In this module, we will examine the structure and function of the subcellular components of microbial, plant and animal cells, and explore the genetic principles that are central to our understanding of inheritance, organismal diversity and evolution.

This module will provide you with the core skills required to carry out basic scientific procedures and communicate their research in an appropriate scientific format.  The module is based on a series of practical sessions and is designed to develop the skills required for subsequent advanced modules on the course.

This module is designed to provide an understanding of the environmental challenges facing the world’s ecosystems.  The module will examine the human impact on natural habitats, aquatic and terrestrial life and introduce how to balance society’s needs with the sustainability of the environment. 

This module gives students a broad overview of life on earth. It follows the development from the first basic cells through to modern animals and plants. Students will gain an appreciation of the process of evolution through natural selection and the classification of species.

Understanding how individuals, populations and communities interact with each other and their environment is essential for successful management of natural resources and the protection of species, habitats and ecosystems. The module includes fieldtrips to learn key surveying skills for measuring wildlife populations.

This field-based module trains students in techniques used by ecological consultancies to carry out ecological surveys.  We will visit some of the best local wildlife sites and learn how to track and identify British wildlife species. We do amphibian and reptile surveys, small mammal trapping, bat surveys, otter and water vole surveys and others.

This module introduces the theoretical concepts of conservation, and students explore how these shape strategies for managing and conserving biodiversity globally, and in the UK.  Students will visit local conservation areas in the United Kingdom as part of the module.

Scientists need to understand how experimentation, qualitative and quantitative analysis drives science forward via the process of attempted falsification and how this is quantified and presented.  This module prepares students for further study and employment by providing an understanding of research design, inferential statistical analysis of scientific data.

In this module we will study the specialised anatomical features and physiology that allow animals to survive in some of the most challenging environments.  We will explore the relationship between form and function and compare and contrast the anatomy and physiology of a wide range of animal groups. 

Delivered at Colchester Zoo, this module will explore both scientific and management principles that are central to the role that zoos play in conservation biology. Emphasis is placed on current zoo husbandry techniques, modern enclosure design, good management practice, and co-ordination of breeding programmes for endangered species. Throughout the module, you will encounter a wide range of zoo species housed at Colchester Zoo, including primates, carnivores, ungulates, birds, and reptiles.

Mapping and GIS skills are some of the most cited requirements for jobs in the environmental sector. On this module, students will learn transferable GIS skills on widely used open-source GIS mapping software. We will learn globally transferable mapping skills using local habitats and the British classifications as a model. Students will learn the ‘UK Habitats’ classification system in demand at wildlife NGOs and ecological consultancies across the country, and ‘Biodiversity Net Gain’ (BNG) calculations that governments, councils, ecological consultancies and wildlife NGOs require.  In doing so, students will learn how to map, measure and represent habitats and features – skills that are used in a wide range of profession and countries.

This course will introduce students to the diversity, underlying mechanism, development, and functions of a wide range of animal behaviour, for example feeding, anti-predation, mating, parental care, and social interaction. Students will learn how studies on animal behaviour assist biodiversity conservation.

The module will provide an overview of the major contemporary data analysis methodologies available to ecologists and provide students with the opportunity to develop their skills in statistical analysis, geographic information system and data visualisation. Students will develop the basic statistical techniques taught within “ Research Methods and Data Analysis” and use commonly used statistical techniques in ecology, e.g.,GLMs, using a variety of environments (e.g., R, QGIS). The module will focus on using real world examples techniques to introduce students to data analysis in an applied context and introduce the basic principles of programming.

Plants have also been identified as the champion of the impending green revolution aiming to limit climate change by altering the balance of greenhouse gases. This module gives students in the life sciences an understanding of the natural history of plants, the biodiversity, metabolism, cell biology, genetics and morphology.

The aim of this module is to provide the students with an introduction to the biology of microorganisms, highlighting some key properties and applications of selected microbial organisms, particularly bacteria and viruses. Students will learn about the structural, biological and molecular characteristics of major microorganisms, and the significance of microbes for nutrient cycling and health and disease.

In this module we will study the diverse range of life that inhabit aquatic environments and explore the issues involved in the management, conservation and restoration of aquatic resources.  The module will include lectures, laboratory sessions, and short-field visits to a diverse range of local aquatic environments where you will be introduced to a range of field skills relevant to marine and freshwater biology.

Students often regards their dissertation research project as a highlight of their degree. While students exercise their newly developed skills in wildlife, ecology and conservation science, they are closely guided by a leading researcher in their field and can join an active research program. Past students have produced original research on bat populations in the UK, pollinator conservation, mammal distributions in Amazonia, insect evolution in response to climate change, pollution in UK rivers and camera trap research on British farms, to name but a few. The dissertation can turn a student into a genuine expert in their chosen subject.

This module will develop the necessary skills required to maximise students’ success following graduation in the Life Sciences.  In this module students will explore the numerous career paths available for life science graduates. Our graduates regularly report that this module was instrumental in securing them a job.

To understand the impact of human activity on wildlife it is essential to understand how pollutants released into the environment affect individual organisms, populations, communities and entire ecosystems.  Ecotoxicology is a highly interdisciplinary subject and will build upon the environmental science, ecology, animal physiology, molecular and cellular biology and conservation biology studied in previous modules.

Many wildlife species are threatened by anthropogenic activities. This module will introduce various contemporary issues in global wildlife conservation. Through learning these issues, students will have an enhanced understanding of the rationales and challenges in wildlife conservation. Case studies will drawn on the most recent issues and research on invasive species, wildlife trade, overharvesting and sustainable extraction, community-based conservation and conservation technology

This module provides knowledge of the biology, ecology and conservation of fishes, aquatic reptiles, mammals and habitats. Students will learn marine mammal survey methods, and research the management and restoration of aquatic habitats.

This module will introduce students to the popular and competitive field of primate research and conservation. This module will be taught in an intensive 10-day field trip to the Tambopata Research Centre in the Peruvian Amazon. In the mornings students will complete fieldwork on trails around the centre, and in the afternoons, students will receive training in methods and guidance in interpreting their observations. This module is expected to incur an additional cost to the student for flights and accommodation but is likely to be subsidised by Rainforest Expeditions and the University of Suffolk if student numbers are sufficient.

Suffolk has some of the foremost sites for birds in the UK and benefits from a wealth of local expertise. This module takes advantage of the internationally important wetlands and bird reserves in the region, including RSPB Minsmere. Bird ringing will be done under licence with local experts. Ecological consultancies need competent ornithologists for surveys, and this module will set students on the right path to learn these skills.

Insects far surpass all other terrestrial animals in numbers, biomass, and diversity, and are fundamental to the conservation of biodiversity and food security globally. We believe entomology is so essential to an education in ecology and conservation that it is embedded in many of our mandatory modules. This unique specialist module builds on this foundation to provide ecologists with an in depth understanding of insects and entomology, and arms them with genuine specialist skills and employability in the sector.