Unit convenor and teaching staff |
Unit convenor and teaching staff
Unit Convenor
Katherine McClellan
Contact via katherine.mcclellan@mq.edu.au
E8B224
by appointment
Kate Barry
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Credit points |
Credit points
3
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Prerequisites |
Prerequisites
(39cp at 100 level or above) including (BIOL262 or BIOL208 or BIOL228 or BIOL229)
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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 fascinating world of invertebrate animals. The unit starts by briefly outlining the diversity and key features of the major groups of invertebrate animals (excluding unicellular organisms), and using phylogenetic analysis to explore evolutionary relationships. Once this is established, we move away from a development and taxonomic focus to discuss major topics including: mating systems, communication, host-parasite relationships, predator-prey interactions, sociality, biological control, climate change, and conservation. These major topics draw on examples from research papers on various groups of invertebrates. This unit is suitable for students who are interested in whole animal biology or biological education, or for students who are interested in further research.
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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:
Assessment details
Details of assessments will be provided on iLearn and in class.
Assignment submission
All assignments will be digitally submitted through the appropriate Turnitin submission link on iLearn. No hardcopy / paper submissions are needed. All assessments need to be written in the students own words. For the taxonomic key you will need to submit four drawings. You will need to make a high quality scan of your scientific drawings (e.g. use the library photocopier / scanner and email yourself a copy) then "paste" the digital copy into your assignment before submission.
Academic honesty
All assessments need to be written in the students own words. The penalties imposed by the University for plagiarism are serious and may include expulsion from the University. ANY evidence of plagiarism WILL be dealt with following University policy. Penalties for plagiarism range from a loss of marks to awarding of a zero depending on the level of plagiarism and reporting to Faculty disciplinary committee.
Extensions, penalties and Disruptions to Studies
The deadlines for assignments are not negotiable. If an assignment is submitted late then a penalty of -10% of the mark allocated for the assignment will be deducted per day that the work is late (i.e. 5 days late = -50% of marks available).
If you experience a serious and unavoidable disruption to your studies and require an extension for an assessment please apply for Special Consideration via ask.mq.edu.au with supporting documentation. If you anticipate a potentially serious and unavoidable disruption (e.g. upcoming surgery) speak to the unit convenor early and apply for an extension before the due date.
Special Consideration for your final examination
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. See the Special Consideration policy here.
Unit completion
To pass this unit, students need to achieve an overall minimum grade of 50%.
Name | Weighting | Hurdle | Due |
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Lecture Participation | 5% | No | Weekly |
Early assessment quiz | 5% | No | 18/3/18 |
Taxonomic Key | 20% | No | Int:3/4/18, Ext:8/4/18 |
Mid-Session Test | 10% | No | Int: 1/5/18, Ext: 27/4/18 |
Scientific Journal Article | 20% | No | 22/5/18 |
Final exam | 40% | No | TBA |
Due: Weekly
Weighting: 5%
During each lecture a couple of questions will be asked and students will need to respond on their smart device (laptop, tablet or phone with ALP app - you need to log into the ALP in iLearn once to activate, if you don't have a device talk to the unit convenor). Participation for internal students requires lecture attendance and recordings will be muted during activities and activity slide results hidden so that external students can participate in a separate online weekly quiz.
Due: 18/3/18
Weighting: 5%
This is an early assessment quiz to help you know how you are doing early on in the unit. It will cover lectures 1-6 and will consist of 20 multiple choice answer questions to be completed at home within the 5 day period (9am Wednesday 14 March - midnight Sunday 18th March).
Due: Int:3/4/18, Ext:8/4/18
Weighting: 20%
Students will develop their own dichotomous / taxonomic key based on all lab specimens provided; identify all specimen; create a short, informative natural-history table for all specimen with appropriate foot note referencing; and draw four accurate, scientific drawings, of four of the lab specimen. Further details will be provided on iLearn and in the prac classes.
Due: Int: 1/5/18, Ext: 27/4/18
Weighting: 10%
A multiple choice answer test on knowledge of course content up to and including week 6. This one hour test will take place in the prac, under closed-book exam conditions during the first prac after the mid-session break (internals) or during the mid-session break OCS (externals).
Due: 22/5/18
Weighting: 20%
Students will complete a scientific research report, written in their own words and based on a data collected in class (externals will need to wait for internals to finish the pracs so all data is available). The report will follow the format of a Current Biology paper - details of which will be provided in class and online in iLearn.
