Course outline
Code: ANM104
Title: Marine Vertebrates: Sharks, Seabirds, Fish, Turtles and
Whales
Faculty of: Science, Health, Education and Engineering
Teaching Session: Semester 2
Year: 2016
Course Coordinator: TBA
Course Moderator: Associate Professor David Schoeman Email: [email protected]
1.
What is this course about?
1.1
Course description
The marine vertebrates include all bony fish, sharks, reptiles (turtles, sea snakes and crocodiles), birds
(seabirds, shorebirds, raptors, penguins) and mammals (seals, dolphins, whales and dugong) that live in, or
on, the ocean. These charismatic animals are of immense public interest and provide focal points for
conservation, fisheries and scientific research. This exciting course will introduce you to the identification,
evolution, biology and ecology of marine vertebrates, with emphasis on the species of eastern Australia.
Your studies will include several days of hands-on field research.
1.2
Course content
In this course you will:
1. Learn to identify the major groups of marine vertebrates (fish, reptiles, birds and mammals);
2. Discover the origins and evolutionary history of the major groups of marine vertebrates;
3. Appreciate the unique adaptations (i.e., body morphology, behaviour, physiology) of marine
vertebrates to their environments;
4. Understand global and local threats to marine vertebrates and key issues for their conservation and
management;
5. Apply modern techniques for studying marine vertebrates in the wild in a hands-on fashion; and
6. Learn field skills that will help you to answer fundamental questions about marine vertebrate ecology.
2.
Unit value
12 Units
Version: Semester 2 2016
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Course Outline: ANM104 Marine Vertebrates: Sharks, Seabirds, Fish, Turtles and Whales
3.
How does this course contribute to my learning?
On successful completion of this
course you should be able to:
You will be assessed on the
learning outcome in task/s:
Communicate
effectively and professionally
Task 1 – Fact sheet / video
Task 2 – Field Course Report
Task 3 – Exam
Task 2 – Field Course Report
Task 3 – Exam
Demonstrate and apply knowledge
about the evolution, diversity and
ecology of marine vertebrates and key
issues for their conservation and
management.
Critically analyse and evaluate:
Task 1 – Fact sheet / video
a) local and global threats to marine
Task 2 – Field Course Report
fish, reptiles, birds and mammals, and
b) field data to investigate basic
ecology of marine vertebrates.
4.
Completing these tasks
successfully will contribute to
you becoming:
Empowered
Knowledgeable
Sustainability focused
Am I eligible to enrol in this course?
Refer to the Undergraduate Coursework Programs and Awards - Academic Policy for definitions of “pre-requisites,
co-requisites and anti-requisites”
4.1
Enrolment restrictions
The course is restricted to students enrolled in SC320 Bachelor of Animal Ecology or ED112 Diploma in
Outdoor Environmental Studies
4.2
Pre-requisites
Nil
4.3
Co-requisites
Nil
4.4
Anti-requisites
Nil
4.5
Specific assumed prior knowledge and skills (optional)
Nil
5.
How am I going to be assessed?
5.1
Grading scale
Standard – High Distinction (HD), Distinction (DN), Credit (CR), Pass (PS), Fail (FL)
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Course Outline: ANM104 Marine Vertebrates: Sharks, Seabirds, Fish, Turtles and Whales
5.2
Assessment tasks
Task
No.
Assessment Tasks
Individual
or Group
Weighting
%
1
Fact Sheet / Video
Individual
20
2
Field Course Report
Individual
40
3
End-of-semester
Examination
Individual
40
What is the
duration /
length?
Max 1000 ±
10% words
When
should I
submit?
Week 4
Max 2000 ±
10% words
2 hr ( 1000
words)
Week 11
Centrally
scheduled
exam period
Where should I submit
it?
Fact Sheets via Safe
assign – Blackboard;
videos submitted via
Blackboard as a
Skydrive link
Safe assign Blackboard
Examination venue
Assessment Task 1 – Fact Sheet/video, 20%
Goal:
Demonstrate your ability to summarize, synthesize, and communicate aspects of the ecology,
biology and diversity of marine vertebrates.
Product: A fact sheet/video.
Format:
You will individually produce a concise written summary, or short video, about a particular
group of marine vertebrates (i.e., fish, reptiles, birds, or mammals), suitable for rapid
information sharing with and education of diverse audiences.
