The taught part of the course at the University in Semester 2 will give an overview of the main groups of terrestrial and freshwater invertebrates including the Annelida, Mollusca, Arachnida Coleoptera, Lepidoptera, Hymenoptera, Diptera, Hemiptera, Orthoptera, Odonata, Myriapoda and Crustacea. The module will also cover the use of keys, the value of taxonomy and taxonomic approaches. The field course (Semester 3) will allow polishing of the lab-based work with further experience in the field coupled with exposure to a range of trapping methodologies.

Students will select a group to specialise in, in consultation with the module leader. Becoming familiar with a specific group requires intensive personal study, and this part of the module will be largely self-taught. Students are expected to use the collections in the local Potteries Museum, to make links with local specialists and local/national organisations and to make collections from the field. Specialists in the Staffordshire Invertebrate Group, for example, are willing to become mentors to help students improve their field-craft and invertebrate identification.

Details of the assignment will be aligned with the taxonomic group being studied.

It is to include both a formative and summative component
Summative:
25% total: 1 hour species ID test of specialist taxonomic group (15%) with field notes (10%) (Outcome 1)
75% 3000-word in-depth report on their chosen taxonomic group.
(Outcomes 1, 2, 3) (FINAL)

Additional Assessment Details (including formative feedback / assessment):
The summative report will only be considered for marking if the formative portfolio has also been submitted Formative: weekly taxonomic portfolio from the 'taught' part of the course, signed off by the demonstrator and submitted with the summative component

Ruppert, E.; Fox, R.S. & Barnes, R.D. (2004) Invertebrate Zoology: A Functional Evolutionary
Approach 7th Ed. Brooks Cole, Florence KY

Various taxonomic keys linked to Groups being studied

Laboratory with microscopes suitable for invertebrate identification
Specialist Invertebrate keys of the major taxonomic groups studies
Library
IT equipment
Invertebrate specimens
Sampling equipment
Field course centre

None

Semester 2: 24 hours of contact time comprising:12 x 2 hour laboratory session with known specimens and Keys
Semester 3: 48 hours of contact time comprising a mixture of invertebrate trapping together with field and laboratory identification
228h of Identification skill development on the chosen taxonomic group, assignment preparation and production across the two semesters.