Due: TBA
Weighting: 40%
A test on knowledge of course content (lectures, pracs and readings) up to and including week 13.
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.
Required unit materials
Lectures:
Attendance of lectures and practicals is compulsory and there is a participation mark for this unit. For the internal students lectures you will need to bring a device that can connect to the internet to lectures (either a laptop, tablet or smart phone - if you don't have one speak to me about this during the first lecture). For external students you will be required to view the lecture and complete an online quiz question.
Practicals:
The work carried out during practical classes is an important and integral part of the course. You must read, download and either print the prac notes to bring to each class, or bring them on a laptop or tablet.
You will also need a practical notebook with unlined pages that you will use to draw organisms, record data and observations from field and laboratory classes. We recommend you use an A4 sketch pad for drawing and a lined note pad for note taking and recording data during classes.
You will need enclosed shoes for every practical class in accordance with standard laboratory safety procedures. Without which you will not be allowed entry to the laboratory.
Recommended readings
There are a number of books (also available in the library) that cover various aspects of BIOL316:
Website
iLearn and email will be the principle method of communication in this subject. You will need stable access to the internet to access iLearn: http://ilearn.mq.edu.au/. You will need to log in to iLearn each time you use it. Your user name is your student number.
We expect you to use iLearn to:
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://students.mq.edu.au/support/health_and_wellbeing/disability_service/ for information on how to get assistance. 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).
Lecture topics**
Lecture 1 - Tuesday 8am, 9 Wallys Walk (E6A) room 102
Lecture 2 - Thursday 1pm, 4 Western Rd (W5C) room 320
Week | Date | Time | Location | Lecture | Topic | Lecturer |
1 | 27/02/2018 | 8am | 9 Wallys Walk (E6A) room 102 | 1 | Introduction– why we should study inverts | Kath McClellan |
1/03/2018 | 1pm | 4 Western Rd (W5C) room 320 | 2 | Taxonomy and phylogenetics | Kath McClellan | |
2 | 6/03/2018 | 8am | 9 Wallys Walk (E6A) room 102 | 3 | Invertebrate diversity I | Kath McClellan |
8/03/2018 | 1pm | 4 Western Rd (W5C) room 320 | 4 | Invertebrate diversity II | Kath McClellan | |
3 | 13/03/2018 | 8am | 9 Wallys Walk (E6A) room 102 | 5 | Invertebrate diversity III | Kath McClellan |
15/03/2018 | 1pm | 4 Western Rd (W5C) room 320 | 6 | Invertebrate diversity IV | Kath McClellan | |
4 | 20/03/2018 | 8am | 9 Wallys Walk (E6A) room 102 | 7 | Invertebrate interactions I - Predation | Kath McClellan |
22/03/2018 | 1pm | 4 Western Rd (W5C) room 320 | 8 | Invertebrate interactions II - Herbivory | Kath McClellan | |
5 | 27/03/2018 | 8am | 9 Wallys Walk (E6A) room 102 | 9 | Invertebrate interactions III - Parasitism | Kath McClellan |
29/03/2018 | 1pm | 4 Western Rd (W5C) room 320 | 10 | Foraging | Kath McClellan | |
6 | 3/04/2018 | 8am | 9 Wallys Walk (E6A) room 102 | 11 | Aquatic invertebrates | Kath McClellan |
5/04/2018 | 1pm | 4 Western Rd (W5C) room 320 | 12 | Biomonitoring & bioindicators | Kath McClellan | |
7 | 10/04/2018 | 8am | 9 Wallys Walk (E6A) room 102 | 13 | Eco Physiology | Ajay Narendra |
12/04/2018 | 1pm | 4 Western Rd (W5C) room 320 | 14 | Navigation | Ajay Narendra | |
Mid-session break | ||||||
8 | 1/05/2018 | 8am | 9 Wallys Walk (E6A) room 102 | 15 | Communication I – Tactile & Audio | Ajay Narendra |
3/05/2018 | 1pm | 4 Western Rd (W5C) room 320 | 16 | Communication II – Chemo | Ajay Narendra | |
9 | 8/5/218 | 8am | 9 Wallys Walk (E6A) room 102 | 17 | Communication III – Vision | Ajay Narendra/Yuri |
10/05/2018 | 1pm | 4 Western Rd (W5C) room 320 | 18 | Communication IV – Neurobiology | Ajay Narendra/ Franne | |
10 | 15/05/2018 | 8am | 9 Wallys Walk (E6A) room 102 | 19 | Insect immunology | Fleur Ponton |
