BZ3730 - Ornithology

[Offered in odd-numbered years]

Credit points:	03
Year:	2011
Student Contribution Band:	Band 4
Administered by:	School of Marine & Tropical Biology

Advanced study of birds, including extensive field work, taking advantage of the diverse range of tropical habitats available. The subject will consider the special features of birds as advanced vertebrates, then focus on various aspects of bird ecology, behaviour, adaptation and evolution. Field work will provide training in essential methods, including techniques for identification of birds, censuses and ecological surveys and behavioural studies; methods of analysis for bird data.

Learning Outcomes

• to develop an ability to undertake independent studies on bird ecology, behaviour and/or evolution;
• to gain an understanding of basic anatomy and physiology of birds, especially adaptations to homeothermy, flight and bipedalism;
• to gain an understanding of bird ecology, and behaviour, and especially the contribution of studies of birds to these field of biology;
• to gain an understanding of the diversity of birds, their distributions and their diverse roles in diverse habitats;
• to gain an understanding of essential study techniques in laboratory and field, including techniques for observing.

Graduate Qualities

• The ability to think critically, to analyse and evaluate claims, evidence and arguments, and to reason and deploy evidence clearly and logically.

Assumed Knowledge:	Students enrolling in this subject should have a good background in level 2 biology, an understanding of the principles of population and community ecology (BZ2440 or equivalent) and of quantitative methods in biology (BS2001 or equivalent).
Prerequisites:	BZ2440 and (BS2001 OR BZ2001 OR AG2001), plus 6 credit points of level 2 BZ or ZL subjects
Inadmissible Subject Combinations:	BZ5730 ZL3420 ZL5420

Availabilities
Cairns, Block, Study Period 10
Census Date 08-Dec-2011
Face to face teaching 21-Nov-2011 to 02-Dec-2011
Coordinator:	Dr Brad Congdon
Lecturers:	Dr Brad Congdon, Professor Richard Pearson.
Contact hours:	20 hours lectures 10 hours practicals 35 hours fieldwork
Assessment:	end of semester exam (50%); assignments (50%).
Restrictions:	An enrolment quota applies to this offering. Enrolment in this offering is restricted.

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.