Students

BIOL2520 – History of Life

2020 – Session 2, Infrequent attendance, North Ryde

Notice

As part of Phase 3 of our return to campus plan, most units will now run tutorials, seminars and other small group learning activities on campus for the second half-year, while keeping an online version available for those students unable to return or those who choose to continue their studies online.

To check the availability of face to face activities for your unit, please go to timetable viewer. To check detailed information on unit assessments visit your unit's iLearn space or consult your unit convenor.

General Information

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Unit convenor and teaching staff Unit convenor and teaching staff
Glenn Brock
Credit points Credit points
10
Prerequisites Prerequisites
50cp including 10cp from ((BIOL1310 or BIOL114) or (GEOS2042 or GEOS204)) AND 10cp from (BIOL or ENVS or GEOS or (ANTH1051 or ANTH151) or AHIS190)
Corequisites Corequisites
Co-badged status Co-badged status
Unit description Unit description

The aim of this unit is to provide students with an introduction to the history and evolution of life on Earth. In this unit, students will be exposed to important core concepts in palaeonbiology such as evolution and extinction, functional morphology and biostratigraphy, and will investigate the morphology and evolutionary significance of the most important invertebrate and vertebrate animals groups (such as trilobites and dinosaurs) and plants in the fossil record. Combined with the opportunity to work with real fossil material during practical classes, students will also learn how fossils are used in applied palaeontology to solve various biological, ecological and geological problems. This approach gives students the opportunity to develop a deep time perspective to many of the environmental issues and challenges facing the world today. A voluntary, one day excursion to the Hunter Valley is also available and will allow students to observe fossils in the field and to collect their own fossil material.

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:

  • ULO1: Use fossils to interpret and reconstruct the history of life on Earth.
  • ULO2: Identify the major morphological features of important invertebrate and vertebrate groups preserved in the fossil record.
  • ULO3: Describe the significant evolutionary trends displayed by important animal and plant groups preserved in the fossil record.
  • ULO4: Use fossils to solve basic biological, ecological, environmental and geological problems.
  • ULO5: Undertake basic studies and interpretations of biostratigraphy, functional morphology, palaeoenvironmental reconstruction and palaeoclimatic interpretation.
  • ULO6: Use both verbal and written communication techniques to present your own ideas, analyses and interpretations of scientific evidence presented in the primary scientific literature.

Assessment Tasks

Name Weighting Hurdle Due
Lab Quiz 20% No Week 3-11
Student talk 20% No Weeks 12 and 13
Lecture + Readings Quiz 15% No Week 1-11
Major Essay 30% No Week 9, 09/10/2020
Discussion Topic 15% No Week 5, 21/08/2020

Lab Quiz

Assessment Type 1: Quiz/Test
Indicative Time on Task 2: 10 hours
Due: Week 3-11
Weighting: 20%

 

There will be short quizzes associated with each Lab class. Students required to attend Labs to be able to answer Qs

 


On successful completion you will be able to:
  • Use fossils to interpret and reconstruct the history of life on Earth.
  • Use fossils to solve basic biological, ecological, environmental and geological problems.
  • Undertake basic studies and interpretations of biostratigraphy, functional morphology, palaeoenvironmental reconstruction and palaeoclimatic interpretation.

Student talk

Assessment Type 1: Presentation
Indicative Time on Task 2: 25 hours
Due: Weeks 12 and 13
Weighting: 20%

 

Students will give a powerpoint presentation outlining a specific case study demonstrating the applied use of fossils to solve biological, ecological, environmental and geological problems

 


On successful completion you will be able to:
  • Use fossils to interpret and reconstruct the history of life on Earth.
  • Use fossils to solve basic biological, ecological, environmental and geological problems.
  • Use both verbal and written communication techniques to present your own ideas, analyses and interpretations of scientific evidence presented in the primary scientific literature.

Lecture + Readings Quiz

Assessment Type 1: Quiz/Test
Indicative Time on Task 2: 15 hours
Due: Week 1-11
Weighting: 15%

 

Weekly quizzes will be based on lectures and readings.

