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Conservation Biology (C1148)

15 credits, Level 5

Autumn teaching

After an introduction to the major threats to global biodiversity, you'll explore a series of broad conservation themes.

The first part of the module will focus on the species level, including:

• some of the particular threats faced
• why species become rare and endangered
• what measures can be taken to halt or reverse population declines
• how populations of threatened species can be restored.

You’ll consider the contribution of modern molecular genetics to clarifying and addressing various conservation issues. You’ll also look at how people and wildlife interact, both positively and negatively, and how emergent conflicts can be resolved.

The second part of the module adopts a habitat and ecosystem focus. You’ll work up from a consideration of specific habitats and their management to a landscape approach, including methods for restoring damaged habitats and ecosystems.

Finally, you’ll explore the national, European and international system of conservation designations and their associated legal frameworks.

Contact hours and workload

This module is approximately 150 hours of work. This breaks down into about 26 hours of contact time and about 124 hours of independent study. The University may make minor variations to the contact hours for operational reasons, including timetabling requirements.

We regularly review our modules to incorporate student feedback, staff expertise, as well as the latest research and teaching methodology. We’re planning to run these modules in the academic year 2024/25. However, there may be changes to these modules in response to feedback, staff availability, student demand or updates to our curriculum.

We’ll make sure to let you know of any material changes to modules at the earliest opportunity.