Unit convenor and teaching staff |
Unit convenor and teaching staff
Unit Convenor
Joshua Madin
Contact via joshua.madin@mq.edu.au
E8B213
By appointment
Caitlin Kordis
Caitlin Kordis
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Credit points |
Credit points
3
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Prerequisites |
Prerequisites
BIOL227 and BIOL235
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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 explores the big ideas and questions in ecology and evolution. Why are there so many species? How do species that share resources coexist in the same place? Why are some species rare and others abundant? With a strong emphasis on evolutionary processes and trait-based approaches, the unit scrutinises the general principles proposed to govern the abundance, distribution and characteristics of organisms globally. The unit is suitable for students interested in the big-picture of ecology and the current, cutting-edge ideas, theories and research approaches.
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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 | Hurdle | Due |
---|---|---|---|
Weekly Quizzes | 20% | No | Friday 5 pm, weekly |
Practical Reports | 20% | No | Friday 5pm, weeks 4, 6, 12 |
Tutorial Participation | 10% | No | Every other week |
Fieldtrip Exercises | 10% | No | During fieldtrip |
Final Exam | 40% | No | Examination period |
Due: Friday 5 pm, weekly
Weighting: 20%
Each week there will be an online quiz based on that week's lectures and other activities, which will provide a chance for you to practice applying the concepts you have learnt.
Due: Friday 5pm, weeks 4, 6, 12
Weighting: 20%
You will write up and submit your answers to each of the practicals online, which will demonstrate that you understood the material covered in the practical. One page maximum per practical.
Due: Every other week
Weighting: 10%
You will demonstrate that you have read and understood the tutorial material by participating in class discussion and debate.
Due: During fieldtrip
Weighting: 10%
You will use your ecological detective skills to address a series of challenges at the Australian Museum. The team with the most points at the end of the day will win a short-course in taxidermy*.
Due: Examination period
Weighting: 40%
The final exam will be held during the Semester 1 Exam Period and will be 2 hr (plus 10 min reading time). Please consult the University Handbook to determine the commencement and finishing dates of the compulsory exam period. More details on the structure of the final exam will be given closer to the time.
Weekly contact hours consist of two lectures and one of either a 3-hour practical, 2-hour tutorial OR full-day field trip to the Australian Museum. The schedule is outlined below and will also be available on iLearn.
Weekly required reading is available on iLearn and should be read prior to each weeks' activities.
There is no required textbook. However, the second-year Ecology (BIOL227) textbook contains excellent background from many of the topics covered in this unit. If you don't have a copy, it is available at the library.
Begon M, Howarth RW, Townsend CR (2014) Essentials of ecology. 4th edition. Blackwell Scientific Publications, Cambridge. The 3rd (2008) edition is also acceptable.
Website
Lecture graphics and iLectures (now called Echo360) will be available on iLearn (http://ilearn.mq.edu.au). iLearn is a web-based communication package and can be accessed by most web browsers from inside or outside the University. iLearn and email will be the primary methods of communication in this subject. You are expected to use iLearn for:
How do you log in? The URL for the iLearn log in page is: http://ilearn.mq.edu.au
You must log in to iLearn each time you use it. Your username is your student number, and your password is your myMQ student portal password, provided upon enrolment (unless you've changed it). If you are having trouble accessing your online unit due to a disability or health condition, please go to the Student Services Website at http://www.students.mq.edu.au/support for information on how to get assistance.
If you are having problems logging on—that is, if you cannot log in after ensuring you have entered your username and password correctly—you should contact Student IT Help, Phone: (02) 9850 4357 (in Sydney) or 1 800 063 191 (outside Sydney).
Software
The analysis components of practicals will be carried out using the computer programs R (http://cran.r-project.org) and R Studio (https://www.rstudio.com/products/rstudio/download). Lab computers will have this software installed. However, the software is freely available for download if you wish to install the software on a personal computer.
Quantitative Advice
The Department has a friendly online forum for any questions relating to R and analysis (http://quantitative-advice.gg.mq.edu.au). Login and ask a question! You should get a fairly quick response.