 


On successful completion you will be able to:
  • Use fossils to interpret and reconstruct the history of life on Earth.
  • Identify the major morphological features of important invertebrate and vertebrate groups preserved in the fossil record.
  • Describe the significant evolutionary trends displayed by important animal and plant groups preserved in the fossil record.

Major Essay

Assessment Type 1: Essay
Indicative Time on Task 2: 40 hours
Due: Week 9, 09/10/2020
Weighting: 30%

 

A scientific essay on a choice of 3 prescribed palaeo topics. A few core papers provided for each topic, student must data mine, read papers, formulate and organise text, write formal scientific paper.

 


On successful completion you will be able to:
  • Describe the significant evolutionary trends displayed by important animal and plant groups preserved in the fossil record.
  • Use fossils to solve basic biological, ecological, environmental and geological problems.
  • Undertake basic studies and interpretations of biostratigraphy, functional morphology, palaeoenvironmental reconstruction and palaeoclimatic interpretation.
  • Use both verbal and written communication techniques to present your own ideas, analyses and interpretations of scientific evidence presented in the primary scientific literature.

Discussion Topic

Assessment Type 1: Case study/analysis
Indicative Time on Task 2: 19 hours
Due: Week 5, 21/08/2020
Weighting: 15%

 

Students will develop a written response based on critical evaluation of evidence on palaeo topic with opposing views. Used as training for scientific writing that can be used to improve Major Essay

 


On successful completion you will be able to:
  • Use fossils to interpret and reconstruct the history of life on Earth.
  • Use fossils to solve basic biological, ecological, environmental and geological problems.
  • Undertake basic studies and interpretations of biostratigraphy, functional morphology, palaeoenvironmental reconstruction and palaeoclimatic interpretation.
  • Use both verbal and written communication techniques to present your own ideas, analyses and interpretations of scientific evidence presented in the primary scientific literature.

1 If you need help with your assignment, please contact:

  • the academic teaching staff in your unit for guidance in understanding or completing this type of assessment
  • the Writing Centre for academic skills support.

2 Indicative time-on-task is an estimate of the time required for completion of the assessment task and is subject to individual variation

Delivery and Resources

2 x 50 min pre-recorded Lectures per week [weeks 1-11];

3 x Live Zoom tutorials

2 x full-day blocks on SATURDAY AUGUST 22 [OCS-1] and SATURDAY OCTOBER 10 [OCS-2]

 

Policies and Procedures

Macquarie University policies and procedures are accessible from Policy Central (https://staff.mq.edu.au/work/strategy-planning-and-governance/university-policies-and-procedures/policy-central). Students should be aware of the following policies in particular with regard to Learning and Teaching:

Students seeking more policy resources can visit the Student Policy Gateway (https://students.mq.edu.au/support/study/student-policy-gateway). It is your one-stop-shop for the key policies you need to know about throughout your undergraduate student journey.

If you would like to see all the policies relevant to Learning and Teaching visit Policy Central (https://staff.mq.edu.au/work/strategy-planning-and-governance/university-policies-and-procedures/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/study/getting-started/student-conduct​

Results

Results published on platform other than eStudent, (eg. iLearn, Coursera etc.) or released directly by your Unit Convenor, are not confirmed as they are subject to final approval by the University. Once approved, final results will be sent to your student email address and will be made available in eStudent. For more information visit ask.mq.edu.au or if you are a Global MBA student contact globalmba.support@mq.edu.au

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 help you improve your marks and take control of your study.

The Library provides online and face to face support to help you find and use relevant information resources. 

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

If you are a Global MBA student contact globalmba.support@mq.edu.au

IT Help

For help with University computer systems and technology, visit http://www.mq.edu.au/about_us/offices_and_units/information_technology/help/

When using the University's IT, you must adhere to the Acceptable Use of IT Resources Policy. The policy applies to all who connect to the MQ network including students.