Course Coordinator:Christofer Clemente (cclement@usc.edu.au) School:School of Science, Technology and Engineering
UniSC Sunshine CoastUniSC Moreton Bay |
Blended learning | Most of your course is on campus but you may be able to do some components of this course online. |
Please go to unisc.edu.au for up to date information on the
teaching sessions and campuses where this course is usually offered.
In this course, you will explore animal ecophysiology and its modern applications in theory, in the laboratory, and in the field. Emphasis will be on: the strategies that animals have evolved to meet the physiological challenges associated with the environments they inhabit; how this helps scientists to understand the distribution of animals across land and seascapes; and how this in turn aids thinking on conservation and management of animal populations in the face of escalating anthropogenic impacts.
| Activity | Hours | Beginning Week | Frequency |
| Blended learning | |||
| Tutorial/Workshop 1 – Tutorials will be conducted physically on campus | 2hrs | Week 1 | 12 times |
| Laboratory 1 – Laboratories will be delivered on campus, and a PC1 wet lab. | 2hrs | Week 2 | 6 times |
| Information session – Online session to be delivered in odd weeks, live via zoom. | 1hr | Week 1 | 6 times |
| Learning materials – Asynchronous learning material | 1hr | Week 1 | 12 times |
Homeostasis: water and ion regulation
Kidneys and excretion: adaptations to dry environments
Scaling: Getting big
Metabolism: effects of size and habitat
Temperature regulation: Adaptations to cold and hot climates
Breathing, circulation and Gas exchange
Eating and digestion
Sensory systems
Muscle and speed
Gait and climbing
Swimming and flying
Evolution of Sex
200 Level (Developing)
12 units
| Course Learning Outcomes On successful completion of this course, you should be able to... | Graduate Qualities Completing these tasks successfully will contribute to you becoming... | |
| 1 | Demonstrate and apply knowledge in animal ecophysiology |
Knowledgeable Creative and critical thinker |
| 2 | Design, implement and record the results of, experiments in animal ecophysiology and critically analyse the results. |
Creative and critical thinker Empowered |
| 3 | Research, organise, scientifically communicate and present information about animal physiology in a creative and informative way. |
Creative and critical thinker Empowered |
Refer to the UniSC Glossary of terms for definitions of “pre-requisites, co-requisites and anti-requisites”.
ANM103 and enrolled in Program SB303, SC320
Not applicable
Not applicable
Basic computer skills and ability to download files, and navigate a desktop environment. Knowledge of excel.
Not applicable
Standard Grading (GRD)
| High Distinction (HD), Distinction (DN), Credit (CR), Pass (PS), Fail (FL). |
In week 5 you will be given an online quiz with multiple choice questions based upon course content, which reflect the style and detail required for the end of trimester exam. These questions are non-weighted and are there to provide early feedback on the course
| Delivery mode | Task No. | Assessment Product | Individual or Group | Weighting % | What is the duration / length? | When should I submit? | Where should I submit it? |
| All | 1 | Practical / Laboratory Skills | Individual | 30% | 6 x 300-400 words |
Throughout teaching period (refer to Format) | In Class |
| All | 2 | Quiz/zes | Individual | 0% | 20 minutes |
Week 5 | Online Submission |
| All | 3 | Essay | Individual | 30% | 2000 words |
Week 12 | Online Assignment Submission with plagiarism check |
| All | 4 | Examination - Centrally Scheduled | Individual | 40% | 2 hr ~ 1000 words |
Exam Period | Online Submission |
| All - Assessment Task 1:Laboratory-activity worksheets | |||||||
| Goal: | This task is designed to develop your critical analysis skills in animal ecophysiology. You will design, implement and record the results of experiments in animal ecophysiology |
||||||
| Product: | Practical / Laboratory Skills | ||||||
| Authorship Statement: | |||||||
| Format: | You will individually complete six laboratory-activity worksheets during scheduled laboratory classes. Worksheets could include written responses to questions, scientific drawings, calculations, graphing and interpretation of experimental results. Submission between weeks 2 and 12. |
||||||
| Criteria: |
|
||||||
| Generic Skills: | |||||||
| All - Assessment Task 2:Online Quizz | |||||||
| Goal: | This online quiz will allow you to practice and demonstrate your understanding of animal ecophysiology Course topics and concepts up to and including week 5. This quiz is important as it will give you feedback and will indicate the types of questions you will encounter on the final exam. |
||||||
| Product: | Quiz/zes | ||||||
| Authorship Statement: | |||||||
| Format: | Individual students will complete a non-weighted online multiple choice quiz by the due date |
||||||
| Criteria: |
|
||||||
| Generic Skills: | |||||||
| All - Assessment Task 3:Animal ecophysiology essay | |||||||
