James Cook University Subject Handbook - 2006

ZL5211 - Tropical Australian Herpetology

[Offered in even-numbered years]

Credit points: 03
Year: 2006
Student Contribution Band: Band 2
Administered by:

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

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 Australias 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 Outcomes

Prerequisites:Consult HoS
Inadmissible
Subject
Combinations:
ZL3211

Availabilities

, , Study Period 10
Census Date 22-Dec-2006
Face to face teaching 04-Dec-2006 to 15-Dec-2006
Coordinator: Empro Ross Alford
Lecturers: Professor Lin Schwarzkopf, Empro Ross Alford.
Contact hours:
  • 30 hours
  • 3 hours
  • 15 hours
  • 12 hours
Assessment: (45%); (15%); (30%); (10%).

Note: Minor variations might occur due to the continuous Subject quality improvement process, and in case of minor variation(s) in assessment details, the Subject Outline represents the latest official information.