Coronavirus (COVID-19) Update
Due to the Coronavirus (COVID-19) pandemic, any references to assessment tasks and on-campus delivery may no longer be up-to-date on this page.
Students should consult iLearn for revised unit information.
Find out more about the Coronavirus (COVID-19) and potential impacts on staff and students
Unit convenor and teaching staff |
Unit convenor and teaching staff
Culum Brown
Kate Barry
|
---|---|
Credit points |
Credit points
10
|
Prerequisites |
Prerequisites
130cp at 1000 level or above including (BIOL2510 or BIOL262) or BIOL208 or (BIOL2310 or BIOL228) or (BIOL2210 or BIOL229)
|
Corequisites |
Corequisites
|
Co-badged status |
Co-badged status
|
Unit description |
Unit description
Evolution is a dynamic process that has occurred over many millions of years (deep evolution) or in recent times (contemporary evolution). This unit considers the major events in vertebrate evolution: invertebrate chordate to vertebrate; jawless to jawed; water to land; ectothermy to endothermy; and land to air. The newly emerging synthesis of evolutionary and developmental biology is having considerable impact on current vertebrate evolutionary theory, as are molecular techniques for constructing phylogenics. These topics are discussed in relation to deep and contemporary evolution of vertebrate groups. Lecture topics also include current aspects such developments in evolution of vertebrate behaviours, macro-evolution, and human evolution. The practical work focuses on phylogenics, and comparative anatomy and morphology of representative vertebrate groups, to reinforce lecture themes.
|
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:
Coronavirus (COVID-19) Update
Assessment details are no longer provided here as a result of changes due to the Coronavirus (COVID-19) pandemic.
Students should consult iLearn for revised unit information.
Find out more about the Coronavirus (COVID-19) and potential impacts on staff and students
In a bid to be “Environmentally Friendly” Biol369 will essentially be paperless in 2020. All assessments will be submitted on iLearn and you will get feedback electronically.
1) Weekly activities (10%). ilearn quizzes will open on Monday and remain open
These quizzes have been designed to expand your knowledge of current evolutionary concepts and test your understanding of lecture content. They will be made available from as soon as each lecture is complete. The quiz will remain open until the final exam to allow students to use them as a tool for revision. We suggest you complete them each week.
2) SciCom (10%). Your science communication project must be submitted by 11:55pm on Monday 30th March.
Australia is a country of extremes and many of our animals are superbly adapted to cope. Working in small groups, students will pick an Australian native animal to study and highlight the key adaptations that enable it to survive in the harsh Australian environment. Each group will present their findings to the class in the form in any form of scientific communication (eg 2-3min video, poster with embedded links, interactive website, animation, etc). The emphasis here is on communication. The projects will be assessed by your fellow class mates and each will score the fellow group members contribution.
3) Wildlife scientific paper (20%): Due Monday 25th May, 11:55pm via iLearn
The practical report requires your utmost attention during both the ‘rat dissection’ and ‘wildlife dissection’ practicals. As a class, we will be examining the relationship between an organism’s internal morphology and its ecology. The work will culminate in you producing a scientific paper that places these findings in an evolutionary context.
Finer details on the details of the practical exercises and the report to be submitted will be provided on iLearn.
4) Practical Lab notes (20%): Pracs 1-5 due Monday 13th April and pracs 6-10 due Monday 1st June
As a good scientist it is paramount that you learn to keep an accurate record of your experiments and activities. This usually takes the form of a lab book. Throughout this course you will be conducting a series of lab exercises which involves examination of a LOT of different material. These lab notes should not only consolidate your understanding of each prac but also provide a good resource for review. (I still have my lab notes from my Vertebrate Evolution course from 1993!)
It is expected that you will create a word document in which you will paste pictures, diagrams and notes that you take during the practical sessions. The lab “book” will be submitted via iLearn for review after prac 5 and prac 10, but will be reviewed during each prac session by your tutors.
