James Cook University Subject Handbook - 2003

ZL5211:03

Tropical Australian Herpetology *

30 hours lectures, 15 hours practicals, 3 hours tutorials, 12 hours field trips. December block mode. Located in Townsville.

Available to students enrolled for the degrees of MSc; a two semester customised DipResMeth (in lieu of Masters Qual); MAppSc; BAppSc or Graduate Diplomas.

Staff: Assoc. Professor R Alford.

Australia has one of the richest faunas of frogs and reptiles found on any continent. The Australian herpetofauna is taxonomically and functionally diverse, with a wide variety of ecological types, habitat requirements and life histories. Reptiles and amphibians are poorly studied in comparison with the other terrestrial vertebrates and are generally less vagile and more habitat-specific than birds or mammals. They can thus serve as valuable indicators of the status of habitats and should be included in habitat evaluations. Members of both taxa exhibit a very wide range of reproductive and behavioural adaptations that enable them to survive in Australia’s harsh environments. The subject examines the diversity of form and function of Australian amphibians and reptiles, emphasising the tropical fauna and will work with techniques needed to survey them and study their biology. Students will be required to attend ZL3211 lectures and practicals.

Learning Objectives:

1. understand the taxonomic and functional diversity of Australian amphibians and reptiles, particularly the tropical fauna;
2. learn to identify representatives of major taxa;
3. learn and apply the basic techniques needed to survey and study the biology of amphibians and reptiles.

Assessment by examination (45%); two written assignments (15% each); practical examination (15%); field project report (10%).