Criteria
You will be assessed on your ability to:
1. Undertake literature-based research;
2. Analyse and understand scientific concepts, including those relating to the conservation
status of your selected animal; and
3. Communicate this understanding to a diverse audience.
Generic skill assessed
Skill assessment level
Communication
Introductory
Collaboration
Introductory
Information Literacy
Introductory
Assessment Task 2 – Field Course Report, 40%
Goal:
Demonstrate knowledge and basic analytical skills in the scientific investigation of marine
vertebrates and of key issues for their conservation and management.
Product: A report based on information obtained during the field course.
Format:
You will compile a short (max. 2000 ± 10% words) report using the template provided (which
follows the format of a standard scientific paper) to test ecological hypotheses by analyzing
data collected during the field course.
Criteria
You will be assessed on your ability to:
1. Collect and analyse data to answer a scientific question pertaining to the ecology and
conservation of marine vertebrates;
2. Interpret and contextualise findings in the light of available scientific literature regarding
the biology of the selected animal, the threats it faces, and the tools available for its
conservation; and
3. Communicate your understanding in a professional and scientific manner.
Generic skill assessed
Skill assessment level
Communication
Introductory
Problem solving
Introductory
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Information Literacy
Introductory
Assessment Task 3 – End-of-semester Examination, 40%
Goal:
Demonstrate your understanding of and ability to communicate knowledge regarding marine
vertebrates.
Product: A written invigilated examination.
Format:
A two (2) hour written examination, comprising short-answer questions. The questions will be
based mainly on the material covered in the theory component of the course (i.e., lectures),
supplemented with material presented during the field exercises.
Criteria
You will be assessed on your ability to:
1. Demonstrate and communicate knowledge of the diversity and ecology of marine
vertebrates; and
2. Apply knowledge from lectures and readings to solve unseen problems.
Generic skill assessed
Skill assessment level
Communication
Introductory
Problem solving
Introductory
5.3
Additional assessment requirements
Blackboard
All students enrolled in this course will have access to course information on the Blackboard site. Students
are strongly recommended to log onto the course site on a regular basis. All course announcements, course
changes, posting of course materials and grades (via My Interim Results) will be accessed through
Blackboard. It is the student’s responsibility to ensure they have adequate internet access (either off
campus or on-campus) in order to access Blackboard regularly and to complete required assessment tasks.
Safe Assign
In order to minimise incidents of plagiarism and collusion, this course may require that some of its
assessment tasks are submitted electronically via Safe Assign. This software allows for text comparisons to
be made between the students submitted assessment item and all other work that Safe Assign has access
to. If required, details of how to submit via Safe Assign will be provided on the Blackboard site of the
course.
Eligibility for Supplementary Assessment
A student’s eligibility for supplementary assessment in a course is dependent of the following conditions
applying:
a)
The final mark is in the percentage range 47% to 49.4%
b)
The course is graded using the Standard Grading scale
c)
The student has not failed an assessment task in the course due to academic misconduct.
5.4
Submission penalties
Late submission of assessment tasks will be penalised at the following maximum rate:
 5% (of the assessment task’s identified value) per day for the first two days from the date identified
as the due date for the assessment task.
 10% (of the assessment task’s identified value) for the third day
 20% (of the assessment task’s identified value) for the fourth day and subsequent days up to and
including seven days from the date identified as the due date for the assessment task.
 A result of zero is awarded for an assessment task submitted after seven days from the date
identified as the due date for the assessment task.
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Course Outline: ANM104 Marine Vertebrates: Sharks, Seabirds, Fish, Turtles and Whales
Weekdays and weekends are included in the calculation of days late.
To request an extension you must contact your course coordinator to negotiate an outcome.
6. How is the course offered?
6.1
Directed study hours
2-hr Lecture (Weeks 1-11)
2-hr Workshop (Week 9)
3-day Intensive field course (Week 8)
6.2
Teaching semester/session(s) offered
Semester 2 each year
6.3
Course activities
Teach
Week
1
What key concepts / content
will I learn?
Lecture: Identification and
evolution of marine fish,
reptiles, birds and mammals
2
Lecture: Diversity and
adaptations in marine fish,
reptiles, birds and mammals
3
Lecture: Fish and sharks 1
4
Lecture: Fish and sharks 2
5
Lecture: Seabirds, shorebirds
& raptors 1
6
Lecture: Seabirds, shorebirds
& raptors 2
7
Lecture: Human interactions –
fisheries and conservation
Version Semester 2 2015
Directed study activities
Lecture to introduce and critically
examine key concepts,
theoretical underpinnings, and
practical applications.
Lectures to introduce and
critically examine key concepts,
theoretical underpinnings, and
practical applications.
Lectures to introduce and
critically examine key concepts,
theoretical underpinnings, and
practical applications.