5) Final Exam (40%)
The format of the final exam has been consistent for the last few years. It will be 3 hours long and you can find example exam papers in the library.
If you receive special consideration for the final exam, a supplementary exam will be scheduled in the interval between the regular exam period and the start of the next session. By making a special consideration application for the final exam you are declaring yourself available for a resit during the supplementary examination period and will not be eligible for a second special consideration approval based on pre-existing commitments. Please ensure you are familiar with the policy prior to submitting an application. You can check the supplementary exam information page on FSE101 in iLearn (bit.ly/FSESupp) for dates, and approved applicants will receive an individual notification one week prior to the exam with the exact date and time of their supplementary examination.
Coronavirus (COVID-19) Update
Any references to on-campus delivery below may no longer be relevant due to COVID-19.
Please check here for updated delivery information: https://ask.mq.edu.au/account/pub/display/unit_status
Pough, F.H., Janis, C.M. and Heiser, J.B. (2013) Vertebrate Life 9th Edition. Pearson International. Call Number: QL607.5 .E93 2006
Merrick, J.R., Archer, M., Hickey G.M. and Lee M.S.Y. (2006) Evolution and Biogeography of Australasian Vertebrates. Auscipub, Oatlands Australia. Call Number: QL607.5 .E93 2006
Coronavirus (COVID-19) Update
The unit schedule/topics and any references to on-campus delivery below may no longer be relevant due to COVID-19. Please consult iLearn for latest details, and check here for updated delivery information: https://ask.mq.edu.au/account/pub/display/unit_status
Week |
Date |
Lecture |
Lecture Topic |
Internal Practicals: |
1 |
25/02/2020 |
1 |
Introduction & Overview NO PRAC |
|
26/02/2020 |
2 |
Australian Vertebrate Evolution |
||
2 |
03/03/2020 |
3 |
Vertebrate Classification |
(1) Tree thinking |
04/03/2020 |
4 |
Vertebrate Origins |
||
3 |
10/03/2020 |
5 |
Vert Structure and Development |
(2) Australian Verts |
11/03/2020 |
6 |
Jawless to jawed |
||
4 |
17/03/2020 |
7 |
Cartilaginous fish (Joni) |
(3) Chordate origins, jawless fish |
18/03/2020 |
8 |
Teleosts: Bony fish |
||
5 |
24/03/2020 |
9 |
Transition to land I |
(4) Bony fish |
25/03/2020 |
10 |
Transition to land ii |
||
6 |
31/03/2020 |
11 |
Amphibians |
(5) Amphibians (toad) |
01/04/2020 |
12 |
Evolution and invasion (Rick) |
||
7 |
07/04/2020 |
13 |
Synapsids v Sauropsids |
NO PRACTICAL |
|
08/04/2020 |
14 |
Ectothermy |
|
|
Sem Break April 10-26th |
|
|
|
8 |
28/04/2020 |
15 |
Reptiles I (MW) |
(6) Placentals (rat) |
29/04/2020 |
16 |
Reptiles ii (MW) |
||
9 |
05/05/2020 |
17 |
Birds and Dinosaurs (JA) |
(7) Wildlife dissection (possum) |
06/05/2020 |
18 |
Birds (SG) |
||
10 |
12/05/2020 |
19 |
Synapsida and mammal evol (JA) |
(8) Skeleton and teeth |
13/05/2020 |
20 |
Mammals I (JA) |
||
11 |
19/05/2020 |
21 |
Mammals II (JA) |
(9) Cranial nerves |
20/05/2020 |
22 |
Endothermy |
||
12 |
26/05/2020 |
23 |
Brains and behaviour I |
(10) Unit reflection |
27/05/2020 |
24 |
Brains and behaviour II |
||
13 |
02/06/2020 |
|
NO LECTURES |
NO PRACTICAL |
03/06/2020 |
|
|
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).
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 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
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 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.
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
If you are a Global MBA student contact globalmba.support@mq.edu.au
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.
Date | Description |
---|---|
09/02/2020 | Staff updated |