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%. We strongly encourage all students to actively participate in all learning activities. Regular engagement is crucial for your success in this unit, as these activities provide opportunities to deepen your understanding of the material, collaborate with peers, and receive valuable feedback from instructors, to assist in completing the unit assessments. Your active participation not only enhances your own learning experience but also contributes to a vibrant and dynamic learning environment for everyone.

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 7^th day (including weekends). After the 7^th 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. 

Special Consideration

The Special Consideration Policy aims to support students who have been impacted by short-term circumstances or events that are serious, unavoidable and significantly disruptive, and which may affect their performance in assessment. If you experience circumstances or events that affect your ability to complete the assessments in this unit on time, please inform the convenor and submit a Special Consideration request through https://connect.mq.edu.au.

Week 1 Classes start:

Class starts in Week 1 on Wednesday July 30th. We will have a weekly workshop on Wednesday from 9-12, which includes lecture material, laboratory work and practical field experiences.

Mid-semester Field trip

This Unit contains an essential field trip component, in the mid-semester break. Attendance enables you to collect data to complete Assessment 3. The field trip commences Monday 22^nd Sept – Wed 24^th September, off-campus. Further details about costs and what to expect are below.

Methods of Communication

We will communicate with you via your university email and through announcements on iLearn. Queries to the convenor can either be placed on the iLearn discussion board or sent to the unit convenor via the contact email on iLearn.

An essential component of this Unit is participation in a field trip to Blue Gum Lodge, Springwood. Students who have genuine clashes (e.g. other field trips, work or carer responsibilities) must notify the convenor ASAP.  Your place on the fieldtrip will not be confirmed until full payment has been made. A web link for sign-up will be made available on iLearn. The cost of the fieldtrip will be approx $275. This amount includes food and accomodation. Instructions on how to pay will be placed on iLearn. 

Highlights

• Small mammal trapping
• Nocturnal frog and mammal spotlighting
• Plant and habitat surveys
• Guest speakers including National Wildlife Service and a local Indigenous community member

Transport and address:

You will need to make your own way to the field site (Blue Gum Lodge). The address is:

6 Fels Ave, Springwood NSW 2777

You can plan your trip on public transport using “Trip planner” https://transportnsw.info/trip#/   

There is plenty of parking and you are welcome to bring your own car (please make sure it is roadworthy and appropriately insured) to drive to the site. We will help to facilitate lifts for those who don’t have a vehicle. The drive takes 1-1.5 hrs from Macquarie University.

Program

You will spend time evaluating different ecological communities such as mammals, birds, plants, and frogs. The data collected will form the basis of Assessment 3 (due Week 13). A detailed program will be provided 1-2 weeks before the fieldtrip.

For all workshop sessions (including Oral Presentations in Week 5) you must be wearing covered shoes to be allowed entry to the labs and there is strictly no eating or drinking. This means EVERY week you must wear closed toe shoes.

Workshop and field trip safety

All fieldwork carries some amount of risk. For BIOL2400, this is minimal as we will be sampling in the Ecology Reserve which adjoins Lane Cove National Park, and at Blue Gum Lodge during the 3-day fieldtrip. However, just as with any workplace that requires staff to work in the field, there are safety protocols that must be followed, and fieldwork risk assessments that must be completed.

Please read these rules about fieldwork:

1. Participation in all practicals, whether on campus, or at the fieldtrip, is an essential component of the Unit.

2. For all workshops, whether on-campus or on the fieldtrip, you must be wearing covered shoes that are comfortable to walk reasonable distances in (i.e. several kilometres).

3. Please note that the following items of clothing are not acceptable during fieldwork: tops showing mid-riffs, singlets, skirts, shorts or pants showing the ankles. Wearing these clothes increases the risk of ticks, leeches, sunburn, and cuts and scratches that come from walking through dense vegetation. One of the learning outcomes of this unit is “Demonstrate professional skills related to conservation biology”. Therefore, you are required to wear field-safe clothing and shoes, as expected in the profession.

4. All workshops in the Ecology Reserve and the Blue Gum fieldtrip require that fieldwork risk assessments must be completed well in advance. Failure to do so by the due date will mean you cannot undertake the practical or participate in the fieldtrip. We will discuss these forms in the first Weeks 1 and 2, and links to them will be posted on iLearn.

The workshops and field trip will go ahead regardless of the weather, so bring rain gear if the weather looks doubtful (no umbrellas – these cannot open in closed canopy and your hands will be full with equipment).