BI3RBD2: Planet of the Sauropsids: Reptiles, Birds, and Dinosaurs

Module code: BI3RBD2

Module provider: School of Biological Sciences

Credits: 20

Level: 6

When you’ll be taught: Semester 2

Module convenor: Dr Brian Pickles , email: b.j.pickles@reading.ac.uk

Module co-convenor: Dr Campbell Murn, email: c.p.murn@reading.ac.uk

Pre-requisite module(s):

Co-requisite module(s):

Pre-requisite or Co-requisite module(s):

Module(s) excluded:

Placement information: NA

Academic year: 2025/6

Available to visiting students: No

Talis reading list: No

Last updated: 3 April 2025

Overview

Module aims and purpose

From ancient mythology to the modern disciplines of herpetology, ornithology, and vertebrate palaeontology, sauropsids (reptiles, birds, and dinosaurs) have captured the imagination of people for thousands of years. This module will introduce the fabulous diversity of sauropsids, taking a closer look at their evolutionary origins and innovations, anatomy, behaviour, and conservation. A series of engaging lectures will cover topics such as scales and feathers, beaks and talons, flight, vision, and migration. Practical sessions in the lab and field will provide hands-on experience of ornithology and herpetology, offering the chance to develop research skills and report writing. Students will review recent research papers and present their key findings to develop their science communication and presentation skills with peers in a friendly and supportive environment. The Cole Museum of Zoology collections and the fantastic bird habitats on Whiteknights campus will be used to support teaching on this module.��

Aims: This module will provide an opportunity for focused study of avian and reptilian biology, which will help students to develop an integrated understanding of their evolutionary history, diversity, key adaptations, behaviour, reproduction, and conservation.��

Module learning outcomes

By the end of the module, it is expected that students will be able to:��

1. Describe the evolutionary relationships, key features, and ecological innovations within and between the Sauropsids (reptiles, dinosaurs, birds).��
2. Conduct practical monitoring of birds and reptiles and design experiments that can be used to gather conservation evidence and produce relevant reports.��
3. Understand the diversity of reptiles, dinosaurs and birds and how it relates to their past and present distributions.��
4. Critically discuss and present key findings from recent primary research on Sauropsids.��

Module content

Students will work on and experience a wide cross-section of topics related to sauropsid biology, ranging from palaeontology to modern conservation. The module has an emphasis on the use of existing research and fieldwork methods combined with modern investigative tools to address complex questions on the evolution, morphology, behaviour and ecology of birds, reptiles and dinosaurs.����

Structure

Teaching and learning methods

The learning outcomes will be met through a mixture of lectures, seminars, field trips, field work, practical classes, small group presentations of recent literature, self-directed learning, and directed independent study. Appropriate supplementary information and reading lists will be provided on Blackboard.����

Study hours

At least 68 hours of scheduled teaching and learning activities will be delivered in person, with the remaining hours for scheduled and self-scheduled teaching and learning activities delivered either in person or online. You will receive further details about how these hours will be delivered before the start of the module.

Please note the independent study hours above are notional numbers of hours; each student will approach studying in different ways. We would advise you to reflect on your learning and the number of hours you are allocating to these tasks.

Semester 1 The hours in this column may include hours during the Christmas holiday period.

Semester 2 The hours in this column may include hours during the Easter holiday period.

Summer The hours in this column will take place during the summer holidays and may be at the start and/or end of the module.

Assessment

Requirements for a pass

Students need to achieve an overall module mark of 40% to pass this module.

Summative assessment

Penalties for late submission of summative assessment

The Support Centres will apply the following penalties for work submitted late:

Assessments with numerical marks

• where the piece of work is submitted after the original deadline (or any formally agreed extension to the deadline): 10% of the total marks available for that piece of work will be deducted from the mark for each working day (or part thereof) following the deadline up to a total of three working days;
• the mark awarded due to the imposition of the penalty shall not fall below the threshold pass mark, namely 40% in the case of modules at Levels 4-6 (i.e. undergraduate modules for Parts 1-3) and 50% in the case of Level 7 modules offered as part of an Integrated Masters or taught postgraduate degree programme;
• where the piece of work is awarded a mark below the threshold pass mark prior to any penalty being imposed, and is submitted up to three working days after the original deadline (or any formally agreed extension to the deadline), no penalty shall be imposed;
• where the piece of work is submitted more than three working days after the original deadline (or any formally agreed extension to the deadline): a mark of zero will be recorded.

Assessments marked Pass/Fail

• where the piece of work is submitted within three working days of the deadline (or any formally agreed extension of the deadline): no penalty will be applied;
• where the piece of work is submitted more than three working days after the original deadline (or any formally agreed extension of the deadline): a grade of Fail will be awarded.

The University policy statement on penalties for late submission can be found at: /cqsd/-/media/project/functions/cqsd/documents/qap/penaltiesforlatesubmission.pdf

You are strongly advised to ensure that coursework is submitted by the relevant deadline. You should note that it is advisable to submit work in an unfinished state rather than to fail to submit any work.

Formative assessment

Formative assessment is any task or activity which creates feedback (or feedforward) for you about your learning, but which does not contribute towards your overall module mark.

Students will have the opportunity to give a 5-minute powerpoint presentation on a recent research paper to their peers with short Q&A.��

Reassessment

Additional costs