BZ5730 - Ornithology

[Offered in odd-numbered years]

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

Available with prior approval to postgraduate students enrolled in the Graduate Diploma of Science, Graduate Certificate of Science, Graduate Diploma of Research Methods, Master of Applied Science and Bachelor of Science (Advanced).

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 and methods of analysis for bird data.

Learning Outcomes

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

Graduate Qualities

• The ability to use independent judgment to synthesise information to make intellectual and/or creative advances.

Assumed Knowledge:	Students enrolling in this subject should have an undergraduate degree in a relevant discipline or have acquired equivalent knowledge through other study. They should have a good background in biology, an understanding of the principles of population and community ecology (BZ5440 or equivalent), and of quantitative methods in biology (BS5001 or BZ5001 or equivalent).
Inadmissible Subject Combinations:	BZ3730 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 (40%); assignments (45%); major report (15%).
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.