ENV BIOL 3010 - Marine Ecology III

North Terrace Campus - Semester 2 - 2015

This course will provide an understanding of the patterns of abundance and diversity of marine plants and animals and the processes that structure these patterns. Emphasis is placed on the challenges and solutions to understanding the complexity of marine systems. This course will demonstrate the use of coherent logical procedures and rigorous experimental design to provide practical evidence for the development of theory and solutions to environmental and conservation problems in coastal habitats. The habitats and organisms used to illustrate lectures are derived from ecological studies of subtidal rocky and coral reefs, intertidal rocky reefs, mangrove forests, salt marshes, seagrass meadows, urban structures and pelagic habitats. Details of field trip communicated at start of the course.

  • General Course Information
    Course Details
    Course Code ENV BIOL 3010
    Course Marine Ecology III
    Coordinating Unit School of Biological Sciences
    Term Semester 2
    Level Undergraduate
    Location/s North Terrace Campus
    Units 3
    Contact Up to 6 hours per week, plus field trip
    Available for Study Abroad and Exchange Y
    Assumed Knowledge 6 units of Level II Environmental Biology courses or equivalent & ENV BIOL 3006
    Course Description This course will provide an understanding of the patterns of abundance and diversity of marine plants and animals and the processes that structure these patterns. Emphasis is placed on the challenges and solutions to understanding the complexity of marine systems. This course will demonstrate the use of coherent logical procedures and rigorous experimental design to provide practical evidence for the development of theory and solutions to environmental and conservation problems in coastal habitats. The habitats and organisms used to illustrate lectures are derived from ecological studies of subtidal rocky and coral reefs, intertidal rocky reefs, mangrove forests, salt marshes, seagrass meadows, urban structures and pelagic habitats.
    Details of field trip communicated at start of the course.
    Course Staff

    Course Coordinator: Professor Sean Connell

    Course Timetable

    The full timetable of all activities for this course can be accessed from Course Planner.

  • Learning Outcomes
    Course Learning Outcomes
    A successful student should be able to:

    1 Demonstrate an understanding of logical observations, models and hypotheses that shape research questions and the range of different approaches used to answer them
    2 Demonstrate knowledge of a range of marine organisms, from microbes to plants to animals, and the techniques used to sample them
    3 Understand the use of different sampling techniques and apply them in field-based experiments
    4 Develop rigorous sampling designs, plan and successfully complete a research project
    5 Apply basic statistical techniques to real data and correctly interpret the outcome
    6 Develop team-based skills in scientific research, including management of projects through communication with peers
    7 Demonstrate scientific communication skills in both written and oral form, including the conventions in technical writing, the structure of scientific papers and graphical methods for presenting data


    University Graduate Attributes

    This course will provide students with an opportunity to develop the Graduate Attribute(s) specified below:

    University Graduate Attribute Course Learning Outcome(s)
    Knowledge and understanding of the content and techniques of a chosen discipline at advanced levels that are internationally recognised. 1-5
    The ability to locate, analyse, evaluate and synthesise information from a wide variety of sources in a planned and timely manner. 2-4, 7
    An ability to apply effective, creative and innovative solutions, both independently and cooperatively, to current and future problems. 3-7
    Skills of a high order in interpersonal understanding, teamwork and communication. 3-7
    A proficiency in the appropriate use of contemporary technologies. 1-5, 7
    A commitment to continuous learning and the capacity to maintain intellectual curiosity throughout life. 1, 3, 6-7
    A commitment to the highest standards of professional endeavour and the ability to take a leadership role in the community. 1, 4, 6-7
    An awareness of ethical, social and cultural issues within a global context and their importance in the exercise of professional skills and responsibilities. 1, 2, 6-7
  • Learning Resources
    Recommended Resources
    The recommended text assigned to this course is:

    Connell SD & Gillanders BM 2007. Marine Ecology. Oxford University Press, 630p. ISBN: 9780195553024
  • Learning & Teaching Activities
    Learning & Teaching Modes
    This course will be delivered by the following means:

    Teaching is primarily done through a combination of lectures (1 x 2 hours per week during semester) and a mid-semester break field trip (4 days).
    Workload

    The information below is provided as a guide to assist students in engaging appropriately with the course requirements.

