Year 1

The Diversity of Life (20 Credits)

We live amongst a tremendous diversity of life, but how did it evolve? What is evolution? What are their features? How are they related to each other? How do we identify them? This module aims to answer those questions and provide students with the foundation on which to build their understanding of species biology.

Wildlife Survey Techniques (20 Credits)

In order to conserve the planet, we must first understand it and to understand it we have to know how to explore it! This module is designed to introduce the skills needed to investigate animal life and habitats safely and responsibly. Theory of effective survey design is taught practically through a series of field and laboratory workshops. 

These will be reviewed and underpinned with class sessions to develop skills and understanding of survey design, data collection, data handling and analysis. Students will be introduced to a variety of habitats, field conditions and wildlife in our stunning local Cornish countryside – cameras at the ready!

Animal Ecophysiology (20 credits)

Animals are adapted to all habitats and conditions known to humans. How can they survive in the driest of places, or the deepest of oceans? How do freshwater fish make the change to saltwater environments? What is the purpose of hibernation? The biology behind these topics and more will be explored through a series of lessons and laboratory practicals.

Fundamentals of Ecology (20 Credits)

Why do animals live in populations? What is the advantage ? Why are the rainforests found in the tropics? Why do some animals become parasites? This module will introduce you to the fundamental basics of ecology – the study of how animals interact with each other and their environment.

Animal Nutrition (20 Credits)

This module introduces the student to comparative anatomy and physiology of digestive systems of omnivores, herbivores and carnivores.  Nutritional requirements and feeding methods are investigated in relation to animal health and welfare.   Students will formulate suitable diet plans for a named captive species.

Skills for Scientific Success (20 Credits)

The ability to process and analyse raw data, find patterns and communicate findings to others is a critical skill in the sciences. This module aims to produce students with the necessary toolkit to handle data, apply appropriate methods to establish patterns and to communicate findings to different audiences and/or stakeholders. This module also emphasises the need to plan for future developments and skill specific career opportunities in the sciences.

The British Countryside (20 Credits)

Have you ever wondered about our 'green and pleasant land'? How did we arrive to fields of pasture and arable crops ? What habitats have been lost and what have we gained? This module will look at how the landscape of the UK has been influenced by geology, climate and ultimately humans. Human history in the UK is reflected by the changes in landscape, some still visible today. Through trips and workshops, we will explore the impact we have had on our countryside.

Year 2

Proposed Modules 

The second year is divided into core modules that are mandatory to achieve your degree and four options modules – allowing you to tailor your experience to YOUR chosen career – whether it is UK conservation or conservation abroad.

Core

GIS for Conservation (20 Credits)

Ever looked at a job advert for conservation and seen GIS listed as a desired skill? This module will introduce you to the use of geographical information systems (GIS) and how we can use it to manage wildlife, map important habitats or even worked out animal home ranges using data collected from the field.

Ecological Conservation in Practice (20 Credits)

It is important that scientist is able to communicate what they have learned to the wider public. However, that learning is also valuable to the scientist: this is the accrued experience that will allow them to progress to future employment. This module teaches students how to put theory into practice, educate the public, and also to record and reflect on experiences that benefit themselves.

Individual Research Project (20 credits)

This module gives students the opportunity to conduct their own research project. Student involvement and responsibility stretches from project conception and planning, literature research, analysis and interpretation of data to report writing and presentation. A large range of animal, plant or fungi subjects can be investigated in more detail.

Population and Community Ecology (20 Credits) 

Our understanding of animal and plant communities and how they interact with each other is vital to their conservation. This module will build on topics learnt in the first year, looking at why animals live in populations, the theories behind them and how we can use this information to conserve species, populations and the planet..

Optional

Protected Species Survey (20 Credits)

Unique to this course, this module will allow you to survey a range of endangered and protected species found in the UK such as bats, dormice , reptiles and great crested newt alongside Natural England licenced ecologists. Lessons will be split between theory sessions covering the life cycle, habitats and behaviours of those species plus field work sessions honing techniques in their survey methods – allowing students to gain experience towards their own licences.

Ecological Restoration: Application and Management (20 Credits)

The Planet is in dire need of restoration if we and the organisms we share the world with are to survive. This module gives you the chance to get hands-on with nature with a variety of practical conservation activities – from pond maintenance to scrub bashing. Creating wildlife habitats or ensuring their future – rewilding can be more than just a buzzword!

