Animal Behaviour (with optional Placement/Project year) MSc

1) Genetics as a tool for conservation

2) Genetic markers

3) The use of non-invasive genetic techniques

4) Population-level genetic processes

5) Phylogenetic Comparative Methods

6) Interpreting genetic data to inform management

This module aims to provide an introduction to cutting-edge genetic and genomic techniques that are used to inform conservation actions. During the course, learners will be introduced, both theoretically and practically, to the genetic approaches that are currently implemented to inform conservation management actions for species in the wild. The module explores the importance of genetic processes to species survival and how genetic techniques can be used as a tool to answered questions of conservation concern.

1. Introduction to module; 2. Project planning; 3. Literature searching, evaluation and referencing; 4. Identification of ethical issues and application for approval; 5. Quantitative research design; 6. Statistical methods; 7. Preparation for scientific dissemination: Preparing journal articles, scientific posters and oral presentations.

1. To provide the student with an opportunity to investigate systematically, and in depth, a topic of direct relevance to the programme of study and his/her personal interests.
2. To enable the student to draw on and contribute to the development of the growing body of knowledge relevant to the programme of study and his/her personal interests.
3. To present the outcomes of personal research in the form of a) scientific paper, in the form of a journal article, b) scientific poster and c) oral presentation.

Expected topics to be covered include:

Welfare assessment advances and their practical applications from the perspectives of various stakeholders

Legal aspects and public perceptions of various animal groups and their welfare needs and status 

Human-animal relationships and their impact on various groups of animals 

Critical discussions on definitions of welfare and well-being

Current global threats to animal welfare including disease transmission

This module will:

1. Advance student understanding of the impact that human knowledge, experience and behaviour have on the welfare of the animals they interact with
2. Explore how different stakeholder groups view the same animal groups
3. Expand knowledge of welfare threats faced by key animal groups 
4. Develop student communication and argument skills in the field of animal welfare 

The module will provide a forum for engagement with and critical discussion of issues at the forefront of the field of Animal Behaviour. Current research areas will be examined in depth enabling evaluation of their roots, progression, current application and likely future development. Indicative advanced research fields are: Mate Choice; Communication; Primatology; Animal Social Networks.  

1) To engage with areas of research at the forefront of animal behaviour, understand how these have arisen, their current significance and likely future development.

2) To enable critical evaluation (individually and via group discussion) of the literature and expert-led seminar material.

3) To provide assessment opportunities to enable students to develop subject specific and employer valued skills, particularly in critical, creative thinking and highly developed verbal and written communication.

This module will focus on our understanding of wild animal behaviour in a natural environment. This includes the various biotic and abiotic factors influencing behaviour, and in particular how human impacts and climate change are currently driving behavioural changes in wild populations.

Teaching will be research-informed and will cover key areas such as: behavioural plasticity, social learning, epigenetics, social dynamics, conservation behaviour and phylogenetic comparative analyses. The specialist skills of science communication and writing grant applications will also be taught within specific workshops during this module.

1. To critically discuss how behavioural ecological principles can be used to solve real-life problems within the fields of conservation and wildlife management.
2. To develop students' understanding of modern research methods and approaches that can be used to effectively study animal behaviour in wild habitats.
3. To appreciate how human impacts/climate change can affect wild animal behaviour and how these effects can be mitigated by appropriate strategies.
4. To develop key communication skills targeting both academic and non-academic audiences.

This module draws together current scientific knowledge on animal sentience, capacities and ability to suffer and reflects on potential implications for the use and ethical treatment of animals in modern society. Expected topics to be covered include:

• Extending the concept of consciousness and sentience to non-human animals
• Cultural variations in the moral status of animals and ethical treatment
• Animal learning, cognitive abilities and ethical considerations: intra and inter-species variations
• Psychological states and welfare
• Pain perception, sentience and ability to suffer
• Quality of life assessments and palliative care
• Ethics in animal research
• Euthanasia, humane killing and eating animals
• Incorporating animal ethics into policy writing
• Future directions for bioethics

This module will advance students' understanding on:

1-The breadth of animal characteristics and plasticity of animal traits that are potentially morally relevant, and that merit consideration for the humane and effective management of different species reared for human purposes.

2-Critical assessment of current ethical issues in the field of animal welfare science, essential for decision making and ethical treatment of animals.

3-Communication and articulation of concepts, arguments and scientific reasoning within the field of animal welfare science and ethics. 

4-Ethical considerations in the development of quality-of-life assessments for different animal species.

Critically assess conservation physiology and the key methodologies employed (across the taxa) with a focus on stress endocrinology, immune function and disease function using in depth knowledge of the primary literature.

Understand the key elements of stress endocrinology, immune function and disease and how these are impacted.

Understand the theoretical and practical underpinnings of enzyme-immunoassays. Carry out an EIA in the laboratory and critically analyse the assay performance and endocrine data yielded.

Discuss the ethical considerations relevant to conservation physiology.

The aim of the module is to give students a critical appreciation of the practice, ethics and underlying science of Conservation Physiology - an newly emerging field. The module will focus on two prominent aspects of this field: endocrinology and immunology.