| Code | Faculty |
|---|---|
| 02240700 | Faculty of Natural and Agricultural Sciences |
| Credits | Duration | NQF level |
|---|---|---|
| Minimum duration of study: 1 year | Total credits: 135 | NQF level: 08 |
Renewal of registration
In calculating marks, General Regulation G.12.2 applies.
Apart from the prescribed coursework, a research project is an integral part of the study.
Minimum credits: 135
Module content:
The principles of experimental design as required for the selection of an appropriate research design. Identification of the design limitations and the impact thereof on the research hypotheses and the statistical methods. Identification and application of the appropriate statistical methods needed. Interpreting of statistical results and translating these results to the biological context.
Module content:
Principles of identification, classification and nomenclature; identification of plants; family recognition; collection of plant specimens for identification; herbarium as a source of information. Variation in seed plants and breeding systems. Legal and ethical aspects of plant collection and permit requirements. Specimen preparation, including pressing, sterilisation, mounting, labelling and data capture. Introduction to herbarium databases. Herbarium curation and upkeep, including nomenclatural and taxonomic updates and classification systems, and aspects of pest control and health and safety. Practical work involves an excursion.
Module content:
Research in wildlife management focuses on gaining a better understanding of patterns of animal distribution, abundance, and diversity, and implementation of scientifically sound strategies for sustainable management and conservation of wildlife populations. This module will develop an in-depth understanding of core wildlife management concepts with a focus on population characteristics, the density concept, mortality, natality, life tables, population growth, harvesting quotas, population regulation, population structure, dispersal, dispersion, aggregation, isolation and territoriality, competition and predator-prey relationships. This module will also explore new ideas, and advanced research methods to evaluate ecological data in the context of wildlife ecology.
Module content:
The most important techniques applicable to wildlife management and wildlife research are discussed. The principles, applications and restrictions of the following are discussed amongst others: wildlife counts, age determination, age and sex ratios, translocation of animals, chemical immobilisation, mechanical capture techniques, transport of wildlife, land-use, predator control and predator-prey studies.
Module content:
Ensuring essential prior knowledge of the fundamentals of nutrition through peer-assisted learning strategies. The digestive functioning of selected wild ruminant and non-ruminant herbivores is discussed as well as their nutrient requirements and deficiencies that commonly occur. The spatial scaling of nutrients in vegetation is explained, followed by which foraging strategies large African herbivores of varying body sizes use to adapt to spatial and temporal nutrient heterogeneity, including optimal foraging theory.
Module content:
Parasites, diseases and capture of wild animals. An overview of veterinary aspects with reference to important parasites and diseases of wild animals. The capture of wildlife and the stress-related consequences of the capture of wild animals. The module content includes a discussion of all the different chemicals used to immobilise wild animals, darting, and handling of wild animals under sedation. The internal and external parasites, most important contagious wildlife diseases and the prevention of capture related diseases are discussed.
Module content:
A research protocol, field work and project report based on an ecological or wildlife management topic. This module will introduce aspects of scientific communication, developing skills in communication, writing and public presentation. The module addresses the Life on Land Sustainable Development Goal.
Module content:
Range evaluation and utilisation with the emphasis on aspects important in wildlife production, and integrated wildlife/livestock production systems.
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