Week | Theme | Day | Time | Activity | Details | Presenter |
1 | Scale | Monday | 17:00 | Lecture 1 | Introduction (scale) | Madin |
Tuesday | 14:00 | Lecture 2 | Scale in ecology | Allen | ||
16:00 | Tutorial 1 | The problem with scale | Madin | |||
2 | Life histories | Monday | 14:00 | Practical 1A | Allometry | Madin |
17:00 | Lecture 3 | Introduction (life histories) | Madin | |||
Tuesday | 14:00 | Lecture 4 | Reproductive values | Griffith | ||
16:00 | Tutorial 1R | The problem with scale | Madin | |||
3 | Traits | Tuesday | 14:00 | Lecture 5 | Introduction (trait dimensions) | Wright |
16:00 | Tutorial 2 | Through the lens of traits | Westoby | |||
4 | Populations | Monday | 14:00 | Practical 1B | Allometry in R | Madin |
17:00 | Lecture 6 | Introduction (populations) | Madin | |||
Tuesday | 14:00 | Lecture 7 | Population viability | Madin | ||
16:00 | Tutorial 2R | Through the lens of traits | Westoby | |||
5 | Populations | Monday | 14:00 | Practical 2A | Population growth | Madin |
17:00 | Lecture 8 | Meta-populations | Madin | |||
Tuesday | 14:00 | Lecture 9 | Introduction (interactions) | Madin | ||
6 | Interactions I | Monday | 14:00 | Practical 2B | Population growth in R | Madin |
17:00 | Lecture 10 | Traits and phylogenies | Westoby | |||
Tuesday | 14:00 | Lecture 11 | Trophic cascades | Madin (E) | ||
16:00 | Tutorial 3 | Trophic cascades | Madin (E) | |||
7 | Interactions II | Monday | 9:00 | Fieldtrip | Australian Museum | Madin |
Tuesday | 14:00 | Lecture 12 | Invasions and biocontrol | Leishman | ||
16:00 | Tutorial 3R | Trophic cascades | Madin (E) | |||
Break | ||||||
8 | Coexistence | Monday | 17:00 | Lecture 13 | Introduction (coexistence) | Madin |
Tuesday | 14:00 | Lecture 14 | Character displacement | Madin | ||
16:00 | Tutorial 4 | Game theory | Madin | |||
9 | Game theory | Monday | 17:00 | Lecture 15 | Introduction (games) | Madin |
Tuesday | 14:00 | Lecture 16 | Evolutionary games | Kemp | ||
16:00 | Tutorial 4R | Game theory | Madin | |||
10 | ESS | Monday | 17:00 | Lecture 17 | Introduction (ESS) | Madin |
Tuesday | 14:00 | Lecture 18 | Plant strategies | Westoby | ||
16:00 | Tutorial 5 | Neutral theories | Allen | |||
11 | Biodiversity I | Monday | 14:00 | Practical 3A | Biodiversity | Madin |
17:00 | Lecture 19 | Introduction (biodiversity) | Madin | |||
Tuesday | 14:00 | Lecture 20 | Deep time trends | Kosnik | ||
16:00 | Tutorial 5R | Neutral theories | Allen | |||
12 | Biodiversity II | Monday | 14:00 | Practical 3B | Biodiversity in R | Madin |
17:00 | Lecture 21 | Time scales, neutral models | Allen | |||
Tuesday | 14:00 | Lecture 22 | Species abundances | Alroy | ||
16:00 | Tutorial 6 | Global diversity | Madin | |||
13 | Ecosystem services | Monday | 17:00 | Lecture 23 | Energy | Allen |
Tuesday | 14:00 | Lecture 24 | Introduction (services) | Madin | ||
16:00 | Tutorial 6R | Global diversity | Madin | |||
Exams |
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_2016.html
Grade Appeal Policy http://mq.edu.au/policy/docs/gradeappeal/policy.html
Complaint Management Procedure for Students and Members of the Public http://www.mq.edu.au/policy/docs/complaint_management/procedure.html
Disruption to Studies Policy (in effect until Dec 4th, 2017): http://www.mq.edu.au/policy/docs/disruption_studies/policy.html
Special Consideration Policy (in effect from Dec 4th, 2017): https://staff.mq.edu.au/work/strategy-planning-and-governance/university-policies-and-procedures/policies/special-consideration
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/
Results shown in iLearn, 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.
Disruption to Study
If you apply for Disruption to Study for your final examination, you must make yourself available for the week of July 24 – 28, 2017. If you are not available at that time, there is no guarantee an additional examination time will be offered. Specific examination dates and times will be determined at a later date.
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://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.
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