Undergraduate Zoology 2024-2025

• This course explores how marine organisms interact with each other and their environment to form functioning ecosystems.
• Consideration of biological production in the sea will show how marine ecosystems are fuelled.
• The structure and function of marine food webs will be explored to give an appreciation of important differences from terrestrial food webs and how they respond to natural and anthropogenic influences.
• Practical sessions will develop your skills in collecting, analysing and interpreting marine ecological data.
• An introduction to the ‘ecosystem-based approach’ will show how understanding of marine ecosystem functioning can be applied to managing human activities in the sea.

This course considers the evolution, physiology and behaviour of domestic, companion and captive wild animals in relation to their husbandry and care.

You will apply your knowledge of biology and zoology to the improvement of management practices and to the enhancement of animal welfare.  Field trips to local farms and a wildlife park will allow you to observe industry standards for captive animal welfare.

By researching and presenting a seminar on ethical issues related to animals in captivity, you will develop critical thinking skills and build experience in constructing and evidencing an argument, and also gain skills in group working and oral communication.

This course emphasises how evolution has shaped the spatial and temporal patterns of animal biodiversity, and how we can use molecular genetic tools to gain a better understanding of what biodiversity means and how we can measure it.

In lectures you are guided through the theory of evolution and how this influences patterns of genetic diversity and affects biodiversity.

In practical sessions, you gain insight into the microevolutionary processes that can shape genetic variation in natural populations and some tools used to study the evolution of biodiversity.

Through a poster presentation you gain specialised knowledge and experience communicating complex ideas and synthesizing information about the latest developments in evolutionary biology.

Through written assignments you will consider how evolutionary processes shape biodiversity in Scotland and how we can maintain this biodiversity through effective stewardship, conservation and management.

On Utila, Honduras, students experience tropical marine ecology at one of the world’s best diving locations.

This residential course, at a well-equipped Operation Wallacea site, provides a safe, supported experience in tropical reef surveying and identifying reef organisms.

Completion of PADI open water diving or snorkelling training on site allows students to successfully and confidently engage with daily dives.

Lectures and tutorials complement the field work to ensure students gain an in-depth understanding of tropical reef ecology as well as reef restoration and conservation efforts.

By completing the assessments, students gain the capacity for detailed observation, recording, investigation, and critical reflection.

Cost and Dates TBC

The variety of infections and pathologies seems almost limitless, and although some of the commonest infections have been studied intensely, it's fair to say that the biological and environmental processes relating to infections are often poorly-understood. We are also living through a time when some deadly diseases are on the increase – this is for a host of reasons including overuse of antibiotics or misinformation about common therapies such as vaccination. Infectious disease isn’t going away.

This course explores how the science of marine biology is applied to understanding and managing human interactions with marine life. Humans affect and are affected by marine organisms in diverse ways through a wide range of activities in estuaries, seas and oceans. Understanding the processes leading to these effects and the consequences for both nature and humans is necessary to manage them well. This is the field of applied marine biology, which typically requires a multidisciplinary approach.

Students carry out weekly practical activities which provide opportunities to observe animals, learn and practice the methods we use to study behaviour, and improve their ability to ask ecological and evolutionary questions about animal behaviour. Before the practical sessions we give a lecture covering the subject area and methods we will use that week. We conduct sessions at Newburgh seal beach, the Loch of Strathbeg, and in the Science Teaching Hub in Aberdeen.
We provide training in the use of observational techniques such the different types of behavioural sampling and video recording, and data-based methods such as social network analysis. This equips you with the skills to explore and understand all kinds of animal behaviour.
Students analyse data from their observations and write up reports each week. We provide regular feedback to allow you to rapidly improve your writing and analysis skills.
Students will apply their knowledge by conducting their own bespoke research project, setting your question, choosing a study system, collecting, visualising, and analysing data, and writing up the report.

Residential field course based in Siyafinda Game reserve, and the Greater Kruger Ecosystem in South Africa, structured to provide you with training in animal tracking and the interpretation of ecological data in the field.

Local experts teach tracking skills and provide lessons related to natural history, palaeontology, vegetation, and the complexities of implementing conservation in the local context.

Visits to a variety of local habitats will reinforce taxonomic and species identification skills.

Maintaining a field notebook, completing a project proposal and taking a tracking test will allow you to demonstrate achievement of the course learning outcomes.

Students explore science, policy and management issues relevant to the sustainable management of marine resources through individual- and group-based research.
The course uses a problem-based learning approach which increases enthusiasm, promotes deeper learning and improves abilities in team working.
Students enhance critical thinking skills by analysing quantitative data relevant to managing the impacts of human activities on marine resources.
Guest lectures provide opportunities to network with professionals working with marine resources.
Assessment is based on a policy briefing note and a 3 minute-thesis, both of which help students to develop communication skills relevant to the workplace.

This course develops your knowledge and skills in analysing field data on changes in the distribution, abundance and survival of animal populations.

Practical work applying quantitative tools used in modern wildlife management will give you analytical and critical analysis skills valued by employers.

Guest speakers present case studies illustrating the application of these tools to current conservation and wildlife management problems.

You debate controversial issues that are informed by scientific evidence.

Each practical contributes a clue to solving an ecological problem and you will assemble these clues to formulate a management plan aimed at a conservation/wildlife management issue.

This course will give you the opportunity to learn about contemporary topics in fundamental behavioural ecology and how this knowledge can be applied to improve the conservation and management of animals.
Academics working at the cutting edge of behavioural research will report on the state-of-art in their field, while you will gain direct experience of data-based approaches regularly used by researchers. Independent learning activities will encourage further exploration of the latest advances in the field through recorded lectures and conference presentations and the critical examination of journal articles and pre-prints.
You will develop your understanding of the state of the art in the field and be introduced to the process of research planning by reviewing grant proposals before writing your own grant proposal.

Lectures by research staff working in aquaculture provide you with specialised knowledge in a range of current issues, including growth, nutrition, health and disease resistance, genetics, and environmental interactions.

Preparation for seminars and course work allow you to direct your own learning and explore methods and current advances in your chosen topic.

Participation in the seminars helps you to develop your communication skills and provides you with feedback on your understanding of the issues.

Animal welfare is a concept based in science as well as philosophy – welfare can be measured and is important from an economic as well as moral point of view.

This course uses a mix of class discussions, site visits, guest lecturers and self-directed study to provide a framework on which students can build and synthesise their knowledge of the science of animal welfare.

Student-led activities promote the development of transferable skills such as time management, project planning and reporting.

Through lectures and discussion you critically evaluate the links between human, animal and environmental health and the value of an interdisciplinary One Health approach.

By presenting a case study with peers, you co-produce knowledge and consolidate your understanding.

By engaging in a mock stakeholder workshop, you gain an appreciation of conflicting perspectives and trade-offs in implementing disease management, mitigation and control.

By preparing policy briefs on a problem, you concisely articulate complex ideas and evidence needed to underpin policy decisions.