BZ2008 - Adaptation to Environmental Change

Credit points:	03
Year:	2013
Student Contribution Band:	Band 2
Administered by:	School of Marine & Tropical Biology

Organisms have evolved an astonishing diversity of form and function over the long evolution of life. Nowhere is such diversity most on display than in the tropics. Yet not all conceivable possibilities of organism form are physically possible or explored. In this subject, our theme is to explore and understand the fundamental constraints imposed by the environments that Life inhabits as well as how key processes within plants and animals themselves have shaped the evolution of the modern biosphere. We will look at rise and diversification of key plant/animal adaptations in conjunction with their functions in Life's two key media: air and water.

Learning Outcomes

• understand the roles of fundamental plant and animal structures and physiological processes in relation to function as well as appreciate the diversity of these interactions;
• understand how the ways organisms function shapes how our world works;
• understand the roles of plants and animals as forces of nature in relation to global climate change processes.

Graduate Qualities

• The ability to reflect on and evaluate learning, and to learn independently in a self directed manner;
• The ability to read complex and demanding texts accurately, critically and insightfully.

Assumed Knowledge:	Students enrolling in this subject should have a good background in level 1 science subjects including organismal biology (BZ1007), chemistry (CH1001), and an ability to conduct simple statistical analyses in practical reports.
Prerequisites:	(ZL1001 OR AG1004 OR BZ1004 OR BZ1006 OR BZ1007)
Inadmissible Subject Combinations:	BZ2808 BZ5008 BZ5808 ZL2008 ZL5008

Availabilities
Townsville, Internal, Study Period 2
Census Date 29-Aug-2013
Coordinator:	Dr Taylor Feild
Lecturers:	Dr Mia Hoogenboom, Dr Taylor Feild.
Contact hours:	26 hours lectures 4 hours tutorials
Assessment:	end of semester exam (50%); on-course assessment; (50%).

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.