Module DXX-2003:
Principles of Conservation
Module Facts
Run by School of Natural Sciences
20.000 Credits or 10.000 ECTS Credits
Semester 1
Organiser: Dr Paul Cross
Overall aims and purpose
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To ensure students understand the theories and concepts underlying conservation science.
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To enable students to understand the complex nature of many conservation problems and solutions, which often involve ecological, social, economic and political dimensions..
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To equip students with the ability to engage in the general debate about conservation need and practice.
Course content
- Patterns of global biodiversity and global threats to species and habitats (including acknowledgement of ultimate drivers)
- Ecosystem services, relationship of ecosystem services to biodiversity, externalities, under-supply of public goods, what kind of values does biodiversity/ecosystems have
- Evidence of extinction crisis and trends in habitat etc
- Major threats to biodiversity globally (invasive species, habitat loss and fragmentation, overexploitation and pollution/climate change)
- Tragedy of the open access resources, causes and solutions to over-harvesting
- Small population biology (including demographic/environmental stochasticity/allee effects/conservation genetics)
- Island biogeography and applying theory of island biogeography to protected area design.
- Selection of protected areas
- Ex-situ conservation (reintroduction/metapopulation management)
Assessment Criteria
threshold
Grade D- to D+ Assessments Describe the objectives of the exercise and detail methods used to achieve the objectives. Present the results. Discuss the results using material provided in class. Examination answers Summarise information given during the module and present it in a way that is relevant to the question.
good
Grade C- to B+ Assessments Describe the objectives of the exercise and detail methods used to achieve the objectives in a clear and concise manner. Present results in a clear and organised manner demonstrating understanding of relevant statistical results. Discuss the results largely using material provided in class. Examination answers Summarise information given during the module and present it in a way that directly answers the question with elements of interpretation and discussion.
excellent
Grade A- and above Assessments Describe the objectives of the exercise and detail methods used to achieve the Objectives in a clear and concise manner. Present results in a clear and organised manner demonstrating understanding of relevant statistical results and being critical of their limitations as appropriate. Discuss the results largely using material in excess of that provided in class. Examination answers Summarise information given during the module, and acquired through background reading/study, and present it in a way that directly answers the question with elements of clear interpretation and discussion.
Learning outcomes
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Explain the principles of species and habitat conservation.
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Explain the need for conservation.
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Understand the importance of understanding genetics in conservation decisions
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Critically evaluate the viability of populations of conservation concern.
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Critically evaluate the process by which certain areas are selected for protection.
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Appreciate the need for mulitdisciplinary approaches to conservation.
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Engage in informed debate with peers about conservation issues.
Assessment Methods
Type | Name | Description | Weight |
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Open-book essay | 50.00 | ||
Panoptoesque information clip | 50.00 |
Teaching and Learning Strategy
Hours | ||
---|---|---|
Lecture | 24*1 hour lectures |
24 |
Private study | Private and guided self-study. Reading around each lecture. |
160 |
Fieldwork | 4 * 4 hours field visits |
16 |
Transferable skills
- Literacy - Proficiency in reading and writing through a variety of media
- Numeracy - Proficiency in using numbers at appropriate levels of accuracy
- Computer Literacy - Proficiency in using a varied range of computer software
- Self-Management - Able to work unsupervised in an efficient, punctual and structured manner. To examine the outcomes of tasks and events, and judge levels of quality and importance
- Exploring - Able to investigate, research and consider alternatives
- Information retrieval - Able to access different and multiple sources of information
- Inter-personal - Able to question, actively listen, examine given answers and interact sentistevely with others
- Critical analysis & Problem Solving - Able to deconstruct and analyse problems or complex situations. To find solutions to problems through analyses and exploration of all possibilities using appropriate methods, rescources and creativity.
- Safety-Consciousness - Having an awareness of your immediate environment, and confidence in adhering to health and safety regulations
- Presentation - Able to clearly present information and explanations to an audience. Through the written or oral mode of communication accurately and concisely.
- Mentoring - Able to support, help, guide, inspire and/or coach others
- Caring - Showing concern for others; caring for children, people with disabilities and/or the elderly
- Management - Able to utilise, coordinate and control resources (human, physical and/or financial)
- Argument - Able to put forward, debate and justify an opinion or a course of action, with an individual or in a wider group setting
- Self-awareness & Reflectivity - Having an awareness of your own strengths, weaknesses, aims and objectives. Able to regularly review, evaluate and reflect upon the performance of yourself and others
Subject specific skills
- Consider issues from a range of interdisciplinary perspectives.
- Apply appropriate techniques for presenting spatial and/or temporal trends in data.
