Module Descriptors
WILDLIFE DISEASE
BIOL50422
Key Facts
Faculty of Computing, Engineering and Sciences
Level 5
15 credits
Contact
Leader: Paul Mitchell
Email: P.Mitchell@staffs.ac.uk
Hours of Study
Scheduled Learning and Teaching Activities: 24
Independent Study Hours: 126
Total Learning Hours: 150
Assessment
- EXAMINATION - UNSEEN IN EXAMINATION CONDITIONS weighted at 70%
- COURSEWORK -ESSAY weighted at 30%
Module Details
Module Additional Assessment Details
Students will be required to complete 2 pieces of summative assessment.
2-hour examination (70%) (LO2) (students answer three questions from five)
2000-word Essay (30%) (LO1)
Students will be provided with formative assessment and feedback via
In-class exercises during the course of the module, plus a revision session
2-hour examination (70%) (LO2) (students answer three questions from five)
2000-word Essay (30%) (LO1)
Students will be provided with formative assessment and feedback via
In-class exercises during the course of the module, plus a revision session
Module Indicative Content
The module starts by reviewing the importance (e.g. ecological impact) of disease in natural communities and then goes on to look at the causes and importance of emerging wildlife diseases. Diseases of wild and captive animals are increasingly seen as an important issue when trying to conserve and manage endangered species, and we will look at some examples of these.
The problem of wildlife acting as reservoirs for diseases of livestock will be discussed, for example, badgers and bovine tuberculosis, classical swine fever and wild boar, avian influenza and waterfowl.
Other aspects that will be covered include zoonoses, vector-borne wildlife disease, non-infectious disease, and the links between pollution and disease.
Finally, we will look at how wildlife disease is monitored and review strategies employed to manage disease in wild animals.
The problem of wildlife acting as reservoirs for diseases of livestock will be discussed, for example, badgers and bovine tuberculosis, classical swine fever and wild boar, avian influenza and waterfowl.
Other aspects that will be covered include zoonoses, vector-borne wildlife disease, non-infectious disease, and the links between pollution and disease.
Finally, we will look at how wildlife disease is monitored and review strategies employed to manage disease in wild animals.
Module Learning Strategies
12 2-hour lectures will be used to introduce the various topics covered. Lecture material will be reinforced by a series of student-centred tasks involving various texts, reviews and material available electronically.
Module Resources
Lecture theatre, networked computers to access web based material
Module Special Admissions Requirements
Study of Level 1 Disease
Module Texts
Delahay, R.J. 2009. Management of Disease in Wild Mammals. Springer
Hudson, P. et al. 2002. The Ecology of Wildlife Diseases. OUP
Wobeser, G. A. 2006. Essentials of Disease in Wild Animals. Blackwell Publishers
Hudson, P. et al. 2002. The Ecology of Wildlife Diseases. OUP
Wobeser, G. A. 2006. Essentials of Disease in Wild Animals. Blackwell Publishers