas assessment |
Assessment Rationale And Relationship
The lecture and practical material will be assessed through an online test via an online test using a variety of question styles (MCQ, matching answers etc.).
The Wildlife documentary proposal is the main assessment for the module. For this piece of assessment, students are expected to design a TV nature documentary based on a particular environmental or ecological subject, in the style of something they might see in a programme such as any of the David Attenborough series. The concept of this practical follows the idea of “learning by teaching”. By being required to present their material in such a way that it would be understood by a general, educated audience, the students have to have a thorough understanding of the material. Additionally, they learn more about field techniques by planning and justifying the practical elements that would be necessary to produce such a film. The students are encouraged to make their documentary interesting – not just a film version of a textbook – by presenting a particular angle or story, for example, following a particular animal’s or plant’s life, presenting the “story of a day” or “story of a year”, following researchers through a field season, or any other original idea. The documentary is presented in the form of a narrated storyboard and is assessed on the ideas, the overall look of the presentation, the narration, and the research literature being used to support the narrative text.
Students work in groups and are told that their documentaries should be aimed at 15 minutes in length. The assessed work will be based on a group submission but with a peer assessment component.
Reading Lists
Timetable
- Timetable Website: www.ncl.ac.uk/timetable/
- NES1304's Timetable