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• Undergraduate study:
• Courses
• Order a prospectus
• How to apply
• Information for applicants
• Why choose Kingston University
• Disability and mental health support
• Accommodation
• Undergraduate fees
• Fees, funding and payments
• Access, participation and inclusion

Biodiversity and Conservation

• Module code: GG6090
• Year: 2018/9
• Level: 6
• Credits: 30
• Pre-requisites: None
• Co-requisites: None

Summary

This module builds on material introduced at Level 5 (GG5120).  The importance of historical and contemporary land use practices in shaping current biotic communities is discussed. Current issues in biodiversity and conservation are explored through a lecture and seminar programme.  Fieldwork supports the lectures and assignments which are designed to introduce students to important aspects of practical conservation work, such as funding bids, species conservation strategies, and communicating to non-specialists/decision makers.

Aims

• To study the ecological history and development of selected habitats and biotic communities in temperate ecosystems.
• To explore the development of British conservation policy and strategies
• To review current approaches and techniques for modelling biodiversity
• To examine the application of biodiversity conservation tools at local, regional, national and international levels
• To evaluate in depth selected topical conservation issues.

Learning outcomes

On successful completion of the module, students will be able to:

• Understand the development of the major biotic communities in Britain and be familiar with recent changes in the British countryside and in particular with species losses and introductions
• Discuss and evaluate practical management issues relevant to the conservation management of Britain's countryside
• Use contemporary models to quantify biodiversity
• Critically discuss contemporary biodiversity and conservation issues including the impact of climate change
• Apply field observational and recording skills and to be able to interpret ecological data

Curriculum content

• Conservation in Practice - role and effectiveness of the various conservation agencies in Britain and their policies, the development of the major biotic communities in Britain and their conservation management.
• Current tools for modelling Biodiversity - The unified neutral theory of biodiversity; concepts of unified theory; support and refutation of unified neutral theory; ecosystem function
• Quantifying Biodiversity  - diversity metrics; alpha, beta and gamma diversity; Shannon diversity; Simpson diversity; accumulation and rarefaction curves; functional trait diversity; modelling trait diversity; species distribution models and regional-scale diversity
• Population Viability Analysis - extinction risks; quasi-extinction risks; minimum viable population; deterministic PVA, stochastic PVA, spatially explicit individual based models for PVA
• Ecosystem Service (ES) - supporting, provisioning, cultural regulating ES; millennium ecosystem assessment; human well-being and ES; ES in tropics; ES in temperate systems; payments of ES (PES)
• Climate change strategy - implications of climate change for conservation and strategies to mitigate its effects
• Seminars - contemporary topics in biodiversity and conservation (UK and European perspective)

Teaching and learning strategy

The module will comprise a series of lectures, fieldwork, and workshops. Key concepts in conservation management and biodiversity will be introduced during the lectures, which will explore themes ranging from historical ecology to the quantification of biodiversity and species distribution models. Staff-led group fieldwork will provide experience of data collection methods and approaches for quantifying biodiversity and will set the scene for an assessment (the grant application) detailing site specific practical conservation measures.  Particular emphasis will be given to research-led learning.

Breakdown of Teaching and Learning Hours

Assessment strategy

Summative assessments consist of: (i) a Written Exam (40%) which will be in essay format to test breadth of knowledge and critical thinking; (ii) a Grant Proposal that couples fieldwork with data analysis and interpretation skills (25%); and (iii) a Seminar to assess independent research skills (35%).

Formative assessment includes in-class tests that will assess students' ability to recalled and understand the key information on conservation management and the modelling and qualifying biodiversity, which forms the essential knowledge base for the summative assessments.

Mapping of Learning Outcomes to Assessment Strategy (Indicative)

Elements of Assessment

Achieving a pass

It is NOT a requirement that the major element of assessment is passed in order to achieve an overall pass for the module.

Bibliography core texts

Gilbert, O.L. and Anderson, P. 1998. Habitat Creation and Repair. Oxford, Oxford University Press.

Gaston, K.J. 1996. Biodiversity: A Biology of Numbers and Difference. Oxford, Blackwell.

Gaston, K.J. and Spicer, J.I. 2004. Biodiversity: an introduction. 2^nd Edition. Oxford, Blackwell.

Gilbert, O.L. and Anderson, P.  1998. Habitat Creation and Repair. Oxford, Oxford University Press.

Goldsmith, F.B. (ed). 1991. Monitoring for Ecology and Conservation. London, Chapman and Hall.

Goldsmith, F.B. and Warren, A.  (eds). 1993. Conservation in Progress.  Chichester, Wiley.

Green, B. 1996. Countryside Conservation.  London, Chapman and Hall, 2^nd edition.

Hambler, C. 2004. Conservation. Cambridge, Cambridge University Press.

Hubbell, S.P.  2001.  The unified neutral theory of biodiversity and biogeography. Princeton University Press, Princeton, USA.

Magurran, A. 2004. Measuring Biological Diversity. Blackwell.

Maclean, N. 2010. Silent Summer: The State of Wildlife in Britain and Ireland. Cambridge, Cambridge University Press.

Rackham, O. 1986.  History of the British Countryside.  London, Dent.

Sutherland, W.J. 1998. Conservation Science and Action. Oxford, Blackwell.

Sutherland, W.J. and Hill, D.A. (eds). 1995. Managing Habitats for Conservation. Cambridge, Cambridge University Press.

Sutherland, W.J. (ed). 2006: Ecological Census Techniques.  2^nd edition, Cambridge, Cambridge University Press.

Thomas, P.A. and Packham, J.R. 2007: Ecology of Woodlands and Forests Description, Dynamics and Diversity  Cambridge: Cambridge University Press.