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EK35F1: FIELD ECOLOGY SKILLS (2020-2021)

Last modified: 05 Aug 2021 13:04


Course Overview

The field course is non-residential and involves day trips from Aberdeen to local sites. You will learn about and practice a range of methodologies, approaches and techniques used by ecological consultants and people working for conservation organisations to determine the presence/absence of various animal species, estimates of population size and mapping vegetation. Techniques will include: Phase 1 Habitat Survey (plants), creating a habitat map using GIS, bird identification and census techniques, freshwater invertebrate sampling, surveys of mammal populations (e.g. bats, badgers, otters, red squirrels) and camera trapping. 
 

Please note that the information provided is subject to change due to the ongoing Covid-19 government guidelines

This course will run from 24 May - 4 June in 2021

Course Details

Study Type Undergraduate Level 3
Term Second Term Credit Points 15 credits (7.5 ECTS credits)
Campus Aberdeen Sustained Study No
Co-ordinators
  • Dr Clare Trinder

What courses & programmes must have been taken before this course?

  • One of BSc Biology or BSc Conservation Biology or BSc Zoology or BSc Animal Ecology or BSc Marine Biology or BSc Animal Behaviour or BSc Behavioural Biology or MSci Biological Sciences or BSc Biological Sciences (Honours) or BSc Plant and Soil Sciences or Bachelor Of Science In Environmental And Forest Management or BSc Ecology or BSc Forestry or BSc Forest Sciences or BSc Environmental Science
  • Either Programme Level 3 or Programme Level 4

What other courses must be taken with this course?

None.

What courses cannot be taken with this course?

Are there a limited number of places available?

No

Course Description

This course provides hands-on, practical experience of identifying and surveying plants and animals. The sites we visit vary year to year to ensure we are visiting the best areas for each species but previous sites include Haddo House (bats), Tarland (water voles), Tullochvenus (badgers), Ythan Estuary (birds), Bennachie (red squirrels) and Tyrebagger (habitat survey). The course is led by a range of professional field ecologists and specialist academics. By the end of the course, you will be able to carry out an efficient and effective basic surveys of habitats and for a range of animal species; write up a report of a survey you will carry out and produce a professional-style habitat map using GIS.

This course focuses on survey techniques that are the core work of ecological consultants. Although consultants expect to train new recruits, the skills you will learn here will give you a strong starting position.


Contact Teaching Time

Information on contact teaching time is available from the course guide.

Teaching Breakdown

More Information about Week Numbers


Details, including assessments, may be subject to change until 30 August 2024 for 1st term courses and 20 December 2024 for 2nd term courses.

Summative Assessments

Report: Individual

Assessment Type Summative Weighting 50
Assessment Weeks Feedback Weeks

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Feedback
Learning Outcomes
Knowledge LevelThinking SkillOutcome
Sorry, we don't have this information available just now. Please check the course guide on MyAberdeen or with the Course Coordinator

Field Trip Log

Assessment Type Summative Weighting 50
Assessment Weeks Feedback Weeks

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Feedback

Feedback will be provided on the quality of the entries in the field notebooks during the first couple of days to ensure students are on track.

Learning Outcomes
Knowledge LevelThinking SkillOutcome
Sorry, we don't have this information available just now. Please check the course guide on MyAberdeen or with the Course Coordinator

Formative Assessment

There are no assessments for this course.

Resit Assessments

Report: Individual

Assessment Type Summative Weighting 50
Assessment Weeks Feedback Weeks

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Feedback
Learning Outcomes
Knowledge LevelThinking SkillOutcome
Sorry, we don't have this information available just now. Please check the course guide on MyAberdeen or with the Course Coordinator

Field Trip Log

Assessment Type Summative Weighting 50
Assessment Weeks Feedback Weeks

Look up Week Numbers

Feedback
Learning Outcomes
Knowledge LevelThinking SkillOutcome
Sorry, we don't have this information available just now. Please check the course guide on MyAberdeen or with the Course Coordinator

Course Learning Outcomes

Knowledge LevelThinking SkillOutcome

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