Module manager: Dr Rupert Quinnell
Email: r.j.quinnell@leeds.ac.uk
Taught: Semester 2 (Jan to Jun) View Timetable
Year running 2025/26
Because of space limitations, the module is limited to 24 students. If the module is oversubscribed, students with the highest averages across all completed FBS modules will be allowed to enrol.
| BLGY2155 | Population, Community and Conservation Ecology |
This module is not approved as a discovery module
This field module offers students the opportunity to gain ecological experience in a diverse area of South Africa where a major programme of rewilding has been carried out. Students work in small groups to develop a research project which is carried out, analysed and presented during the field course. Students who select this module should be aware that there is an additional cost for this module to cover flights, accommodation and food, which will be in the region of £2000-£2500
This module aims to explore the ecology of one of the world’s great biodiversity hotspots. It achieves this via lectures, hands-on research experience, and interactions with reserve staff.
The objectives are to enable students to:
- Understand the processes that have resulted in the modern biodiversity of our study site.
- Design, plan and carry out a simple ecological field research project.
- Evaluate field health and safety.
- Collect and analyse field data, and then interpret and present the results in the form of an authentic research seminar.
- Understand the issues involved in managing a reserve, and the broader conservation issues in Southern Africa
- Gain an appreciation of the natural history of the Eastern Cape
On successful completion of the module students will be able to:
1. Describe and discuss in detail aspects of Southern African ecology and conservation relevant to the field site.
2. Evaluate and critique the scientific literature on a specific ecological process relevant to the field site.
3. Design and carry out an ecological field project.
Skills Learning Outcomes
On successful completion of the module students will be able to:
4. Design and conduct basic field research safely and ethically.
5. Collect, manage, analyse and interpret novel data collected in the field.
6. Communicate the results of research and data analysis via the preparation and delivery of both individual and group oral presentations
Details of the syllabus will be provided on the Minerva organisation (or equivalent) for the module
| Delivery type | Number | Length hours | Student hours |
|---|---|---|---|
| Fieldwork | 11 | 8 | 88 |
| Lecture | 2 | 1 | 2 |
| Seminar | 6 | 1.5 | 9 |
| Private study hours | 101 | ||
| Total Contact hours | 99 | ||
| Total hours (100hr per 10 credits) | 200 | ||
Formative feedback is provided on an initial group presentation where students present the aims of their project. Formative feedback is also provided verbally to each group and each student throughout the trip in order to evaluate field conduct, assure appropriate collection of data, support data analysis and presentation writing. Written feedback is provided on all summative assessments.
| Assessment type | Notes | % of formal assessment |
|---|---|---|
| Coursework | Individual oral presentation | 30 |
| Coursework | Research Project report. This will comprise an individual written introduction (40%), and a group presentation on the results and discussion (30%). | 70 |
| Total percentage (Assessment Coursework) | 100 | |
Re-sit for the Research Project report will be an introduction on a different topic, and an individual presentation, using data provided.
There is no reading list for this module
Last updated: 30/04/2025
Errors, omissions, failed links etc should be notified to the Catalogue Team