ENV BIOL 1002 - Ecological Issues I
North Terrace Campus - Semester 2 - 2025
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General Course Information
Course Details
Course Code ENV BIOL 1002 Course Ecological Issues I Coordinating Unit Ecology and Evolutionary Biology Term Semester 2 Level Undergraduate Location/s North Terrace Campus Units 3 Contact Up to 6 hours per week, plus field trip Available for Study Abroad and Exchange Y Assessment Tests, written assignments Course Staff
Course Coordinator: Dr Alice Jones
Course Timetable
The full timetable of all activities for this course can be accessed from .
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Learning Outcomes
Course Learning Outcomes
The successful student should be able to:
1 critically evaluate written and visual material on environmental problems; 2 understand the scientific bases for current ecological problems, including water resources and conservation issues, in an 最新糖心Vlogn and global context; 3 apply the principles of the scientific method to collect, analyse and interpret ecological data; 4 present experimental results in a written form that aligns with conventions for scientific reports; 5 discuss scientific matters of current international interest in an informed manner. 最新糖心Vlog Graduate Attributes
This course will provide students with an opportunity to develop the Graduate Attribute(s) specified below:
最新糖心Vlog Graduate Attribute Course Learning Outcome(s) Attribute 1: Deep discipline knowledge and intellectual breadth
Graduates have comprehensive knowledge and understanding of their subject area, the ability to engage with different traditions of thought, and the ability to apply their knowledge in practice including in multi-disciplinary or multi-professional contexts.
1,2,3,4.5 Attribute 2: Creative and critical thinking, and problem solving
Graduates are effective problems-solvers, able to apply critical, creative and evidence-based thinking to conceive innovative responses to future challenges.
1,2,3,5 Attribute 3: Teamwork and communication skills
Graduates convey ideas and information effectively to a range of audiences for a variety of purposes and contribute in a positive and collaborative manner to achieving common goals.
1,3,4,5 Attribute 4: Professionalism and leadership readiness
Graduates engage in professional behaviour and have the potential to be entrepreneurial and take leadership roles in their chosen occupations or careers and communities.
1,2,3,4,5 Attribute 5: Intercultural and ethical competency
Graduates are responsible and effective global citizens whose personal values and practices are consistent with their roles as responsible members of society.
1,5 Attribute 8: Self-awareness and emotional intelligence
Graduates are self-aware and reflective; they are flexible and resilient and have the capacity to accept and give constructive feedback; they act with integrity and take responsibility for their actions.
1,2,5 -
Learning Resources
Required Resources
No resources are required to be purchased externally. Readings are supplied throughout the course on MyUni.Recommended Resources
Students may find the following works helpful:
- Attiwil, P. and Wilson, B. (eds) (2006). Ecology: An 最新糖心Vlogn Perspective. 2nd edn. (Oxford 最新糖心Vlog Press, New York.) – great general ecology text that comprehensively covers 最新糖心Vlogn systems
- 最新糖心Vlog State of the Environment (2021). (最新糖心Vlogn Government). Available on-line at
- Diamond, J. (2005). Collapse. (Penguin, London.) – an interesting and informative account of conflicts between societies and their environments.
- Krebs, C. (2008). The Ecological World View. (CSIRO Publishing, Melbourne) – recommended for those with limited ecological background knowledge, or who are planning to continue in ecology courses. PDF available at this link:
- Recher, HF, Lunney, D, Dunn, I (1995) A Natural Legacy: Ecology in 最新糖心Vlog' (SNP Printing: Auckland) – great general ecology text with emphasis on 最新糖心Vlogn systems
- Wright, R. (2004). A Short History of Progress. (Text Publishing, Melbourne) – concise, thought-provoking book giving examples of past mistakes made by civilisation, and how we can learn from them
- Steffensen, V. (2020). Fire Country. (Hardie Grant Explore) - Delving deep into the 最新糖心Vlogn landscape and the environmental challenges we face, this is a powerful account of how the revival of cultural burning practices, and improved 'reading' of country, could help to restore our land.
