Students
BIOL773 – Advanced Marine Ecology
2014 – S1 Day
General Information
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| Unit convenor and teaching staff |
Unit convenor and teaching staff
Other Staff
Katherine McClellan
Contact via katherine.mcclellan@mq.edu.au
Unit Convenor
Jane Williamson
Contact via jane.williamson@mq.edu.au
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|---|---|
| Credit points |
Credit points
4
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| Prerequisites |
Prerequisites
Admission to MRes
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| Corequisites |
Corequisites
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| Co-badged status |
Co-badged status
NCCW Biol373
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| Unit description |
Unit description
Marine ecosystems play a crucial role in the health and functioning of our world, and consist of a complex and dynamic interplay of biological, chemical and physical processes. Once thought to be relative stable in the face of adversity, we now know that most marine systems are fragile and easily disturbed. In this unit we will assess identify important marine habitats, assess what constitutes a 'healthy' habitat, and explore how such habitats can be conserved in the face of adversities such as human exploitation, habitat modification and climate change. This unit takes a problem-solving approach to gain an advanced understanding of such issues through lectures, practical work, tutorials and assessments, including a literature review (unrelated to the student's masters research topic). Students will have first hand experience in designing and carrying out a research project. The small research project, along with the literature review, will be written up in journal format with the ultimate aim of producing documents of publishable quality. Students will also receive advanced skills for presenting key concepts in marine ecology via novel assessment items such as making conference-quality posters and giving short presentations. The unit will enhance knowledge and skills for students intending to continue with higher degree research.
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Important Academic Dates
Information about important academic dates including deadlines for withdrawing from units are available at https://www.mq.edu.au/study/calendar-of-dates
Learning Outcomes
On successful completion of this unit, you will be able to:
- Describe why marine conservation and management is necessary from a local to global perspective.
- Describe in detail the physical and chemical process that shape and change marine ecosystems.
- Identify threats to all life forms in local, regional and global marine ecosystems.
- Conceptualize the conflicts between marine conservation and the management of marine resources.
- Carry out biodiversity assessments.
- Collect experimental data accurately and apply statistical methods to analyze and graph for results interpretation.
- Conceptualize current and future issues faced by marine parks and fisheries due to the impact of climate change.
- Identify particular marine conservation and management issues associated with urban areas, and how these may differ latitudinaly
- Comply with occupational health and safety issues associated with marine field work.
- Prepare written reports to a high scientific standard.
- Develop innovate management solutions to marine conservation issues.
- Communicate complex marine conservation issues at an academic and local community level.
Assessment Tasks
| Name | Weighting | Due |
|---|---|---|
| Plastic Pollution | 20% | 11 April 2014 |
| Podcast | 15% | 7-11 April 2014 |
| Report | 40% | 25 April 2014 |
| Shark Diversity | 25% | 4 April 2014 |
Plastic Pollution
Due: 11 April 2014
Weighting: 20%
Details week 1 ilearn page
On successful completion you will be able to:
- Describe why marine conservation and management is necessary from a local to global perspective.
- Describe in detail the physical and chemical process that shape and change marine ecosystems.
- Identify threats to all life forms in local, regional and global marine ecosystems.
- Conceptualize the conflicts between marine conservation and the management of marine resources.
- Collect experimental data accurately and apply statistical methods to analyze and graph for results interpretation.
- Conceptualize current and future issues faced by marine parks and fisheries due to the impact of climate change.
- Identify particular marine conservation and management issues associated with urban areas, and how these may differ latitudinaly
- Comply with occupational health and safety issues associated with marine field work.
- Prepare written reports to a high scientific standard.
- Develop innovate management solutions to marine conservation issues.
Podcast
Due: 7-11 April 2014
Weighting: 15%
details week 1 ilearn page
On successful completion you will be able to:
- Describe why marine conservation and management is necessary from a local to global perspective.
- Conceptualize the conflicts between marine conservation and the management of marine resources.
- Conceptualize current and future issues faced by marine parks and fisheries due to the impact of climate change.
- Identify particular marine conservation and management issues associated with urban areas, and how these may differ latitudinaly
- Develop innovate management solutions to marine conservation issues.
- Communicate complex marine conservation issues at an academic and local community level.
Report
Due: 25 April 2014
Weighting: 40%
Details week 4 in ilearn
On successful completion you will be able to:
- Describe why marine conservation and management is necessary from a local to global perspective.
- Describe in detail the physical and chemical process that shape and change marine ecosystems.
- Identify threats to all life forms in local, regional and global marine ecosystems.
- Conceptualize the conflicts between marine conservation and the management of marine resources.
- Carry out biodiversity assessments.
- Collect experimental data accurately and apply statistical methods to analyze and graph for results interpretation.
- Conceptualize current and future issues faced by marine parks and fisheries due to the impact of climate change.
- Comply with occupational health and safety issues associated with marine field work.
- Prepare written reports to a high scientific standard.
- Develop innovate management solutions to marine conservation issues.
- Communicate complex marine conservation issues at an academic and local community level.
Shark Diversity
Due: 4 April 2014
Weighting: 25%
details week 1 ilearn page
On successful completion you will be able to:
- Describe in detail the physical and chemical process that shape and change marine ecosystems.
- Carry out biodiversity assessments.
- Collect experimental data accurately and apply statistical methods to analyze and graph for results interpretation.
- Identify particular marine conservation and management issues associated with urban areas, and how these may differ latitudinaly
- Prepare written reports to a high scientific standard.
- Develop innovate management solutions to marine conservation issues.
