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Wildlife Exploitation

Module description

‘To exploit’ means to make full use of and derive benefit from a resource. Humankind has exploited both the terrestrial and the marine realms for millennia for food, trade, travel, leisure, and has developed a variety of ways in which to extract resources to meet the growing needs of the global population. Exploitation has had negative environmental consequences and is one of the key drivers of biodiversity loss, affecting the delivery of the goods and services with which we have become accustomed. Students will take a detailed look at particular issues regarding exploitation of resources and their associated impacts, which will put them in a stronger position to make informed arguments regarding the sustainable management of wildlife.   

Module aims - intentions of the module

This module will provide insight into topical issues in the field of wildlife exploitation that will help to position you in the emerging employment sectors of conservation science, sustainable management of wildlife and environmental impact assessment. You will learn from research-led examples delivered by academic staff working at the forefront of science into the effects of human exploitation globally. We will use case studies from both the marine realm (e.g. fisheries and aquaculture) and terrestrial (e.g. farming, birds and insects), as well as ones that span both (e.g. the exploitation of endangered species, hunting and trophies). Additionally, you will be challenged to consider if/ how wildlife can be exploited in a sustainable manner by introducing concepts such as inclusive and participatory decision making; the inclusion of multiple systems of knowledge and the recognition of rights; the equitable distribution of costs and benefits.

You will also develop key professional skills, including communication of ideas, principles and theories using a variety of formats, in a manner appropriate to the intended audience – this will include both the scientific community and importantly, other stakeholders and the public too. In addition, you will develop collaboration, negotiation, planning and project management skills from undertaking group-based formative and assessed project activities.

Intended Learning Outcomes (ILOs)

ILO: Module-specific skills

On successfully completing the module you will be able to...

• 1. Recognise and critically evaluate the impacts humans have on ecosystems through the exploitation of wildlife resources.
• 2. Evaluate aspects of current research that highlight human impact in marine ecosystems with reference to research articles, reviews and textbooks.
• 3. Identify and evaluate newly emerging approaches to manage and mitigate human impacts to wildlife and the environment.
• 4. Communicate complex issues relating to wildlife exploitation.
• 5. Apply critical thinking approaches and to critically evaluate approaches used to quantify human impacts.

ILO: Discipline-specific skills

On successfully completing the module you will be able to...

• 6. Describe in some detail essential facts and theory across a sub-discipline of biosciences.
• 7. Identify critical questions from the literature and synthesise research-informed examples from the literature into written work.
• 8. Identify and implement, with guidance, appropriate methodologies and theories for addressing specific research problems in biosciences.
• 9. With some guidance, deploy established techniques of analysis, practical investigation, and enquiry within biosciences.
• 10. Describe and evaluate approaches to our understanding of biosciences with reference to primary literature, reviews and research articles.

ILO: Personal and key skills

On successfully completing the module you will be able to...

• 11. Develop, with some guidance, a logical and reasoned argument with valid conclusions.
• 12. Communicate ideas, principles and theories fluently using a variety of format means in a manner appropriate to the intended audience, and through working as a team.
• 13. Collect and interpret appropriate data and complete research-like tasks, drawing on a range of sources, with limited guidance.
• 14. Evaluate own strengths and weaknesses in relation to professional and practical skills, and apply own evaluation criteria.
• 15. Reflect effectively on learning experiences and summarise personal achievements.

Syllabus plan

Contact time will be spread between face-to-face lectures, seminars and a practical from the convenor and academics within the CEC, and a day-long field trip. 

Learning activities and teaching methods (given in hours of study time)

Details of learning activities and teaching methods

Formative assessment

Summative assessment (% of credit)

Details of summative assessment

Details of re-assessment (where required by referral or deferral)

Re-assessment notes

Deferral – if you miss an assessment for certificated reasons judged acceptable by the Mitigation Committee, you will normally be either deferred in that assessment or an extension may be granted. The mark given for a re-assessment taken as a result of deferral will not be capped and will be treated as it would be if it were your first attempt.

Referral – if you have failed the module overall (i.e. a final overall module mark of less than 40%) you will be required to complete a further assessment that will count for 100% of the module mark and be capped at the pass mark.

Indicative learning resources - Web based and electronic resources

• ELE

Key words search

Wildlife exploitation, sustainable use, fisheries, hunting