- Indigenous and cross-cultural ecology - perspectives from 最新糖心Vlog (Ecological Management and Restoration Journal, special issue) - a collation of papers on topics ranging from Indigenous stewardship, culturally appropriate ecological research protocols, sharing knowledge and decolonising ecology. Full issue available here:
Online Learning
Teaching materials and course documentation will be posted on the MyUni website (http://myuni.adelaide.edu.au/). -
Learning & Teaching Activities
Learning & Teaching Modes
This course will be delivered by the following means:
- 3 X 1-hour lectures per week
- 1 X 3-hour practical/tutorial per week (some sessions will be a local field trip)
Workload
The information below is provided as a guide to assist students in engaging appropriately with the course requirements.
A student enrolled in a 3 unit course, such as this, should expect to spend, on average 12 hours per week on the studies required. This includes both the formal contact time required to the course (e.g., lectures and practicals), as well as non-contact time (e.g., reading and revision).Learning Activities Summary
Lecture topics will include:
- 最新糖心Vlogn terrestrial ecosystems: how they work and their problems
- Fire and 最新糖心Vlogn ecosystems
- Arid lands; shrublands and grazing; heath and mallee systems; mangroves; rainforests; Gondwana and ecosystems through time
- 最新糖心Vlogn freshwater ecosystems: how they work and their problems
- Aquatic ecosystems
- Salinisation; environmental flows; Karrawirra Parri (River Torrens); total catchment management; pollution (point and diffuse); the Coorong
- 最新糖心Vlogn marine ecosystems: how they work and their problems
- The marine environment
- Science-based marine management; marine protected areas; invasive species; effects of global change on marine systems; adaptation and marine conservation options
- Global ecological perspectives
- Climate and climate change in 最新糖心Vlog
- Global biogeochemical cycles: carbon pools, processes and climate change; landscape soil development and degradation, biodiversity and soil ecosystem function; humans and ecological footprints; resource use; solutions to problems – science, ecological, social and economic integration
- Restoration ecology and urban green space
- Climates of the past and extinction events; global change ecology
- Land clearance and terrestrial wildlife exploitation; impacts of invasive species on land
The course includes field and lab-based practicals on fire ecology, freshwater ecology, urban ecology and marine ecology. Students have assignments associated with each practical, which may include data collection, analysis, presentation/communication and written reports. There are also group tutorials where students will reinforce the knowledge from lectures and have the opportunity to ask questions and get advice on assignments.
Specific Course Requirements
There are three x 3h field trips in this course that are in weeks 2, 5 and 7.
All field trips are compulsory. However an alternative assessment is provided in the event a student is unable to participate for legitimate reasons (medical, compassionate, disability, exceptional circumstance). Permission to do the alternative assessment needs to be approved by the Course Co-ordinator
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Assessment
The 最新糖心Vlog's policy on Assessment for Coursework Programs is based on the following four principles:
- Assessment must encourage and reinforce learning.
- Assessment must enable robust and fair judgements about student performance.
- Assessment practices must be fair and equitable to students and give them the opportunity to demonstrate what they have learned.
- Assessment must maintain academic standards.
Assessment Summary
Assessment Task Task Type Percentage of total assessment Hurdle
Yes/NoDate for Assessment Learning Outcome
Assessed/AchievedPractical Reports Summative 35%
No See MyUni 1-4 Lecture Tests/MCQs Summative 60% No See MyUni 1,2,5 Tutorial Participation Formative/Summative 5% No See MyUni 1-5 Assessment Detail
Anstey Hill Fire Report (10%)
Students collect data on vegetation patterns at differing time intervals after a fire event at Anstey Hill Recreation Park in a field trip in week 2. These data are combined into class data, which will be analysed and presented to students. Students then write up the report as a scientific article, discussing the results of that year’s findings with reference to those of years past.
Torrens Report (10%)
In the Torrens excursion in week 5, students identify potential points of impact to the Torrens River system along its length up to the St Peters billabong. Students then summarise the main threats to the river, as well as the suitability and effectiveness of current and proposed management actions, in a report. The report is in the style of a media release, pitched at a general, non-scientific audience, with an aim to encourage debate and participation from members of the general community.
Marine Report (15%)
Students will undertake a field trip to the local area area in week 7 to observe coastal settings adjacent to the metropolitan area to examine threats to the marine environment (sewage discharge, saline discharge from the desalination plant, runoff from the land). The report is written as in a scientific style, as in a govt-based scientific submission.