Delivery and Resources
CLASSES
Lectures
- Tuesday 11-12 E7B 164
- Tuesday 2-3pm E5A 170
Practical
- Wednesday 2-5pm F7B 102
REQUIRED AND RECOMMENDED TEXTS AND/OR MATERIALS
Textbook
The textbook for BIOL373 is
- Connell SD & Gillanders BM 2007 Marine Ecology. Oxford University Press, 630 pages (ISBN 978-0-19-555302-4).
This book is available at the University bookshop and several copies are held in Open Reserve in the Library. Other recommended readings will be given at the end of lecture summaries and some may be accessible through the library.
UNIT WEBPAGE AND TECHNOLOGY USED AND REQUIRED
BIOL373 Web page
Summaries of lectures, data sets from practicals, instructions for assessment and other juicy resources will be posted throughout the course on the iLearn BIOL373 website. Please check this regularly for any urgent messages (e.g., cancellation of a field trip due to rough seas) – this is our main link with you outside contact hours. You can also use the unit website as a discussion forum to chat with each other regarding aspects of the unit, or to seek help from unit staff for simple questions. If you have larger or difficult questions, please arrange an appointment with one of the unit staff rather than posting your question online. Unit staff will monitor the online discussions daily each weekday. To access the website go to: https://ilearn.mq.edu.au/login/MQ/
More information on this system can be found at: http://www.mq.edu.au/iLearn/student_info/
Marine biology readings Online
Recommended readings are given at the end of each lecture summary and are accessible through library databases or will be made available online. You are not expected to read all of the recommended readings for each lecture; they are there for extra referencing should you wish to know more about a particular topic. You will also be expected to do your own literature searches through the library for assignments. MQ student’s usernames and passwords: All students will have received a Username and Password in the mail after enrolments. Usernames consist of the first letter of your given name, then the first four letters of your surname followed by three random numbers as per notification. Passwords are made up of two random characters followed by your birthday (ddmmyy).
Unit Schedule
Unit Structure
Weeks 1, 2, 3, and 5 of BIOL773 are delivered via the 'Virtual Classroom'. Whilst you do not
physically need to come to campus to attend these sessions, you are expected to logon to each
session. It will also be very beneficial for assessment preparation and will give you the
perfect opportunity to ask any assessment or BIOL773 questions to the senior tutor. Week 4
is dedicated to the intensive Heron Island research project.
All of these sessions are compulsory
| Activity | Date | Time | Location |
| Preparation | 17th-21st March 2014 | Virtual Classrom | |
| Meet & Greet | 21st March 2014 | 9:00-11am | Virtual Classrom |
| Lecture 1-2 | 24th March 2014 | 9:00-11am | Virtual Classrom |
| Tutorial 1 | 24th March 2014 | 3:00-4pm | Virtual Classrom |
| Lecture 3-4 | 25th March 2014 | 9:00-11am | Virtual Classrom |
| Tutorial 2 | 25th March 2014 | 3:00-4pm | Virtual Classrom |
| Lecture 5-6 | 26th March 2014 | 9:00-11am | Virtual Classrom |
| Lecture 7-8 | 27th March 2014 | 9:00-11am | Virtual Classrom |
| Lecture 9-10 | 28th March 2014 | 9:00-11am | Virtual Classrom |
| Lecture 11-12 | 31st March 2014 | 9:00-11am | Virtual Classrom |
| Lecture 13-14 | 1st April 2014 | 9:00-11am | Virtual Classrom |
| Lecture 15 | 2nd April 2014 | 9:00-11am | Virtual Classrom |
| Assessment 1 | 4th April 2014 | Midnight | |
| Assessment 2 | 11th April 2014 | Midnight | |
| Assessment 3 | 7-11 April 2014 | 9:00-11am | |
| Heron Island Fieldtrip | 13-22nd April 2014 | Al day | Heron island (GBR) |
| Tutorial 3 | 23rd April 2014 | 3:00-4pm | Virtual Classrom |
| Assessment 4 | 25th April 2014 | Midnight |
Policies and Procedures
Macquarie University policies and procedures are accessible from Policy Central. Students should be aware of the following policies in particular with regard to Learning and Teaching:
Academic Honesty Policy http://mq.edu.au/policy/docs/academic_honesty/policy.html
Assessment Policy http://mq.edu.au/policy/docs/assessment/policy.html
Grading Policy http://mq.edu.au/policy/docs/grading/policy.html
Grade Appeal Policy http://mq.edu.au/policy/docs/gradeappeal/policy.html
Grievance Management Policy http://mq.edu.au/policy/docs/grievance_management/policy.html
Disruption to Studies Policy http://www.mq.edu.au/policy/docs/disruption_studies/policy.html The Disruption to Studies Policy is effective from March 3 2014 and replaces the Special Consideration Policy.
In addition, a number of other policies can be found in the Learning and Teaching Category of Policy Central.
Student Code of Conduct
Macquarie University students have a responsibility to be familiar with the Student Code of Conduct: https://students.mq.edu.au/support/student_conduct/
Student Support
Macquarie University provides a range of support services for students. For details, visit http://students.mq.edu.au/support/
Learning Skills
Learning Skills (mq.edu.au/learningskills) provides academic writing resources and study strategies to improve your marks and take control of your study.
Student Services and Support
Students with a disability are encouraged to contact the Disability Service who can provide appropriate help with any issues that arise during their studies.
Student Enquiries
For all student enquiries, visit Student Connect at ask.mq.edu.au
IT Help
For help with University computer systems and technology, visit http://informatics.mq.edu.au/help/.
When using the University's IT, you must adhere to the Acceptable Use Policy. The policy applies to all who connect to the MQ network including students.