Lectures to introduce and
critically examine key concepts,
theoretical underpinnings, and
practical applications.
Lectures to introduce and
critically examine key concepts,
theoretical underpinnings, and
practical applications.
Lectures to introduce and
critically examine key concepts,
theoretical underpinnings, and
practical applications.
Lectures to introduce and
critically examine key concepts,
theoretical underpinnings, and
practical applications.
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Independent study
activities
Readings posted on
Blackboard. Prepare Fact
Sheet for submission
(Task 1).
Readings posted on
Blackboard. Prepare Fact
Sheet for submission
(Task 1).
Readings posted on
Blackboard. Prepare Fact
Sheet for submission
(Task 1).
Readings posted on
Blackboard. Prepare and
submit Fact Sheet (Task
1).
Readings posted on
Blackboard. Prepare for
Final Exam (Task 3).
Readings posted on
Blackboard. Prepare for
Final Exam (Task 3).
Readings posted on
Blackboard. Prepare for
Final Exam (Task 3).
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Course Outline: ANM104 Marine Vertebrates: Sharks, Seabirds, Fish, Turtles and Whales
8
3-day
Field
course
9
Lecture: Turtles, snakes &
crocodiles 1
Field course: Marine
vertebrates in the coastal zone
(3 days Saturday – Monday)
Lecture: Turtles, snakes &
crocodiles 2
Workshop: How to analyse
and interpret field data
10
Lecture: Whales, dolphins &
seals 1
11
Lecture: Whales, dolphins &
seals 2
12
13
Field Course Report
Independent study for Final
Exam (Task 3)
Independent study for Final
Exam (Task 3)
Lectures to introduce and
critically examine key concepts,
theoretical underpinnings, and
practical applications.
Supervised field training in animal
ecology research techniques in
marine and coastal habitats.
Develop field skills and
collect data. Prepare Field
Course Report (Task 2).
Lectures to introduce and
critically examine key concepts,
theoretical underpinnings, and
practical applications.
Tutorial to provide practical skills
required for Task 2.
Lectures to introduce and
critically examine key concepts,
theoretical underpinnings, and
practical applications.
Lectures to introduce and
critically examine key concepts,
theoretical underpinnings, and
practical applications.
Readings posted on
Blackboard. Prepare Field
Course Report (Task 2).
Readings posted on
Blackboard. Prepare Field
Course Report (Task 2).
Readings posted on
Blackboard. Prepare and
submit Field Course
Report (Task 2).
Independent study for
Final Exam (Task 3).
Independent study for
Final Exam (Task 3).
Please note that the course activities may be subject to variation.
7. What resources do I need to undertake this course?
7.1
N/A
Prescribed text(s)
7.2
Required and recommended readings
Lists of required and recommended readings may be found for this course on its Blackboard site. These
materials/readings will assist you in preparing for tutorials and assignments, and will provide further
information regarding particular aspects of your course.
7.3
Specific requirements
You will be required to undertake field studies during this course. When conducting fieldwork you will need
to wear covered footwear, hat, long-sleeved shirt and long trousers for field safety. Accommodation and
travel costs will be covered. Details of management and costs for food will be set out at the beginning of
the semester. Discuss any financial hardship that might be associated with the field studies with the Course
Coordinator.
7.4
Risk management
Risks will be managed in accordance will the relevant risk management policies and procedures, including
those that apply to work/ activities in science laboratories and in the field. It is the responsibility of all
students to follow all policies/procedures.
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Course Outline: ANM104 Marine Vertebrates: Sharks, Seabirds, Fish, Turtles and Whales
8.
How can I obtain help with my studies?
In the first instance you should contact your tutor, then the Course Coordinator. Additional assistance to all
students through Peer Advisors and Academic Skills Advisors. You can drop in or book an appointment. To
book: Tel: +61 7 5430 2890 or Email: student [email protected]
9.
Links to relevant University policies and procedures
For more information on Academic Learning & Teaching categories including:
 Assessment: Courses and Coursework Programs
 Review of Assessment and Final Grades
 Supplementary Assessment
 Administration of Central Examinations
 Deferred Examinations
 Student Academic Misconduct
 Students with a Disability
http://www.usc.edu.au/university/governance-and-executive/policies-and-procedures#academic-learningand-teaching
10. Faculty specific information
In person:
 Sippy Downs - Student Central, Ground Floor, Building C
 USC SouthBank - Student Central, Building B, Ground floor (level 1)
 USC Gympie - Student Central, 71 Cartwright Road, Gympie
 USC Fraser Coast - Student Central, Building A
Tel: +61 7 5430 2890
Email: [email protected]
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