MSc Wildlife Management and Conservation Modules
Outline Timetables
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Autumn term (10 weeks, October - December)
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Lent Term (10 weeks, January - March)
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Description of Modules
Six lots of 10 credits are taken each term. Ten credit modules are conceptually the same size, involving up to 100 contact/study hours. The values shown are approximate timetabled hours.
AQUATIC RESOURCES MANAGEMENT
In this module, various aspects of aquatic habitat and resource management are considered. The subjects covered include pollution monitoring, fisheries and estuaries. A large part of the module deals with conservation issues specific to freshwater and marine habitats (40 hours lectures, seminars, guest speakers and field trips).
CONSERVATION GENETICS
A vital component of any captive breeding programme is knowledge of the ways that different management procedures influence the transmission of genetic diversity and how lack of diversity can adversely affect both wild and captive populations. In this module, methods of investigating changes in gene frequencies, the effects of small population sizes and methods used to measure genetic variation will be examined. Modern genetic techniques used by conservationists will be explored. A trip to Marwell Zoological Park will form a component of this module where students will have the opportunity to learn more about reintroduction programmes. In addition, the role of genetic distance in species concepts in relation to conservation priorities and the effect of habitat fragmentation on genetic makeup will be considered (35 hours lectures, seminars and field trip).
POPULATION DYNAMICS
Wildlife managers are frequently required to make decisions that affect the abundance of animals and plants. Such decisions might include, for example, the rate of harvesting that might be sustainable within a particular population, or active measures to reduce the risk of extinction for an endangered species. These decisions require a basic understanding of population dynamics. This unit provides an insight into the theory of population dynamics, and explores how this framework can be applied to a range of management problems, including the exploitation of populations by man, reducing the extinction risk in endangered species, and predicting how populations might respond to novel future environmental conditions (20 hours lectures and seminars).
VERTEBRATE PESTS AND THEIR MANAGEMENT
Some vertebrate species interfere with Man's activities, in which case they are assigned the label 'pest'. The first reaction is often to control them. In certain situations (e.g. agriculture), where the objective is to control damage, methods can be applied to reduce the average abundance of the pest species. In other situations (e.g. hospitals, human dwellings, or on islands), the objective can be eradication. Alternatively, where control is unacceptable (badgers) or impractical (rabbits), physical barriers may be used to exclude the pest species or repellents deployed. Where vertebrates, often introduced species, impact on the natural environment, their control can become an integral part of wildlife management and conservation. However, there are also concerns about the use of vertebrate pesticides and their detrimental effect on the environment (35 hours lectures and field trips).
SPECIES AND HABITAT CONSERVATION
Conservation efforts take on a huge variety of guises. The priority in one situation might be the conservation of a particular plant, maybe an orchid species, or animal which could be a mammal, bird or insect species. The conservation work could take place on, for example, heathland, chalkland or saltmarsh, or be concerned with the management of a fragile habitat rather than a species per se. In this module, external speakers are invited to present information covering their area of expertise in conservation. Students will be encouraged to partake in open discussion of the issues with the speaker thereby gaining an understanding of the problems associated with conservation efforts and concepts at a variety of levels. The speakers are usually senior members of staff working with organizations that employ wildlife managers (40 hours guest speakers and field trip).
MAMMAL CONSERVATION
This module is based primarily upon seminars presented by members of the group and, as such, the subject area and species covered is entirely student driven. Specific topics could include captive breeding programmes, training for reintroduction, criteria for reintroductions, environmental enrichment, flagship species and conservation strategies, and the role of education in conservation and ecotourism (35 hours seminars and guest lectures).
QUANTITATIVE METHODS FOR WILDLIFE MANAGERS
A vital skill for any wildlife manager is to be able to collect data under field conditions using well-structured experimental designs, process the material in the laboratory if necessary, and to apply appropriate statistical procedures to test scientific hypotheses and to explore data sets. This module involves a considerable amount of fieldwork during which students will collect their own data for subsequent analysis. Data will be collected in different ways using different taxonomic groups to explore different scenarios. This approach provides the opportunity to develop natural history skills. A wide variety of analytical procedures will be studied to develop data exploration and presentation skills, including those for multivariate data. Special ecological sampling techniques are described as are capture-recapture methods. Analysis of data from ecological communities is explored, including measures of diversity and ordination methods. Students will receive extensive training in the use of Minitab (20 credits over two terms: 40 hours lectures and 40 hours practicals)..
SUSTAINABLE AGRICULTURE AND LAND MANAGEMENT
Can a compromise be struck between productive landscapes (e.g. agriculture, forestry, etc.) and the interests of wildlife conservation? This module explores the issues involved in enhancing biodiversity in the productive landscape. and how policy and management influence wildlife dynamics. Increasingly, the general public has greater access and influence over the countryside and we investigate the implications of this on biodiversity, and how the public engage with conservation issues. Similarly, as urban expansion continues, we review opportunities to help offset the negative impacts on wildlife, through careful planning and the creation of new habitats. The module will help students develop their practical management skills, particularly with respect to dealing with complex and sometimes, conflicting interests (20 hours lectures and seminars).
PRACTICAL WILDLIFE MANAGEMENT
This module consists entirely of field trips offering students the opportunity to engage in hands-on wildlife conservation work and to experience and be trained in a range of techniques, and to develop natural history skills. The module integrates with the rest of the course by visiting sites described or involved in some of the more classroom-based modules. As well as wildlife field sites (e.g. nature reserves), visits are made to conservation society HQs and institutes where conservation research is being conducted. In this way, students gain considerable exposure to potential employers (20 credits over two terms: 120 hours field work and visits).
GIS FOR WILDLIFE MANAGERS
Geographic Information Systems (GIS) are becoming increasingly important in the management of habitats and populations in landscape scale conservation. Furthermore, a range of potential employers frequently seek to take on individuals with GIS skills. This module introduces students from a range of backgrounds to the role of GIS in the assessment, monitoring and management of wild populations and habitats. A mixture of techniques are covered including data sources, data formats and input, data geocoding, database and map query, spatial overlay and interpolation, and map composition. In addition, students gain experience of writing Biodiversity Action Plans and digitizing data collected from the field (40 hours lectures and practicals).