Students

BIOL8750 – Contemporary Conservation in Australia

2023 – Session 1, In person-scheduled-infrequent, North Ryde

General Information

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Unit convenor and teaching staff Unit convenor and teaching staff
Adam Stow
Credit points Credit points
10
Prerequisites Prerequisites
Admission to MBiotech or MBioBus or GradDipBiotech or MConsBiol or GradDipConsBiol or GradCertConsBiol or MEnv or MEnvPlan or GradDipEnv or MMarScMgt or MSusDev or GradDipSusDev or MPlan or MSc or MScInnovation or MScInnovationBioConsMgmt or BBioConsMConsBiol
Corequisites Corequisites
Co-badged status Co-badged status
BIOL7750
Unit description Unit description
This unit provides a current perspective of the values, threats to existence and conservation of Australian wildlife. The special characteristics of the Australian biota (plants, animals and other organisms) and the key threatening processes are discussed as well as its global and historical context. The role of biological research in informing conservation management is explored, and how conservation-based research is communicated and interpreted. An emphasis is placed on case studies in conservation biology with critical analysis of conservation successes and failures.

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: Describe theoretical concepts in conservation biology and current conservation issues in Australia and abroad
  • ULO2: Communicate scientific research and issues in conservation to various target audiences in verbal and written form
  • ULO3: Evaluate literature on conservation issues within peer-reviewed scientific literature and present them in the popular media
  • ULO4: Identify how research in conservation biology influences environmental management practices and assess how effectively this is undertaken
  • ULO5: Demonstrate a capacity for undertaking literature-based research into key topics in conservation biology and synthesising the current state-of-knowledge

General Assessment Information

Research Abstract

Assessment Type 1: Summary Indicative Time on Task 2: 16 hours Due: 10/4/23 Weighting: 10%

 

A short abstract to summarise your presentation, as if you were presenting it at an international scientific conference.

 

On successful completion you will be able to:

  • Communicate scientific research and issues in conservation to various target audiences in verbal and written form
  • Identify how research in conservation biology influences environmental management practices and assess how effectively this is undertaken
  • Demonstrate a capacity for undertaking literature-based research into key topics in conservation biology and synthesising the current state-of-knowledge

Weekly Online Quizzes

Assessment Type 1: Quiz/Test Indicative Time on Task 2: 30 hours Due: Weekly Weighting: 24%

 

On the day following most lectures (excluding final lecture), a quiz will become available on iLearn (worth ~2%) that you will have 7 days to complete. The online exercises will consist of short answers and multiple-choice questions that revise the topic of each lecture (including tutorial discussions), encourage thinking and research skills, in alignment with the Austral Ark textbook chapters. The exercises may involve consulting peer-reviewed literature discussed in lectures, external websites, and chapters within Austral Ark. The schedule for the availability and due dates of each online quiz will be available on iLearn. Note: quizzes become available before 5pm the day after each lecture and will close 7 DAYS LATER at 5pm.

 

On successful completion you will be able to:

  • Describe theoretical concepts in conservation biology and current conservation issues in Australia and abroad
  • Communicate scientific research and issues in conservation to various target audiences in verbal and written form
  • Demonstrate a capacity for undertaking literature-based research into key topics in conservation biology and synthesising the current state-of-knowledge

Research Presentation

Assessment Type 1: Presentation Indicative Time on Task 2: 30 hours Due: 17/4/23 Weighting: 26%

 

Your task is to give a presentation (using powerpoint slides with audio only) to provide a RESEARCH UPDATE AND SYNTHESIS on a conservation issue of interest, integrating scientific literature published in the last FIVE years around your topic. You are required to choose a topic of conservation interest in Australia or New Zealand/ Oceania. The topic you choose may, e.g., be in relation to a threatened/invasive species, a threatened habitat, or threatening processes such as fire, disease spread or human disturbance.

 

On successful completion you will be able to:

  • Communicate scientific research and issues in conservation to various target audiences in verbal and written form
  • Identify how research in conservation biology influences environmental management practices and assess how effectively this is undertaken
  • Demonstrate a capacity for undertaking literature-based research into key topics in conservation biology and synthesising the current state-of-knowledge

Popular science article

Assessment Type 1: Essay Indicative Time on Task 2: 50 hours Due: 15/5/23 Weighting: 40%

 

You will write a popular science article for The Conversation (see https://theconversation.com/au). To do this, you will choose a recently (less than 1 year old) published scientific paper from a journal within conservation biology. The chosen journal article may focus on conservation issues occurring in any part of the world (i.e. not restricted to Australia or New Zealand).

 

On successful completion you will be able to:

  • Describe theoretical concepts in conservation biology and current conservation issues in Australia and abroad
  • Evaluate literature on conservation issues within peer-reviewed scientific literature and present them in the popular media
  • Demonstrate a capacity for undertaking literature-based research into key topics in conservation biology and synthesising the current state-of-knowledge

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

 

Requirements to Pass this Unit

To pass this unit you must:

  • Attempt all assessments and achieve a total mark equal to or greater than 50%

Late Assessment Submission Penalty 

 

Unless a Special Consideration request has been submitted and approved, a 5% penalty (of the total possible mark of the task) will be applied for each day a written report or presentation assessment is not submitted, up until the 7th day (including weekends). After the 7th day, a grade of ‘0’ will be awarded even if the assessment is submitted. The submission time for all uploaded assessments is 11:55 pm. A 1-hour grace period will be provided to students who experience a technical concern.