17/05/2018 | 1pm | 4 Western Rd (W5C) room 320 | 20 | Insects in managed systems | TBA | |
11 | 22/05/2018 | 8am | 9 Wallys Walk (E6A) room 102 | 21 | Reproduction and mating I | Mariella Herberstein |
24/05/2018 | 1pm | 4 Western Rd (W5C) room 320 | 22 | Reproduction and mating II | Mariella Herberstein | |
12 | 29/05/2018 | 8am | 9 Wallys Walk (E6A) room 102 | 23 | Invertebrates & climate change | Lesley Hughes |
31/05/2018 | 1pm | 4 Western Rd (W5C) room 320 | 24 | Conservation issues | Lesley Hughes | |
13 | 5/06/2018 | 8am | 9 Wallys Walk (E6A) room 102 | 25 | Exam outline and revision | Kath McClellan |
7/06/2018 | 1pm | 4 Western Rd (W5C) room 320 | 26 | No lecture - revise for exam |
** Lecture topics may change to accommodate guest lectures schedules
Internal practical schedule
Tuesday (9am-12pm or 2pm-5pm) E8A 160 and 120
Week | Prac | Date | Topic |
1 | No prac | ||
2 | 1 | 6/03/2018 | Phylogenetics |
3 | 2 | 13/03/2018 | Invertebrate diversity 1 – Garden invertebrates |
4 | 3 | 20/03/2018 | Invertebrate diversity 2 – Taxonomic key |
5 | 4 | 27/03/2018 | Biodiversity sampling - Pitfall traps |
6 | 5 | 3/04/2018 | Spider behaviour - territoriality |
7 | 6 | 10/04/2018 | Navigation 1 |
Mid-session Break | |||
8 | 7 | 1/05/2018 | Mid semester test & |
Navigation 2 | |||
9 | 8 | 8/5/218 | Navigation 3 |
10 | 9 | 15/05/2018 | Immunology – fruit flies |
11 | No prac – private study for assessment | ||
12 | No prac – private study for exam | ||
13 | No prac – private study for exam |
External practical schedule – (9am-5pm) E8A 120
Session 1 (week 4): Saturday 23 March
Sessions 2-5 (mid-session break): Monday 23, Tuesday 24, Thursday 26 and Friday 27 April
Date | OCS | Topic | Time |
24/03/2017 | 1 | Invertebrate diversity 1 – Garden invertebrates | 9-12 |
Invertebrate diversity 2 – Taxonomic key | 1-5 | ||
23/04/2017 | 2 | Phylogenetics | 9-12 |
Biodiversity sampling - Pitfall traps | 1-5 | ||
24/04/2017 | 3 | Spider behaviour - territoriality | 9-12 |
Immunology – fruit flies | 1-5 | ||
26/04/2017 | 4 | Navigation 1 | 9-12 |
Navigation 2 | 1-5 | ||
27/04/2017 | 5 | Mid-session test – prac report instructions | 9-12 |
Navigation 3 - analysis | 1-5 |
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:
Undergraduate 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).
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Special consideration / Disruptions to studies
If you have a serious and unavoidable disruption during your studies you can make an application for special consideration Ask.mq.edu.au using the "Disruptions to Studies form." Disruptions need to be filed within 5 days of the disruption and have the correct supporting documentation. For more information on Disruptions to Studies notifications please refer to the university policy (http://www.mq.edu.au/policy/docs/disruption_studies/policy.html) and procedure (http://www.mq.edu.au/policy/docs/disruption_studies/procedure.html).
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.
If you feel that you are not coping and could use some extra help or guidance, the Faculty of Science and Engineering has dedicated academic support officers to help you settle into studies and reach your full potential. If you are struggling and don’t know where to turn for help, contact Helene or Michele (available for appointments on Tuesday, Wednesday, Thursday 10-3pm). Please contact them on 9850-8348, or email sci.studentsupport@mq.edu.au or drop in to the FSE Student Centre and make an appointment to be called back.
Some pearls of wisdom:
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Students with a disability are encouraged to contact the Disability Service who can provide appropriate help with any issues that arise during their studies.
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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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Lecture participation.
Date | Description |
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12/02/2018 | Corrected due-date year. |
23/01/2018 | Updated Special Considerations Policy, Supplementary Exams Policy and lecture schedule. |