| Goal: | This task requires you to pull all of your ecophysiology knowledge together to assess a mythical creature. You will be required to estimate the morphology and physiology of any mythical creature you choose. You will discuss 3 key features of this creature which may or may not be biologically possible using your knowledge of animal ecophysiology. |
||||||
| Product: | Essay | ||||||
| Authorship Statement: | |||||||
| Format: | You will consider several aspects of the ecophysiology of your creature. This will involve an essay-style discussion on a subset of 3 systems, from the skeletal, musculature, sensory, nervous, circulatory, digestive and reproductive systems. This will be accompanied by a figure illustrating your creature |
||||||
| Criteria: |
|
||||||
| Generic Skills: | Communication, Problem solving, Information literacy |
||||||
| All - Assessment Task 4:End of trimester examination | |||||||
| Goal: | This exam will will allow you to demonstrate your understanding of animal ecophysiology course topics and concepts. |
||||||
| Product: | Examination - Centrally Scheduled | ||||||
| Authorship Statement: | |||||||
| Format: | The final exam is a comprehensive, two (2) hour final examination, consisting of multiple choice and short answer style questions. The examination is closed book. Formative fortnightly multiple choice style quizzes will be available on Canvas to help you to gauge your progress with your learning in the course and familiarise yourself with the level of expectation of content knowledge. |
||||||
| Criteria: |
|
||||||
| Generic Skills: | Communication, Organisation, Information literacy |
||||||
A 12-unit course will have total of 150 learning hours which will include directed study hours (including online if required), self-directed learning and completion of assessable tasks. Student workload is calculated at 12.5 learning hours per one unit.
Please note: Course information, including specific information of recommended readings, learning activities, resources, weekly readings, etc. are available on the course Canvas site– Please log in as soon as possible.
Students are required to bring their own hat and suitable covered clothing and footwear on field outings. Laboratory coats and covered footwear are required for laboratory access.
Academic integrity is the ethical standard of university participation. It ensures that students graduate as a result of proving they are competent in their discipline. This is integral in maintaining the value of academic qualifications. Each industry has expectations and standards of the skills and knowledge within that discipline and these are reflected in assessment.
Academic integrity means that you do not engage in any activity that is considered to be academic fraud; including plagiarism, collusion or outsourcing any part of any assessment item to any other person. You are expected to be honest and ethical by completing all work yourself and indicating in your work which ideas and information were developed by you and which were taken from others. You cannot provide your assessment work to others. You are also expected to provide evidence of wide and critical reading, usually by using appropriate academic references.
In order to minimise incidents of academic fraud, this course may require that some of its assessment tasks, when submitted to Canvas, are electronically checked through Turnitin. This software allows for text comparisons to be made between your submitted assessment item and all other work to which Turnitin has access.
Eligibility for Supplementary Assessment
Your 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%; and
(b) The course is graded using the Standard Grading scale
Eligibility for Supplementary Assessment Your eligibility for supplementary assessment in a course is dependent of the following conditions applying: The final mark is in the percentage range 47% to 49.4% The course is graded using the Standard Grading scale You have not failed an assessment task in the course due to academic misconduct
Late submissions may be penalised up to and including the following maximum percentage of the assessment task’s identified value, with weekdays and weekends included in the calculation of days late:
(a) One day: deduct 5%;
(b) Two days: deduct 10%;
(c) Three days: deduct 20%;
(d) Four days: deduct 40%;
(e) Five days: deduct 60%;
(f) Six days: deduct 80%;
(g) Seven days: A result of zero is awarded for the assessment task.
The following penalties will apply for a late submission for an online examination:
Less than 15 minutes: No penalty
From 15 minutes to 30 minutes: 20% penalty
More than 30 minutes: 100% penalty
For more information on Academic Learning & Teaching categories including:
For more information, visit https://www.usc.edu.au/explore/policies-and-procedures#academic-learning-and-teaching
UniSC is committed to excellence in teaching, research and engagement in an environment that is inclusive, inspiring, safe and respectful. The Student Charter sets out what students can expect from the University, and what in turn is expected of students, to achieve these outcomes.
For course-specific questions, contact your teaching staff or Course Coordinator.
For other enquiries or to access support, please contact Student Central: