Animal Structure and Function

This subject has the following teaching availabilities in 2016:

Lectures and laboratory based practical work.

Estimated total time commitment of 170 hours

EITHER

Both

OR

Both

For the purposes of considering request for Reasonable Adjustments under the Disability Standards for Education (Cwth 2005), and Student Support and Engagement Policy, academic requirements for this subject are articulated in the Subject Overview, Learning Outcomes, Assessment and Generic Skills sections of this entry.

It is University policy to take all reasonable steps to minimise the impact of disability upon academic study, and reasonable adjustments will be made to enhance a student's participation in the University's programs. Students who feel their disability may impact on meeting the requirements of this subject are encouraged to discuss this matter with a Faculty Student Adviser and the Disability Liaison Unit: http://www.services.unimelb.edu.au/disability/

This subject involves the dissection of dead animals in practicals. Students' participation in practical activities is required.

Animals show remarkable diversity in form and function. In this subject you will explore how form and function are related, starting with simple animals like corals and working up to apes and humans. We ask: How are these animals related by evolution? What do they do, and how do they do this? These are the different ‘technologies’ animals have evolved to solve the problem of how to move and feed. In the practicals, you will learn how to classify animals and interpret their features, and develop an understanding of how birds fly, fish feed, worms burrow and parasites infect us.

Upon completion of this subject students should have an appreciation of the relationship between structure and function in animals, especially the mechanisms involved in locomotion and food capture; skills in dissection of animals and drawing to show structure; an insight into the evolutionary history, diversity and relationships of animal groups, and the unique adaptations of these groups that allow them to occupy diverse habitats and roles in ecosystems.

Assessment of laboratory work via quizzes during each practical class throughout the semester (25%); assessment of essay work (up to 750 words; 15%); a 1-hour mid-semester progress test (15%); and a 3-hour written examination during the examination period, covering both lecture and practical material (45%)

Hickman et al Integrated Principles of Zoology, McGraw Hill

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.

The subject builds upon generic skills developed in first year level subjects, including the ability to approach and assimilate new knowledge and an ability to use that knowledge to evaluate theories and communicate ideas. Students should also develop skills in the use of observations to pose and answer questions and to solve practical problems. Students should master the terminology of the field and gain experience in using that mastery to access a large body of scientific literature and material. Thus they should develop the ability to critically evaluate questions and issues within any scientific field.

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.