For any late submission of time-sensitive tasks, such as scheduled tests/exams, performance assessments/presentations, and/or scheduled practical assessments/labs, please apply for Special Consideration

Assessment Tasks

Name Weighting Hurdle Due
Popular science article 40% No 15/5/23
Research Presentation 26% No 17/4/23
Weekly Online Quizzes 24% No Weekly
Research Abstract 10% No 10/4/23

Popular science article

Assessment Type 1: Essay
Indicative Time on Task 2: 50 hours
Due: 15/5/23
Weighting: 40%

 

You will write a popular science article for The Conversation (see https://theconversation.com/au). To do this, you will choose a recently (less than 1 year old) published scientific paper from a journal within conservation biology. The chosen journal article may focus on conservation issues occurring in any part of the world (i.e. not restricted to Australia or New Zealand).

 


On successful completion you will be able to:
  • Describe theoretical concepts in conservation biology and current conservation issues in Australia and abroad
  • Evaluate literature on conservation issues within peer-reviewed scientific literature and present them in the popular media
  • Demonstrate a capacity for undertaking literature-based research into key topics in conservation biology and synthesising the current state-of-knowledge

Research Presentation

Assessment Type 1: Presentation
Indicative Time on Task 2: 30 hours
Due: 17/4/23
Weighting: 26%

 

Your task is to give a presentation (using powerpoint slides with audio only) to provide a RESEARCH UPDATE AND SYNTHESIS on a conservation issue of interest, integrating scientific literature published in the last FIVE years around your topic. You are required to choose a topic of conservation interest in Australia or New Zealand/ Oceania. The topic you choose may, e.g., be in relation to a threatened/invasive species, a threatened habitat, or threatening processes such as fire, disease spread or human disturbance.

 


On successful completion you will be able to:
  • Communicate scientific research and issues in conservation to various target audiences in verbal and written form
  • Identify how research in conservation biology influences environmental management practices and assess how effectively this is undertaken
  • Demonstrate a capacity for undertaking literature-based research into key topics in conservation biology and synthesising the current state-of-knowledge

Weekly Online Quizzes

Assessment Type 1: Quiz/Test
Indicative Time on Task 2: 30 hours
Due: Weekly
Weighting: 24%

 

On the day following most lectures (excluding final lecture), a quiz will become available on iLearn (worth ~2%) that you will have 7 days to complete. The online exercises will consist of short answers and multiple-choice questions that revise the topic of each lecture (including tutorial discussions), encourage thinking and research skills, in alignment with the Austral Ark textbook chapters. The exercises may involve consulting peer-reviewed literature discussed in lectures, external websites, and chapters within Austral Ark. The schedule for the availability and due dates of each online quiz will be available on iLearn. Note: quizzes become available before 5pm the day after each lecture and will close 7 DAYS LATER at 5pm.

 


On successful completion you will be able to:
  • Describe theoretical concepts in conservation biology and current conservation issues in Australia and abroad
  • Communicate scientific research and issues in conservation to various target audiences in verbal and written form
  • Demonstrate a capacity for undertaking literature-based research into key topics in conservation biology and synthesising the current state-of-knowledge

Research Abstract

Assessment Type 1: Summary
Indicative Time on Task 2: 16 hours
Due: 10/4/23
Weighting: 10%

 

A short abstract to summarise your presentation, as if you were presenting it at an international scientific conference.

 


On successful completion you will be able to:
  • Communicate scientific research and issues in conservation to various target audiences in verbal and written form
  • Identify how research in conservation biology influences environmental management practices and assess how effectively this is undertaken
  • Demonstrate a capacity for undertaking literature-based research into key topics in conservation biology and synthesising the current state-of-knowledge

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

Lectures will be pre recorded and available via ECHO. Tutorials will be face-to-face and online. All resources will be available via ilearn.

Policies and Procedures

Macquarie University policies and procedures are accessible from Policy Central (https://policies.mq.edu.au). Students should be aware of the following policies in particular with regard to Learning and Teaching:

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

To find other policies relating to Teaching and Learning, visit Policy Central (https://policies.mq.edu.au) and use the search tool.

Student Code of Conduct

Macquarie University students have a responsibility to be familiar with the Student Code of Conduct: https://students.mq.edu.au/admin/other-resources/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

Academic Integrity

At Macquarie, we believe academic integrity – honesty, respect, trust, responsibility, fairness and courage – is at the core of learning, teaching and research. We recognise that meeting the expectations required to complete your assessments can be challenging. So, we offer you a range of resources and services to help you reach your potential, including free online writing and maths support, academic skills development and wellbeing consultations.

Student Support

Macquarie University provides a range of support services for students. For details, visit http://students.mq.edu.au/support/

The Writing Centre

The Writing Centre provides resources to develop your English language proficiency, academic writing, and communication skills.

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

Student Services and Support

Macquarie University offers a range of Student Support Services including:

Student Enquiries

Got a question? Ask us via AskMQ, or contact Service Connect.

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.


Unit information based on version 2023.03 of the Handbook