Course Coordinator:Dominique Potvin (dpotvin@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.
This course introduces you to the diversity, ecology and evolution of the terrestrial vertebrates through the disciplines of herpetology, ornithology and mammalogy. You will develop an appreciation of the scope and relevance of these disciplines via learning materials and laboratory classes. You will participate in a local field project where you will apply theoretical knowledge and develop practical skills in ethical wildlife research.
| Activity | Hours | Beginning Week | Frequency |
| Blended learning | |||
| Learning materials – Throughout trimester | 2hrs | Week 1 | 10 times |
| Tutorial/Workshop 1 – Recapping information and consolidation | 1hr | Week 1 | 12 times |
| Tutorial/Workshop 2 – On campus | 2hrs | Week 6 | 3 times |
| Fieldwork – Outdoor vertebrate surveys and censuses | 4hrs | Week 8 | Once Only |
| Laboratory 1 – Wet lab | 2hrs | Week 2 | 4 times |
| Herpetology |
| Ornithology |
| Mammalogy |
| Counting wildlife: Mark-Recapture and Distance sampling |
| Terrestrial habitats |
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Evolution and biogeography Conservation |
| Vertebrate population ecology |
| Vertebrate community ecology |
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 | Apply and demonstrate knowledge of diversity, ecology and evolution of wildlife in various contexts. Building disciplinary and interdisciplinary knowledge through a scholarly approach incorporating global and regional perspectives (Professional Standards mapping) | Knowledgeable |
| 2 | Conduct scientific research using field and ecology data analysis skills - having both the capacity and confidence to pursue the attainment of full potential (Professional Standards mapping) | Empowered |
| 3 | Communicate in the style of a formal scientific poster - having both the capacity and confidence to pursue the attainment of full potential (Professional Standards mapping) | Engaged |
| 4 | Identify and apply ethical principles to wildlife research - acting with integrity in intellectual, professional and community pursuits (Professional Standards mapping) | Ethical |
Refer to the UniSC Glossary of terms for definitions of “pre-requisites, co-requisites and anti-requisites”.
SCI102
Not applicable
Not applicable
Not applicable
Not applicable
Standard Grading (GRD)
| High Distinction (HD), Distinction (DN), Credit (CR), Pass (PS), Fail (FL). |
Kahoot quizzes in each tutorial/workshop will help gauge learning of concepts to date. These are ungraded.
| 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 | 35% | 1 hour |
Refer to Format | In Class |
| All | 2 | Written Piece | Group | 30% | A3 scientific poster |
Refer to Format | Online Assignment Submission with plagiarism check |
| All | 3 | Oral | Individual | 35% | Up to 30 minutes |
Exam Period | In Class |
| All - Assessment Task 1:Practical exam | |||||||
| Goal: | Demonstrate an understanding of the relationships between animal form and ecology and to correctly identify animal groups. |
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| Product: | Practical / Laboratory Skills | ||||||
| Authorship Statement: | |||||||
| Format: | Individual; short answer practical exam based on the labs in weeks 1-3 |
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| Criteria: |
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| Generic Skills: | Problem solving, Applying technologies, Information literacy |
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| All - Assessment Task 2:Scientific poster - field project | |||||||||||||
| Goal: | Produce a scientific poster outlining the methods, results and implications of field work. |
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| Product: | Written Piece | ||||||||||||
| Authorship Statement: | |||||||||||||
| Format: | Group assessment; scientific poster which outlines the methods, results and implications of data gained during the class field trip. Layout follows the conventional scientific convention; Introduction, Methods, Results and Discussion; Appropriate use of images and text; appropriate analysis of ecological data collected during field surveys. |
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| Criteria: |
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| Generic Skills: | Communication, Collaboration, Organisation |
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| All - Assessment Task 3:Interview | |||||||
| Goal: | Demonstrate knowledge of evolution, diversity, and field study of terrestrial vertebrates. This is assessed by responding to interview questions based upon chosen career stream; provide comprehensive responses to questions |
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| Product: | Oral | ||||||
| Authorship Statement: | |||||||
| Format: | In person interview (question and answer). |
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| Criteria: |
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| Generic Skills: | Communication, Collaboration, Problem solving, Information literacy |
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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.
You need regular access to the resource(s) below. Many texts are available as ebooks through the Library at no additional cost.
| Required? | Author | Year | Title | Edition | Publisher |
| Recommended | HICKMAN,Susan L. Keen,David J. Eisenhour,Allan Larson,Helen I'Anson | 0 | Integrated Principles of Zoology 18e | n/a | n/a |
Students will be required to participate in a half day of field work on one day during Week 8.
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
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For course-specific questions, contact your teaching staff or Course Coordinator.
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