TROPICAL BIOLOGY

TROPICAL BIOLOGY

Level 3

TB 3503 - TROPICAL FOREST AND SAVANNA ECOLOGY
Credit Points
15
Course Coordinator
Dr M D Swaine

Pre-requisites

BI 2001 or permission of Head of School.

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 and malaria.

Structure

Thread I (Slots A, E, F): 4 one-hour lectures and 1 three-hour laboratory per week.

To pass this course, a pass must be achieved in BOTH the theory exam and the in-course assessment.

Assessment

1st Attempt: 1 two-hour examination (67%) and in-course assessment: essay and practical report (33%).

Resit: A two-hour written exam for all candidates and a two hour exam on in-course material for those who have failed the assessment.

Level 4

TB 4002 - TROPICAL ENVIRONMENTAL SCIENCE PROJECT
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 school, as approved by the co-ordinator of the Honours programme.

Assessment

1st Attempt: Assessment based on project report (100%).

Resit (for Honours students only): Candidates achieving a CAS mark of 6-8 may be awarded compensatory level 1 credit. Candidates achieving a CAS mark of less than 6 will be required to submit themselves for re-assessment and should contact the Course Co-ordinator for further details.

TB 4501 - BIOLOGICAL CONSERVATION IN THE TROPICS
Credit Points
15
Course Coordinator
Dr D F R P Burslem

Pre-requisites

BI 2001 or permission of Head of School.

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 addresses.

Structure

Thread II: 4 one-hour lectures per week and 1 three-hour seminar per fortnight.

To pass this course, a pass must be achieved in BOTH the theory exam and the in-course assessment.

Assessment

1st Attempt: 1 two-hour examination (67%) and in-course assessment (33%).

Resit (for Honours students only): Candidates achieving a CAS mark of 6-8 may be awarded compensatory level 1 credit. Candidates achieving a CAS mark of less than 6 will be required to submit themselves for re-assessment and should contact the Course Co-ordinator for further details.