Unit convenor and teaching staff |
Unit convenor and teaching staff
Unit Convenor
Adam Fawcett
Contact via adam.fawcett@mq.edu.au
Other Staff
Robert Harcourt
Contact via robert.harcourt@mq.edu.au
E8A 376
Other Staff
Katherine McClellan
Contact via katherine.mcclellan@mq.edu.au
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Credit points |
Credit points
4
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Prerequisites |
Prerequisites
Admission to MWldMgt or PGDipWldMgt or PGCertWldMgt or MMarScMgt or MSc in Biodiversity Conservation or PGDipSc in Biodiversity Conservation
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Corequisites |
Corequisites
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Co-badged status |
Co-badged status
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Unit description |
Unit description
This unit provides training in the study of wildlife populations. Skills in observation and interpretation and field experience in taxonomy will be linked to the planning required to conduct safe, ethical and efficient wildlife surveys and research, including design, data entry, storage and analysis. Students gain skills in a wide range of standard survey techniques for birds, bats, mammals, reptiles, amphibians, insects, plants and habitat assessment. On completion, students will be able to design, conduct and report on wildlife surveys.
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Information about important academic dates including deadlines for withdrawing from units are available at https://www.mq.edu.au/study/calendar-of-dates
On successful completion of this unit, you will be able to:
Name | Weighting | Due |
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A1. Selection of a study site | 20% | 30/3/14 |
A2A. FieldTrip Report | 20% | 13/4/14 |
A2B. Field Notebook | 10% | 23/3/14 |
A3. Biodiversity Survey | 40% | 8/6/14 |
Discussions | 10% | 8/6/13 |
Due: 30/3/14
Weighting: 20%
Identify and describe a site for a Biodiversity Survey including target species and the techniques to be used. This assignment will require you to use initiative and learning materials to locate a site suitable for a biodiversity survey. The site can be located in any tenure as long as it meets the objectives of the assignment.
More details will be available thru iLearn at the start of the semester.
Word Count: 2000 Words
Due: 13/4/14
Weighting: 20%
Participate in a team survey of the study site on the field trip and provide a report on the results of the field trip surveys. Carry out flora and fauna surveys as per the Field Trip Agenda and Field Trip Outline.
More information on this assignment will be available thru iLearn at the start of semester.
Word Count: 2000 Words
Due: 23/3/14
Weighting: 10%
During the field trip for GSE854, all students will be required to utilise a field notebook for data collection purposes. Field notebooks will be assessed at the end of the field trip and handed back to students.
Due: 8/6/14
Weighting: 40%
Complete a Biodiversity survey of a chosen study site and provide a report on the results with consideration of existing wildlife management activities on the site.
More information on this assignment will be available thru iLearn at the start of semester.
Word Count: 4500 Words
Due: 8/6/13
Weighting: 10%
You will be expected to participate in online discussion throughout the semester.
Assessment will be based on your input to the Discussions forum, including starting new discussion threads and contributing to existing threads.
Contact details for Staff delivering GSE854 are as follows:
Adam Fawcett (Unit Convener/Lecturer)
Email: adam.fawcett@mq.edu.au
Phone: 0427 929 554
Students are required to have access to a computer and the internet to access the teaching website and lecture materials. Students will also be required to have access to a word processor, spreadsheet manager and database programs to be able to complete set assessment tasks.
For field work students will require access to some field equipment, a complete list of which will be supplied within the teaching website on activation.
Unit Web Page
To access the unit and associated resources, please login to iLearn (http://ilearn.mq.edu.au/)
Guides for assist students with on-line websites and resources can be found at
Student iLearn guides: https://www.mq.edu.au/iLearn/student_info/guides.htm
Student Echo guides: https://www.mq.edu.au/iLearn/student_info/lecture_recordings. htm
The unit is designed to give students an understanding and skills in planning, undertaking and reporting biodiversity surveys. Teaching material is delivered online with topics divided into the semester weeks. Given the online nature of this lecture material, students are expected to participate in online discussions of addition material provided or source and discuss additional material as instructed. Content most closely related to field work will also be delivered as part of the field trip.
The unit has two components:
It is strongly recommended that all students attend the field trip although it is not compulsory. Details are provided in iLearn at the start of the Semester or contact the Unit Convener for more information.
Please note that should there be a clash with other units during the dates of the field trip (either field trips or compulsory course-work components) students will need to decide which unit they wish to be enrolled in for this semester to enable attendance.
Changes since the last offering of this unit
Revision and update of lecture material has been undertaken to ensure currency. Other resources have similarly reviewed and updated as required. No major changes to the unit content otherwise.
Set Text
Sutherland W J (Ed) (2006) Ecological Census Techniques: a handbook. Second Edition. Cambridge University Press, Cambridge. Paperback ISBN 9780521606363
Copies of this text are available through the Co-Op Bookshop at Macquarie University
Assignment Submission
All assignments are submitted using the tools provided within the unit in iLearn. In addition, students are required to aubmit assignments to the Turnitin website.
Examination Conditions
No exams are for this unit with set assignments forming the assessment for this unit.
To successfully complete the unit, students are required to submit all assessment tasks and gain an overall pass mark from these assessment tasks.
Assessment tasks for GSE854 are graded unit and grading criteria are provided within the unit website in iLearn.
Topics covered by GSE854 include:
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.
Macquarie University students have a responsibility to be familiar with the Student Code of Conduct: https://students.mq.edu.au/support/student_conduct/
Students may request an extension for any of the set assessment tasks with the unit convener. Requests for an extension will be assessed on a case-by-case basis in accordance with the Macquarie University handbook. Students will be required to supply suitable documentation to support their request.
Please note that requests for extensions should be made as early as possible.
Penalties for Late Submission
Where a student fails to submit an assessment task by the due date plus any extension granted by the lecturer, a penalty of 10% of the value of the assignment will be deducted per day.
Macquarie University provides a range of support services for students. For details, visit http://students.mq.edu.au/support/
Learning Skills (mq.edu.au/learningskills) provides academic writing resources and study strategies to improve your marks and take control of your study.
Students with a disability are encouraged to contact the Disability Service who can provide appropriate help with any issues that arise during their studies.
For all student enquiries, visit Student Connect at ask.mq.edu.au
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.
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