ENV BIOL 3121 - Concepts in Ecology III

North Terrace Campus - Semester 1 - 2024

This course addresses advanced ecological concepts, building upon Ecology II, and providing a common anchor to other Ecology courses in Year III. It deals with populations, communities and ecosystems, and examines various approaches to their studies, including experiments and models. Students are provided with both an understanding of theoretical ecology as well as a foundation for ecological applications. Details of the 4 day compulsory field trip communicated at start of the course.

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Course Details

Course Code	ENV BIOL 3121
Course	Concepts in Ecology III
Coordinating Unit	Ecology and Evolutionary Biology
Term	Semester 1
Level	Undergraduate
Location/s	North Terrace Campus
Units	3
Contact	Up to 5 hours per week, plus field trip
Available for Study Abroad and Exchange	Y
Assumed Knowledge	ENV BIOL 2502
Assessment	Exam, practical assignments

Course Staff

Course Coordinator: Dr Steven Delean

Professor Andrew Lowe
Associate Professor José ("Jope") M. Facelli
Dr Steven Delean
Associate Professor Damien Fordham
Associate Professor Phill Cassey

Course Timetable

The full timetable of all activities for this course can be accessed from .

Course Learning Outcomes

On successful completion of this course, students will be able to:

1	understand central ecological concepts and analyse complex ecological problems using current conceptual frameworks
2	search, find and critically read essential current literature in ecological journals and identify gaps in knowledge
3	design studies to fill the current gaps in knowledge in ecological understanding, while working independently and in teams
4	describe the utility and interpret the results of a variety of tools (experiments, field surveys and modelling) to study ecological systems
5	report the findings of ecological studies in a clear, precise, and succinct way

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, 4, 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.	2, 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, 3
Attribute 7: Digital capabilities Graduates are well prepared for living, learning and working in a digital society.	2, 4, 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.	2, 3

Learning & Teaching Modes

This course is delivered by the following means:

Lectures: 2 x 1-hour lectures per week
Practicals: 1 x 3-hour practical per week (selected weeks only)
Field Trip: 1 x 4-day field trip in the mid-semester break

The course uses a combination of lectures, practicals and field work. We consider attendance to the actual lectures an essential part of the learning experience, COVID restrictions willing.

There is a component of group self-learning (preparation of a research proposal) and directed field work followed by independent reporting.

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

Week 1	Lectures: Biotic interactions - Plant/animal interactions as models Herbivory - Individual effects/evolutionary perspectives Practical: No practical this week
Week 2	Lectures: Herbivory - Community effects/ecosystem effects Grazing in arid lands of 最新糖心Vlog Practical: Developing a Research Proposal I - Research question formulation
Week 3	Lectures: Ecological complexity - Indirect effects, spatial heterogeneity Ecological complexity - Temporal effects; time lags and priority effects Practical: Developing a Research Proposal II - Group discussions on research questions and proposals
Week 4	Lectures: Invasion biology I Invasion biology II Practical: Developing a Research Proposal III - Group interviews on proposed research
Week 5	Lectures: Spatial distributions and sampling biodiversity Measuring biodiversity: concepts and patterns Practical: No practical this week (work on Research Proposal assignment)
Week 6	Lectures: Local patterns of species biodiversity Changes in species biodiversity in space and time Practical: No practical this week (prepare for field trip)
	Mid Semester Break Field Trip Camp
Week 7	Lectures: Distributions of species - theoretical foundations Dynamics of geographic ranges Practical: No practical this week (collate/organise field trip data in preparation for week 8)
Week 8	Lectures: Theory of island biogeography Islands as model systems Practical: Field trip data analyses and report discussion
Week 9	Lectures: Metapopulations and metacommunities Frontiers in Macroecology Practical: No practical this week (work on Field Report Assignment)
Week 10	Lectures: Global change ecology The structure of biodiversity Practical: No practical this week (work on Field Report Assignment)
Week 11	Lectures: The Anthropocene and global biotic homogenization 1 The Anthropocene and global biotic homogenization 2 Practical: No practical this week (work on Field Report Assignment)
Week 12	Lectures: Ecological harm Job opportunities, future options and honours in ecological research Practical: No practical this week

Specific Course Requirements

The 4-day field trip is an important component of the training in ecology, and hence, apart for exceptional circumstances attendance is mandatory. Students who cannot attend to the field camp will still be required to write up the same report as students who do participate in the camp, AND will be required to submit an additional essay to account for the time included in participating in the camp.

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 for grading purposes	Hurdle Yes/No	Outcomes being assessed/achieved	Approximate Timing of Assessment
Research Proposal	Formative	25%	No	1, 2, 3	Week 6
Field trip report	Formative and Summative	25%	No	3, 4, 5	Week 12
Exam	Summative	50%	No	1, 4	End of Semester

Assessment Related Requirements

The field trip is an important component of the training in ecology, and hence, apart for exceptional circumstances attendance is mandatory. Students who cannot attend to the field camp will still be required to write up the same report as students who do participate of the camp, AND will be required to produce an extra assignment to account for the time included in participating of the camp.

Assessment Detail

The course requires completion of three independent assessments:

Research Proposal (25%)
This is a group assignment (3-5 students per group) completed under direct guidance of teaching staff. It requires identifying an area of research, developing research questions and designing studies and experiments to answer the questions posed, then presenting this in the format of an application for research funding. The length of the assignemnt is ~10 pages.

Field Trip Report (25%)
An individual assignment in the format of a research manuscript (max 3000 words) based on data collected during the field trip camp in the Mid-Semester break. Students unable to attend the field trip will be provided with data to analyse in order to complete the assignment and will be set an additional assignment (essay) to make up for the learning missed on the field trip.

Final Exam (50%)
The final exam is 3 hours and questions cover all the sections of the course in proportion to the time devoted to them in lectures. A combination of short answer and essay style questions will be asked in the exam. Requires the student to demonstrate an in-depth understanding of the topics covered during lectures.

Submission

Extensions for Assessment Tasks
Extensions of deadlines for assessment tasks may be granted in certain circumstances. Such situations would include compassionate and medical grounds of the severity that would justify the awarding of a supplementary examination. Evidence for sufficient grounds for extension must be provided when an extension is requested. Students are required to apply for an extension to the Course Coordinator before the assessment task is due. Extensions will not be provided on the grounds of poor prioritising of time. Information on assessment extensions can be found .

Late submission of assessments
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 or more days late without an approved extension can only receive a maximum of 50% of the marks available for that assignment.

Course 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 .

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.
Student Support
Policies & Guidelines
This section contains links to relevant assessment-related policies and guidelines - all university policies.
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.

Authorised by:	Deputy Vice-Chancellor and Vice-President (Academic)
Maintained by:	Course Outlines Administrator

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