Global Conservation Issues (20 Credits)

This module will explore those big topical issues surrounding global conservation. We have all now heard of the effects of climate change and marine plastics, but what about heavy metal pollution, cash crops or invasive species? This module will look at the current challenges facing the planet, and also some of the ingenious solutions towards reverse human impacts.

One-Plan Conservation (20 Credits)

Unique to this course, this module will look at the new initiative on-plan solution for species conservation. Conservation were captive breeding, researchers and conservation organisations out in the field come together to ensure the survival of some of our rarest endangered species – from frogs to leopards.

A lot of these titles are available for loan from the Learning Centre once you get here, and for many of the popular titles there are hard copies and electronic versions, so there is no issue with availability.

It is not essential that you buy any of the following unless you feel you need extra help in a subject, as textbooks can be quite expensive. There are a number of online resources you can use to support your learning too.

In addition to the textbooks on offer in the Learning centre, you will have access to our Planet e-stream digital library which is an archive of many good quality natural history documentaries.

If you would like to have your own copy, you can get books from the Natural History Book store www.nhbs.com (please see the link below) but it is worth checking Amazon’s “new and used” section or ebay for second hand copies.  There are also a range of second-hand book websites.

Module: The Diversity of Life

• Urry, L.A., Cain, M.L., Wasserman, S. A., Minorsky, P.V. and Reece, J.B. (2016) Campbell Biology. 11^th edn. London: Pearson.

Notes: 8^th, 9^th, and 10^th editions are available and are still good, possibly at a cheaper price.

Module: Fundamentals of Ecology

• Begon, M., Townsend, C.R. and Harper, J.L. (2006) Ecology: From Individuals to Ecosystems. New York: John Wiley and Sons.

Notes: For good background, you could try revision on the BBC website in topics such as biomes, succession, intra and interspecific interactions.

Module: Wildlife Survey Techniques

• Hill, D. et al. (2005) Handbook of Biodiversity Methods. Cambridge: Cambridge University Press.
• Sutherland W.J. (2010) Ecological Census Techniques. Cambridge: Cambridge University Press. 

Notes: Any field ID books are of value for this module. We will look at a range of taxa present in the UK – birds, mammals, herpetiles and invertebrates. This is the chance for you to become specialised in working in the field with your chosen taxa. The foldout ID guides by the Field Studies Council are excellent for beginners!

Module: Animal Ecophysiology

• Anderson, M., Hill, R.W. and Wyse, G.A. (2012) Animal Physiology. 3^rd edn. Oxford: Sinauer Associates. Randall D,. Burgren, W. and French, K. (2001) Eckert Animal Physiology: Mechanisms and Adaptations. Freeman ISBN 0­7167­38635.
  
• William, P., Stone, G. and Johnston, I. (2005) Environmental Physiology of Animals. 2^nd edn. Oxford: Blackwell Publishing.

Notes: This course will build on your understanding of biology from previous education.  If you have any biology textbooks from previous courses (A-level / GCSE) it might be worth hanging onto them and having a read through.

Module: Expedition Techniques

• Rackham, O. (2000) The History of the Countryside. London: Weidenfeld and Nicolson. 
• Rose, F. (2006) The Wild Flower Key: How to Identify Wild Flowers, Trees and Shrubs in Britain and Ireland. London: Warne.

Notes: Identification keys are always a personal choice, so it’s better to borrow some to find which one(s) suit(s) you best. There’s lots of choice in the Library, and this module is in the second semester, so it may be best to wait until you’re here and try out the resources we have on site. The Natural History bookstore (NHBS) publishes a monthly journal – British Wildlife – articles written by ecologists and experts in the field and cover a range of topics – extremely useful and the subscription is a fair price. They also publish a series of hardback books on topics such as rocky shore, salt marshes, rivers, fungi and grasslands.

General Reading

• Barnard, C.J., Gilbert, F.S. and McGregor, P.K. (2017) Asking Questions in Biology: A Guide to Hypothesis Testing, Experimental Design and Presentation in Practical Work and Research Projects. 5^th edn. London: Pearson Higher Education.

If you need to develop your general science/biology background, it is well worth buying an AS level revision guide, e.g. the OCR AS-Biology, and browsing it through the summer.

Read

Kolbert, E. (2014) The Sixth Extinction: An Unnatural History. London: Bloomsbury Publishing.

Elder, C. (2015) Few and Far Between: On the Trail of Britain's Rarest Animals. London: Bloomsbury Publishing.

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