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. Tropical cats; savanna ungulates; mosquitos and malaria; ant plants; biological control in the tropics.

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.

Level 4

TB 4004 - 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%).