    A student enrolled in a 3 unit course, such as this, should expect to spend, on average 12 hours per week on the studies required. This
    includes both the formal contact time required to the course (e.g., lectures and practicals), as well as non-contact time (e.g., reading and
    revision).
    Learning Activities Summary

    No information currently available.

  • Assessment

    The University's policy on Assessment for Coursework Programs is based on the following four principles:

    1. Assessment must encourage and reinforce learning.
    2. Assessment must enable robust and fair judgements about student performance.
    3. Assessment practices must be fair and equitable to students and give them the opportunity to demonstrate what they have learned.
    4. Assessment must maintain academic standards.

    Assessment Summary

    Assessment task

    Type of assessment

    Percentage of total assessment

     

    Hurdle

     

    Learning Outcomes being assessed / achieved

    Approximate Timing of Assessment

    Take home exam

    Formative & Summative

    20 %

    No

    1-2, 7

    Week 5

    Field trip report

    Formative & Summative

    30 %

    No

    1-7

    Week 12

    Exam

    Summative

    50 %

    No

    1-2, 7

    End of semester exam period

    Assessment Detail
    1. Take home exam

    The take home exam will be set in week 5 of semester. The questions will be posted to MyUni on the Friday afternoon and will be due at 9:00am on the following Monday. The exam will take the form of several questions that require answers in the form of essays and will require reference to the scientific literature. It is expected that students will draw on lecture material and other sources of information for answers. Essays will be submitted through TurnItIn software.
     
    2. Field Trip Report

    Students will be required to submit a report on scientific activities on the compulsory mid-semester field camp. This report will be due in week 12 of the semester and take the form of a scientific paper and will have strict guidelines that will be announced in class and posted on MyUni. The report will be written in the same groups that complete the research project on the camp. All students within the group will receive the same mark for the report. Students who do not attend the field trip will be required to write an essay that requires comparable intellectual and temporal investment as expended by students on the trip. Details about the essay guidelines will be provided in class.

    3. Exam

    A 3-hour end-of-semester exam is scheduled for Marine Ecology
    Submission
    Late Submission
    If an extension is not applied for, or not granted then a penalty for late submission will apply. A penalty of 10% of the value of the assignment for each calendar day that the assignment is late (i.e. weekends count as 2 days), up to a maximum of 50% of the available marks will be applied. This means that an assignment that is 5 days late or more without an approved extension can only receive a maximum of 50% of the marks available for that assignment.
    Course Grading

    Grades for your performance in this course will be awarded in accordance with the following scheme:

    M10 (Coursework Mark Scheme)
    Grade Mark Description
    FNS   Fail No Submission
    F 1-49 Fail
    P 50-64 Pass
    C 65-74 Credit
    D 75-84 Distinction
    HD 85-100 High Distinction
    CN   Continuing
    NFE   No Formal Examination
    RP   Result Pending

    Further details of the grades/results can be obtained from Examinations.

    Grade Descriptors are available which provide a general guide to the standard of work that is expected at each grade level. More information at Assessment for Coursework Programs.

    Final results for this course will be made available through Access Adelaide.

  • Student Feedback

    The University places a high priority on approaches to learning and teaching that enhance the student experience. Feedback is sought from students in a variety of ways including on-going engagement with staff, the use of online discussion boards and the use of Student Experience of Learning and Teaching (SELT) surveys as well as GOS surveys and Program reviews.

    SELTs are an important source of information to inform individual teaching practice, decisions about teaching duties, and course and program curriculum design. They enable the University to assess how effectively its learning environments and teaching practices facilitate student engagement and learning outcomes. Under the current SELT Policy (http://www.adelaide.edu.au/policies/101/) course SELTs are mandated and must be conducted at the conclusion of each term/semester/trimester for every course offering. Feedback on issues raised through course SELT surveys is made available to enrolled students through various resources (e.g. MyUni). In addition aggregated course SELT data is available.

  • Student Support
  • Policies & Guidelines
  • Fraud Awareness

    Students are reminded that in order to maintain the academic integrity of all programs and courses, the university has a zero-tolerance approach to students offering money or significant value goods or services to any staff member who is involved in their teaching or assessment. Students offering lecturers or tutors or professional staff anything more than a small token of appreciation is totally unacceptable, in any circumstances. Staff members are obliged to report all such incidents to their supervisor/manager, who will refer them for action under the university's student’s disciplinary procedures.

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