Marine Botany

This subject has the following teaching availabilities in 2012:

Intensive field based subject held at the Victorian Marine Science Consortium Laboratory in Queenscliff.

This subject is offered in intensive mode over 6 days in late November/early December. Students should contact the subject coordinator to confirm dates.

An enrolment quota of 34 students applies to this subject this year. For detailed information on the quota subject application process, refer to the Quota Subject link on the Eastern Precinct Student Centre website: http://studentcentre.unimelb.edu.au/eastern/

Estimated total time commitment of 80 hours

25 points of first year level biology subjects plus 50 points of second year level biological sciences subjects or equivalent.

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For the purposes of considering applications for Reasonable Adjustments under the Disability Standards for Education (Cwth 2005) and Students Experiencing Academic Disadvantage Policy, this subject requires all students to actively and safely participate in practical work, laboratory work and fieldwork activities. Students who feel their disability may impact upon their participation are encouraged to discuss this with the Subject Coordinator and the Disability Liaison Unit. http://www.services.unimelb.edu.au/disability/

(An enrolment quota of 40 students applies to this subject)

This subject will introduce students to identifying and classifying seaweeds and seagrasses from marine and estuarine habitats. Fieldwork along the Victorian coast will focus on the identification and ecology of Australia's unique marine macroflora. Topics to be covered include:

• structure, taxonomy and classification of seaweeds and seagrasses
• seaweed reproduction and life histories
• distribution and ecology of seaweeds and seagrasses
• human impacts on marine plants, and the impacts of marine plants on human affairs
• collection and preservation of marine plants, and production of herbarium specimens
• commercial uses of seaweed and seagrass products

At the completion of the subject, students should have developed an understanding of:

• the biology and diversity of Australian seaweeds and seagrasses
• the unique nature of the Australian seaweed flora
• seaweed reproduction and the significance of various life history strategies
• practical skills in identifying the major groups of seaweeds
• current themes in algal research

Two 20-minute laboratory progress tests, after Laboratory Practicals 5 and 9 (20%); preparation of 6 to 10 herbarium specimens (10%); a 2-hour end of subject laboratory examination (30%); a 2-hour end of subject written examination (40%).

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

• Bachelor of Arts
• Bachelor of Commerce
• Bachelor of Environments
• Bachelor of Music

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.

Upon completion of this subject, students should be capable of:

• Independent critical thought and rational enquiry
• Reading and interpreting technical literature
• Working as a team to perform scientific tasks

This subject is available for science credit to students enrolled in the BSc (both pre-2008 and new degrees), BASc or a combined BSc course.