production
Skip to Content

ZO39F1: BIODIVERSITY OF TERRESTRIAL ECOSYSTEMS IN SOUTH AFRICA (2022-2023)

Last modified: 22 Aug 2022 14:35


Course Overview

Residential field course based on Ngala Training Camp, Balule Game Reserve, and the Greater Kruger Ecosystem in South Africa, structured to provide you with training in animal tracking and the interpretation of ecological data in the field.

Local experts teach tracking skills and provide lessons related to natural history, palaeontology, vegetation, and the complexities of implementing conservation in the local context.

Visits to a variety of local habitats will reinforce taxonomic and species identification skills.

By maintaining a field notebook, completing a project and passing a test will allow you to demonstrate achievement of the course learning outcomes.

Dates for 2022/2023 are approximately the last two weeks in August.

Please note that the information provided is subject to change due to the ongoing Covid-19 government guidelines

Course Details

Study Type Undergraduate Level 3
Session Third Sub Session Credit Points 15 credits (7.5 ECTS credits)
Campus Aberdeen Sustained Study No
Co-ordinators
  • Dr John Baird

What courses & programmes must have been taken before this course?

  • Any Undergraduate Programme (Studied)
  • One of BSc Biology or BSc Conservation Biology or BSc Zoology or BSc Marine Biology or BSc Animal Behaviour or BSc Behavioural Biology or MSci Biological Sciences or BSc Biological Sciences (Honours) or BSc Plant and Soil Sciences or BSc Ecology or BSc Environmental Science
  • Programme Level 3

What other courses must be taken with this course?

None.

What courses cannot be taken with this course?

Are there a limited number of places available?

No

Course Description

This residential field course is based in a privately owned training camp in a reserve adjacent to Kruger National Park in South Africa. The course runs in from mid to late August, 12 nights, 13 days in camp and is associated with a fee of approximately £2,200; students also need to cover the cost of travel (estimated cost of return flight from Aberdeen to Hoedspruit is £1000). Common mammal tracks observed around the camp include: leopard, lion, spotted hyena, jackal, wild dog, porcupine, civet, mongoose, baboon, giraffe, elephant, buffalo, hippopotamus, nyala, bushbuck, impala and more. As with all natural environments, the presence of species varies and it cannot be guaranteed that we will encounter, or observe tracks all of the above species.

The teaching team includes the only senior female tracker in the world, and an author of six books on tracking, signs and natural history of southern Africa. Tracking will form the main component of the course and opportunities to observe large mammals as they pass through the area will take precedence over other activities. Much of the teaching is carried out while tracking, but there will also be data collection and teaching activities that will allow a detailed understanding of other aspects of the area, including an introduction to important components of the vegetation and the multiple ways in which animals and plants interact within the savanna ecosystem. Other activities include explorations of environments either within or near Ngala including: the Drakensberg Mountains, sites of paleontological interest that have evidence of neolithic human activity (stone tools for example) and other reserves.

On the ground at Ngala, students will keep a field notebook, which will be marked. Students will also have the opportunity to take an end of course exam to gain a tracking certificate. Additionally, there will also be project work, which will involve collecting environmental data, which be interpreted in Aberdeen. Training on data collection will be carried out during term time in advance of the summer break.

Associated Costs

DescriptionValue
Please note that there is an associated cost for this field course which will be confirmed with students as soon as possible. GBP 0.00

Contact Teaching Time

Information on contact teaching time is available from the course guide.

Teaching Breakdown

More Information about Week Numbers


Details, including assessments, may be subject to change until 31 August 2023 for 1st half-session courses and 22 December 2023 for 2nd half-session courses.

Summative Assessments

Report: Individual

Assessment Type Summative Weighting 50
Assessment Weeks Feedback Weeks

Look up Week Numbers

Feedback

Individualised written feedback to each student

Learning Outcomes
Knowledge LevelThinking SkillOutcome
ConceptualAnalyseDemonstrate a capacity to analyse and evaluate information through the completion of a project

Field Trip Log

Assessment Type Summative Weighting 50
Assessment Weeks Feedback Weeks

Look up Week Numbers

Feedback

Individualised written feedback to each student

Learning Outcomes
Knowledge LevelThinking SkillOutcome
ReflectionEvaluateDevelop biological recording skills by maintaining a field notebook that demonstrates a capacity for detailed documentation of observations and information about species and environments encountered,

Formative Assessment

Tracking test

Assessment Type Formative Weighting
Assessment Weeks 4 Feedback Weeks 4

Look up Week Numbers

Feedback

Feedback on tracking exam and awarding of certificates will be carried out at Ngala.

Learning Outcomes
Knowledge LevelThinking SkillOutcome
ProceduralApplyDevelop skills in locating, identifying and interpreting animal tracks and signs with sufficient proficiency to pass a test

Resit Assessments

Resubmission of failed element

Assessment Type Summative Weighting
Assessment Weeks Feedback Weeks

Look up Week Numbers

Feedback
Learning Outcomes
Knowledge LevelThinking SkillOutcome
Sorry, we don't have this information available just now. Please check the course guide on MyAberdeen or with the Course Coordinator

Course Learning Outcomes

Knowledge LevelThinking SkillOutcome
ReflectionEvaluateDevelop biological recording skills by maintaining a field notebook that demonstrates a capacity for detailed documentation of observations and information about species and environments encountered,
ProceduralApplyDevelop skills in locating, identifying and interpreting animal tracks and signs with sufficient proficiency to pass a test
ConceptualAnalyseDemonstrate a capacity to analyse and evaluate information through the completion of a project

Compatibility Mode

We have detected that you are have compatibility mode enabled or are using an old version of Internet Explorer. You either need to switch off compatibility mode for this site or upgrade your browser.