Marine Zoology

Subject 654-306 (2009)

Note: This is an archived Handbook entry from 2009. Search for this in the current handbook

Credit Points: 12.50
Level: 3 (Undergraduate)
Dates & Locations:

This subject has the following teaching availabilities in 2009:

February, - Taught on campus.
Pre-teaching Period Start not applicable
Teaching Period not applicable
Assessment Period End not applicable
Last date to Self-Enrol not applicable
Census Date not applicable
Last date to Withdraw without fail not applicable

Lectures, practical work and excursions.

Timetable can be viewed here. For information about these dates, click here.
Time Commitment: Contact Hours: 12 lectures and 40 hours of practical work; six hours of excursions (the subject is held in the summer break before Semester 1)
Total Time Commitment: 120 hours total time commitment.
Prerequisites:

654-201 and 654-202 (prior to 2009).
Corequisites: None
Recommended Background Knowledge: None
Non Allowed Subjects: None
Core Participation Requirements: It is University policy to take all reasonable steps to minimise the impact of disability upon academic study and reasonable steps will be made to enhance a student's participation in the University's programs. Students who feel their disability may impact upon their active and safe participation in a subject are encouraged to discuss this with the relevant subject coordinator and the Disability Liaison Unit.

Coordinator

Assoc Prof Stephen Swearer
Subject Overview: In the practical component students should develop the ability to recognise and classify the main groups of marine animals and develop an understanding of their morphological, physiological, behavioural and developmental characteristics. The subject provides for advanced study of animal groups that are important in the marine environment. Structural, physiological, behavioural and developmental aspects of their biology are covered with particular emphasis on areas in which there is current research activity.

Objectives:

Upon completion of this subject students should have:

  • an appreciation of the range and diversity of the main groups of marine animals particularly those of south-eastern Australia;

  • an understanding of the morphological, physiological, behavioural and developmental characteristics of selected groups; and

  • an understanding of some current research issues involving marine ­animals.
Assessment:

The relative weighting of assessed written work and assessed practical work will be chosen so as to maximise the student's final mark: Essays and/or reports of up to 3000 words (either 60% or 80%) and practical record (either 40% or 20%), both due during first semester immediately following the summer semester in which the subject was undertaken. The record of practical work is a description of observations and experimental results obtained during fieldwork undertaken during the summer semester; the essays and reports are submitted and assessed during first semester.
Prescribed Texts: None
Breadth Options:

This subject potentially can be taken as a breadth subject component for the following courses:

You should visit learn more about breadth subjects and read the breadth requirements for your degree, and should discuss your choice with your student adviser, before deciding on your subjects.

Fees Information: Subject EFTSL, Level, Discipline & Census Date
Generic Skills: This subject builds upon existing generic skills, including an ability to approach and assimilate new knowledge from observation and the literature. Students should learn how to access information from the primary scientific literature, through both electronic and traditional sources, and gain experience in writing scientific reports. Students should learn the importance of careful observation and the context in which that observation is undertaken when posing and answering theoretical questions and when solving practical problems. It should assist students in developing the ability to recognise which questions relating to a topic are important and which are amenable to solution with the available tools. It should develop students' abilities to work in field situations and to integrate their observations with existing literature and knowledge.
Notes:

Students enrolled in the BSc (pre-2008 BSc), BASc or a combined BSc course will receive science credit for the completion of this subject.

Experiments involving the use of animals are an essential part of this subject; exemption is not possible.

Previously carried subject code 654-313 Marine Zoology.

An enrolment quota of 30 students applies to this subject this year.
Related Majors/Minors/Specialisations: Marine Biology
Zoology

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