TROPICAL BIOLOGY

Credit Points

15

Course Coordinator

Dr M D Swaine

Pre-requisites

BI 2001 or permission of Head of Department.

Notes

This course extends over 6 weeks only.

Overview

The course provides an introduction to the ecology of the two great tropical biomes, forest and savanna, and includes consideration of biological processes affecting both plants and animals. Forest structure and environment, plant forms and adaptations, variation in natural forest, forest dynamics, forest fire and montane forests. Savanna vegetation structure and environment, types of savanna, plant adaptations, dynamics, fire. Bats, birds, ungulates, frugivorous mammals, bilharzia and malaria.
Thread I: 4 one-hour lectures and 1 three-hour laboratory per week.
1 two-hour examination (67%) and continuous assessment: essay and report (33%).

Credit Points

15

Course Coordinator

Dr D F R P Burslem

Pre-requisites

BI 2001 or permission of Head of Department.

Notes

This course extends over 6 weeks only.

Overview

The course will review the effects of human activities on biological resources in tropical countries and introduce the scientific principles underlying biological conservation. The problems of management for conservation of tropical plants and animals will be addressed. 4 one-hour lectures per week and 1 three-hour seminar per fortnight.
Thread II: 1 two-hour examination (67%) and continuous assessment (33%).

Credit Points

45

Course Coordinator

Dr M D Swaine

Pre-requisites

Available only to candidates for Honours in Tropical Environmental Science.

Overview

A project taken under the supervision of a member of staff in an appropriate department, as approved by the co-ordinator of the Honours programme.
Assessment based on project report (100%).