- Demonstrate the independence and skills required for continuing professional development
Resources
Resource implications for students
None
Talis Reading list
http://readinglists.bangor.ac.uk/modules/dxx-2003.htmlReading list
https://rl.talis.com/3/bangor/lists/6FB01D5F-71BD-FE4C-8230-6D61AC700DA1.html?lang=en&login=1
Pre- and Co-requisite Modules
Courses including this module
Compulsory in courses:
- D503: BSc Conservation with Forestry with International Experience year 2 (BSC/CFIE)
- 5DKD: BSc Conservation with Forestry year 2 (BSC/CWF)
- 5DLD: BSc Conservation with Forestry (four year) year 2 (BSC/CWF4)
- D447: BSC Environmental Conservation year 2 (BSC/ECON)
- D448: BSC Environmental Conservation year 2 (BSC/ECON4)
- D451: BSc Environmental Conservation (International Experience) year 2 (BSC/ENIE)
- C328: BSc Wildlife Conservation year 2 (BSC/WLC)
- C332: BSc Wildlife Conservation with Place Yr year 2 (BSC/WLCP)
- C3L2: BSC Zoology with Conservation year 2 (BSC/ZC)
- C3L3: BSc Zoology with Conservation with International Experience year 3 (BSC/ZCIE)
- C3L4: BSc Zoology with Conservation with Placement Year year 2 (BSC/ZCP)
- CD34: MZool Zoology with Conservation year 2 (MZOOL/CONS)
- CD3P: MZool Zoology with Conservation with Placement Year year 2 (MZOOL/CONSP)
- CD35: MZool Zoology with Conservation w International Experience year 3 (MZOOL/ZCIE)
Optional in courses:
- L700: BA Geography year 2 (BA/GEOG)
- L702: BA Geography (4 yr with placement) year 2 (BA/GEOG4)
- L701: BA Geography (with International Experience) year 2 (BA/GEOGIE)
- C183: BSC Appl.Terrestrial & Marine Ec 4 year 2 (BSC/APTME)
- C185: BSc Applied Terrestrial & Marine Ecology with Intl Exp (5yr) year 2 (BSC/APTMIE)
- C180: BSc Appl. Terrestrial &Marine Ec year 2 (BSC/ATME)
- C184: BSc App Terrestrial & Marine Ecology with Intl Experience year 2 (BSC/ATMEIE)
- C13P: BSc Applied Terrestrial and Marine Ecology with Placement Yr year 2 (BSC/ATMEP)
- C100: BSC Biology year 2 (BSC/B)
- C10F: BSc Biology year 2 (BSC/BF)
- C102: BSc Biology (with International Experience) year 3 (BSC/BITE)
- F800: BSC Geography year 2 (BSC/GEOG)
- F806: BSc Geography (4 yr with placement) year 2 (BSC/GEOG4)
- F802: BSc Geography (with International Experience) year 2 (BSC/GEOGIE)
- F710: BSC Marine Environmental Studies year 2 (BSC/MES)
- F713: BSc Marine Environmental Stud with International Experience year 2 (BSC/MESIE)
- F79P: BSc Marine Environmental Studies year 2 (BSC/MESP)
- C351: BSC Marine Vertebrate Zoology year 2 (BSC/MVZ)
- 2F11: BSc Marine Vertebrate Zoology (with International Experience year 2 (BSC/MVZIE)
- C35P: BSc Marine Vertebrate Zoology with Placement Year year 2 (BSC/MVZP)
- C300: BSC Zoology year 2 (BSC/Z)
- C305: BSc Zoology with Animal Behaviour (with International Exp) year 3 (BSC/ZABIE)
- C30F: BSc Zoology year 2 (BSC/ZF)
- C304: BSC Zoology with Herpetology year 2 (BSC/ZH)
- C307: BSc Zoology with Herpetology (with International Experience) year 2 (BSC/ZHIE)
- C324: BSc Zoology with International Experience year 3 (BSC/ZIE)
- C3C1: BSc Zoology with Marine Zoology (with International Exp) year 3 (BSC/ZMB)
- C350: BSC Zoology with Marine Zoology year 2 (BSC/ZMZ)
- C36P: BSc Zoology with Marine Zoology with Placement Year year 2 (BSC/ZMZP)
- C329: BSc Zoology with Primatology year 2 (BSC/ZP)
- C32P: Zoology with Primatology with Placement Year year 2 (BSC/ZPP)
- C330: BSc Zoology with Ornithology year 2 (BSC/ZR)
- C3P0: BSc Zoology with Ornithology with Placement Year year 2 (BSC/ZRP)
- C3D3: BSC Zoology with Animal Behaviour year 2 (BSC/ZWAB)
- C3DP: BSc Zoology with Animal Behaviour with Placement Year year 2 (BSC/ZWABP)
- C101: MBiol Master of Biology year 2 (MBIOL/BIO)
- F801: MGeog Geography year 2 (MGEOG/G)
- F805: MGeog Geography with International Experience year 2 (MGEOG/GIE)
- C168: MSci Marine Vertebrate Zoology year 2 (MSCI/MVZ)
- C302: MZool Zoology with Animal Behaviour year 2 (MZOOL/AB)
- C30P: MZool Zoology with Animal Behaviour with Placement Year year 2 (MZOOL/ABP)
- C303: MZool Zoology with Herpetology year 2 (MZOOL/HERP)
- C325: MZool Zoology with Animal Behaviour with International Exp year 3 (MZOOL/ZAIE)
- C336: MZool Zoology with Animal Management year 2 (MZOOL/ZAM)
- C326: MZool Zoology with Herpetology with International Experience year 3 (MZOOL/ZHIE)
- C353: MZool Zoology with Marine Zoology year 2 (MZOOL/ZMZ)
- C354: MZool Zoology with Marine Zoology with International Exp. year 3 (MZOOL/ZMZI)
- C37P: MZool Zoology with Marine Zoology with Placement Year year 2 (MZOOL/ZMZP)
- C306: MZool Zoology (with International Experience) year 3 (MZOOL/ZOIE)
- C301: MZool Master of Zoology year 2 (MZOOL/ZOO)
- C333: MZool Zoology with Primatology year 2 (MZOOL/ZP)
- C33P: MZool Zoology with Primatology with Placement Year year 2 (MZOOL/ZPP)
- C334: MZool Zoology with Ornithology year 2 (MZOOL/ZR)
- C3P4: MZool Zoology with Ornithology with Placement Year year 2 (MZOOL/ZRP)