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ZO4543: BEHAVIOURAL ECOLOGY AND CONSERVATION (2024-2025)

Last modified: 23 Jul 2024 11:08


Course Overview

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.

Course Details

Study Type Undergraduate Level 4
Term Second Term Credit Points 15 credits (7.5 ECTS credits)
Campus Aberdeen Sustained Study No
Co-ordinators
  • Dr David Fisher

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

  • Programme Level 4
  • Any Undergraduate Programme (Studied)
  • One of BSc Biology or BSc Conservation Biology or BSc Plant Biology or BSc Zoology or BSc Animal Ecology or Non-Graduating Student in Zoology Erasmus or BSc Marine Biology or BSc Parasitology or Bachelor Of Science In Animal Behaviour And Welfare 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 Wildlife Management or BSc Forestry or BSc Forest Sciences or BSc Environmental Science
  • One of BI2001 Community Ecology (Passed) or BI2016 Community Ecology (Passed) or BI2019 Community Ecology (Passed) or BI2020 Ecology (Passed) or BI2022 Ecology (Online) (Passed) or BI2522 Ecology (Online) (Passed) or BI2922 Ecology (Online) (Passed) or BI3505 Behavioural Biology (Passed) or ZO3010 Animal Evolution and Biodiversity (Passed) or ZO3011 Animal Evolution and Biodiversity (Passed) or ZO3303 Animal Population Ecology (Passed) or ZO3304 Marine Ecology and Ecosystems (Passed) or ZO3305 Animal Population Ecology (Passed) or ZO3306 Marine Ecology and Ecosystems (Passed) or ZO3307 Animal Population Ecology (Passed) or ZO3507 Animal Behaviour (Passed) or ZO3508 Marine Ecology and Ecosystems (Passed) or ZO3510 Animal Behaviour (Passed)

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

The first third of the course comprises lectures and computer practicals across a range of subjects within behavioural ecology and conservation. You will learn about social behaviour, animal personality, cognition, dispersal, and urban behaviour, and how these topics relate to individual fitness and reproduction, population viability and resilience, the management of individuals and populations, and human-animal conflict. These lectures serve to teach students about important concepts, approaches, and case studies and to start providing ideas for their grant proposals. 

The second third of the course will combine directed learning to further student’s knowledge of behavioural ecology and conservation, allowing you to pursue your unique interests. We also give lectures on how to structure research proposals and how to master the style of persuasive writing necessary to write a successful grant. There will also be a grant review panel, a group activity where students assess good and bad points of a set of pre-existing grants. Reviewing these grants will aid students in preparing their own grant.

The final third of the course is given over to preparing individual research proposals, with drop-in sessions with the course co-ordinator for students to discuss their ideas and how to communicate them effectively. The research proposal each student will write will include a background to the subject area, a summary of the knowledge gaps, and a plan for research that fills those gaps.

By the end of the course the students should have:

  • An understanding of contemporary knowledge and research methodology within the field of behavioural ecology
  • An understanding of the relevance of behavioural ecology to other biological disciplines such as population ecology and to applied situations such as population management and conservation
  • Enhanced skills in data manipulation, analysis, and modelling through computer-based practical sessions
  • Skills in group-work and oral communication through the discussion of grant proposals
  • Advanced ability to critically analyse the work of others and writing skills to summarise in a report
  • Improved skills in written communication in persuasive writing styles through the writing of a grant proposal

Taught topics covered include (note these may vary from year to year):

Animal “personality” and population resilience

Cognition and human-animal interactions
Dispersal and migration
Sexual selection and sexual conflict
Behavioural responses to environmental change
Parental care and individual survival
Social behaviour and disease transmission
The difference between writing to report, evaluate, and persuade
Structuring a grant proposal
The ethics of persuasive writing

 


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

Grant proposal

Assessment Type Summative Weighting 60
Assessment Weeks Feedback Weeks

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Feedback

Each student will receive individual feedback and a mark for each task. Feedback will be provided as written comments. Groups will also be given generic feedback. Students who are identified as having difficulty in successfully completing the coursework assessment tasks will be invited to meet members of the course team to identify difficulties and discuss solutions.

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

Class Test - Multiple Choice Questions

Assessment Type Summative Weighting 20
Assessment Weeks Feedback Weeks

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Feedback

2 x MCQ test (10% each)

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

Report on Grant Review Activity

Assessment Type Summative Weighting 20
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

Formative Assessment

There are no assessments for this course.

Resit Assessments

Re-submission of failed elements

Assessment Type Summative Weighting
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

Course Learning Outcomes

Knowledge LevelThinking SkillOutcome
ProceduralApplyEnhanced skills in written communication through the writing of a grant proposal.
ProceduralAnalyseEnhanced skills in data manipulation, analysis, and modelling through computer based practical sessions
ConceptualUnderstandUnderstanding of the role of behavioural ecology in other biological disciplines and systems such as population and evolutionary ecology
ProceduralApplyUnderstanding of the importance of behavioural ecology in applied situations, such as population management and conservation
ProceduralUnderstandUnderstanding of research methodology within the field of behavioural ecology, with respect to both theoretical and practical aspects
ProceduralApplyEnhanced skills in oral communication through the discussion of papers and oral presentation of a grant proposal

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