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ZOOL30050

Academic Year 2024/2025

Diversity of Invertebrates (ZOOL30050)

Subject:
Zoology
College:
Science
School:
Biology & Environment Science
Level:
3 (Degree)
Credits:
5
Module Coordinator:
Dr Paul Brooks
Trimester:
Autumn
Mode of Delivery:
On Campus
Internship Module:
No
How will I be graded?
Letter grades

Curricular information is subject to change.

In this course, we review the major groups of invertebrates which, apart from arthropods, account for most of the animal species on the planet. The course provides the tools for describing and understanding biodiversity and many of the species discussed play key ecological and economic roles. We review classification of invertebrates into major groups and examine some of the extraordinary solutions they have developed to movement, feeding, sensing and reproduction. Practical sessions illustrate the variety of invertebrate life and include a field trip to search for specimens on the shore. Key skills include scientific drawing and dissection and, above all, the skill of species identification, including classification, use of keys and guidebooks and taxonomic conventions. These skills underpin all ecological research and are essential for many jobs in environmental assessment and monitoring.

About this Module

Learning Outcomes:

Students will:
- Appreciate the diversity of invertebrate life;
- Recognise diagnostic characters of major groups of invertebrates;
- Describe mechanisms underlying their basic function, movement, feeding and reproduction;
- Recognise some of their ecological roles, economic significance and conservation status;
- Dissect and make scientific drawings of invertebrate specimens;
- Describe, identify and classify unknown invertebrate specimens.

Student Effort Hours:
Student Effort Type Hours
Lectures

22
Practical

16
Field Trip/External Visits

4
Specified Learning Activities

10
Autonomous Student Learning

73
Total

125

Approaches to Teaching and Learning:
Lectures
Practical classes
Field sampling
Field collection
Observation, dissection and drawing

Requirements, Exclusions and Recommendations
Learning Recommendations:

Life on Earth (currently BIOL10140) OR Biology in Action (currently BIOL10130) OR Animal Biology and Evolution (BAgSc) (currently BIOL10010)


Module Requisites and Incompatibles
Not applicable to this module.
 

Assessment Strategy
Description Timing Component Scale Must Pass Component % of Final Grade In Module Component Repeat Offered
Exam (In-person): End of semester exam consisting of short & long answer questions on material/topics covered within the course. End of trimester
Duration:
2 hr(s)
 Graded No
60
 No
Group Work Assignment: Group report detailing and identifying species observed/recorded on field trip to shoreline. Week 12 Graded No
10
 No
Quizzes/Short Exercises: Pre-Practical short quizzes based on material covered in prior practical session (6 in total) given over the semester Week 4, Week 5, Week 6, Week 7, Week 8, Week 9, Week 10, Week 11 Alternative linear conversion grade scale 40% No
30
 No

Carry forward of passed components
Yes
 

Resit In Terminal Exam
Spring No
Please see Student Jargon Buster for more information about remediation types and timing. 

Feedback Strategy/Strategies

• Feedback individually to students, on an activity or draft prior to summative assessment
• Feedback individually to students, post-assessment
• Group/class feedback, post-assessment

How will my Feedback be Delivered?

Not yet recorded.

Name Role
Dr Marcin Penk Lecturer / Co-Lecturer

Timetabling information is displayed only for guidance purposes, relates to the current Academic Year only and is subject to change.
Autumn Lecture Offering 1 Week(s) - 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 9, 10, 11, 12 Mon 10:00 - 10:50
Autumn Lecture Offering 1 Week(s) - Autumn: All Weeks Tues 13:00 - 13:50
Autumn Practical Offering 1 Week(s) - 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11 Tues 15:00 - 16:50
Autumn Practical Offering 2 Week(s) - 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11 Tues 15:00 - 16:50
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