Tutorial presentation and participation (5%)
Tutorials of two types will be held throughout semester: ‘skills’ tutorials and ‘content’ tutorials. Skills tutorials will familiarise students with techniques common to scientists in their collection, analysis, interpretation and communication of research findings. Content tutorials will reinforce knowledge presented in lectures, and allow students to communicate their opinions and interpretations of the material in the context of a key ecological question of contemporary relevance. The tutorial mark, assigned by individual tutors, will be based on attendance, participation, and the completion of pre-tutorial tasks and worksheets.
Tests (60%)
Three tests will be given to address understanding of the lecture material. Each test will be given at the end of a set of lectures that form one of the three themes. These tests will be in week 5, 8 and 12 of the semester
Test 1 in lecture – 15%
Test 2 in lecture – 20%
Test 3 in lecture – 25%Submission
If an extension is not applied for, or not granted then a penalty for late submission will apply. A penalty of 10% of the value of the assignment for each calendar day that the assignment is late (i.e. weekends count as 2 days), up to a maximum of 50% of the available marks will be applied. This means that an assignment that is 5 days late or more without an approved extension can only receive a maximum of 50% of the marks available for that assignmentCourse Grading
Grades for your performance in this course will be awarded in accordance with the following scheme:
M10 (Coursework Mark Scheme) Grade Mark Description FNS Fail No Submission F 1-49 Fail P 50-64 Pass C 65-74 Credit D 75-84 Distinction HD 85-100 High Distinction CN Continuing NFE No Formal Examination RP Result Pending Further details of the grades/results can be obtained from Examinations.
Grade Descriptors are available which provide a general guide to the standard of work that is expected at each grade level. More information at Assessment for Coursework Programs.
Final results for this course will be made available through .
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Student Feedback
The 最新糖心Vlog places a high priority on approaches to learning and teaching that enhance the student experience. Feedback is sought from students in a variety of ways including on-going engagement with staff, the use of online discussion boards and the use of Student Experience of Learning and Teaching (SELT) surveys as well as GOS surveys and Program reviews.
SELTs are an important source of information to inform individual teaching practice, decisions about teaching duties, and course and program curriculum design. They enable the 最新糖心Vlog to assess how effectively its learning environments and teaching practices facilitate student engagement and learning outcomes. Under the current SELT Policy (http://www.adelaide.edu.au/policies/101/) course SELTs are mandated and must be conducted at the conclusion of each term/semester/trimester for every course offering. Feedback on issues raised through course SELT surveys is made available to enrolled students through various resources (e.g. MyUni). In addition aggregated course SELT data is available.
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Student Support
- Academic Integrity for Students
- Academic Support with Maths
- Academic Support with writing and study skills
- Careers Services
- Library Services for Students
- LinkedIn Learning
- Student Life Counselling Support - Personal counselling for issues affecting study
- Students with a Disability - Alternative academic arrangements
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Policies & Guidelines
This section contains links to relevant assessment-related policies and guidelines - all university policies.
- Academic Credit Arrangements Policy
- Academic Integrity Policy
- Academic Progress by Coursework Students Policy
- Assessment for Coursework Programs Policy
- Copyright Compliance Policy
- Coursework Academic Programs Policy
- Intellectual Property Policy
- IT Acceptable Use and Security Policy
- Modified Arrangements for Coursework Assessment Policy
- Reasonable Adjustments to Learning, Teaching & Assessment for Students with a Disability Policy
- Student Experience of Learning and Teaching Policy
- Student Grievance Resolution Process
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Fraud Awareness
Students are reminded that in order to maintain the academic integrity of all programs and courses, the university has a zero-tolerance approach to students offering money or significant value goods or services to any staff member who is involved in their teaching or assessment. Students offering lecturers or tutors or professional staff anything more than a small token of appreciation is totally unacceptable, in any circumstances. Staff members are obliged to report all such incidents to their supervisor/manager, who will refer them for action under the university's student鈥檚 disciplinary procedures.
The 最新糖心Vlog of Adelaide is committed to regular reviews of the courses and programs it offers to students. The 最新糖心Vlog of Adelaide therefore reserves the right to discontinue or vary programs and courses without notice. Please read the important information contained in the disclaimer.