Last modified: 06 Nov 2023 11:16
The field course is non-residential and involves day trips from Aberdeen to local sites. You will learn about and practice a range of methodologies, approaches and techniques used by ecological consultants and people working for conservation organisations to determine the presence/absence of various animal species, estimates of population size and mapping vegetation. Techniques will include; Habitat Survey (plants; Phase 1 / UKHab), creating a habitat map using GIS, bird identification and census techniques, freshwater invertebrate sampling, surveys of mammal populations (e.g. bats, badgers, otters, red squirrels) and camera trapping.
Dates for 2023/2024 are 13/05/2024 to 24/05/2024
| Study Type | Undergraduate | Level | 3 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Session | Second Sub Session | Credit Points | 15 credits (7.5 ECTS credits) |
| Campus | Aberdeen | Sustained Study | No |
| Co-ordinators |
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One or more of these courses have a limited number of places. Priority access will be given to students for whom this course is compulsory. Please refer to the Frequently Asked Questions for more details on this process.
This course provides hands-on, practical experience of identifying and surveying plants and animals. The sites we visit vary year to year to ensure we are visiting the best areas for each species but previous sites include Haddo House (bats), Tarland (water voles), Tullochvenus (badgers), Ythan Estuary (birds), Bennachie (red squirrels) and Tyrebagger (habitat survey). The course is led by a range of professional field ecologists and specialist academics. This course focuses on survey techniques that are the core work of ecological consultants. Although consultants expect to train new recruits, the skills you will learn here will give you a strong starting position.
By the end of the course, students will be able to
Students should allow a couple of extra days after the end of the field course to do their assignment which will involve independent field work in Aberdeen.
Taught topics covered include:
(note that these may vary slightly between years)
Tracks and signs for species such as badgers, bats, pine marten, red squirrels, water voles, various bird species, otters
Carrying out habitat survey using techniques used widely by ecological consultants
| Description | Value |
|---|---|
| Associated Costs | GBP 25.00 |
Information on contact teaching time is available from the course guide.
| Assessment Type | Summative | Weighting | 80 | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Assessment Weeks | Feedback Weeks | |||
| Feedback |
Write-up comprising habitat map and target notes, assessment of designated area for protected species, assessment of strengths and weaknesses of survey techniques. |
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| Knowledge Level | Thinking Skill | Outcome |
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| Assessment Type | Summative | Weighting | 20 | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Assessment Weeks | Feedback Weeks | |||
| Feedback |
Short Test on last day of field course which will cover materials learned through the week. |
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| Knowledge Level | Thinking Skill | Outcome |
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There are no assessments for this course.
| Assessment Type | Summative | Weighting | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Assessment Weeks | Feedback Weeks | |||
| Feedback | ||||
| Knowledge Level | Thinking Skill | Outcome |
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| Knowledge Level | Thinking Skill | Outcome |
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| Factual | Remember | ILOs for this course may be found in the course guide |
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