BZ2820 - Evolutionary Biology

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

Evolution is the dominate process in the development of life on earth. It influences every aspect of an organisms form and behaviour. This subject examines the evolutionary processes that have given rise to the diversity of life on earth; including the diversification and adaptation of populations to their surrounding environments and the rise of new species. Theory and techniques derived from Evolutionary Biology underpin many other field in biology and are being increasingly used in the conservation and management of threatened species and ecosystems. Knowledge of evolutionary processes is therefore essential for understanding and predicting how organisms will respond to increasing anthropogenic pressures.

Learning Outcomes

• to acquire proficiency in observation and evaluation of methods of data collection and analysis;
• to gain experience in problem-solving and scientific decision- making, and to develop skills in preparing and presenting written technical reports;
• to understand the basis of, and methods for, studying evolutionary processes;
• to understand how evolutionary processes lead to diversity of life and to ecological patterns of distribution and abundance.

Graduate Qualities

• The ability to think critically, to analyse and evaluate claims, evidence and arguments, and to reason and deploy evidence clearly and logically;
• The acquisition of coherent and disciplined sets of skills, knowledge, values and professional ethics from at least one discipline area;
• The ability to generate, calculate, interpret and communicate numerical information in ways appropriate to a given discipline or discourse;
• The ability to select and use appropriate tools and technologies.

Assumed Knowledge:	Students enrolling in this subject should have a good understanding of the fundamentals of biology, inheritance and the principles of evolution (BZ1005 or BZ1001 or equivalent).
Prerequisites:	BZ1005 OR BZ1001
Inadmissible Subject Combinations:	AG2005 BZ5420 BZ2420 BZ5820

Availabilities
Cairns, Internal, Study Period 1
Census Date 28-Mar-2013
Coordinator:	Dr Brad Congdon
Lecturers:	Dr Brad Congdon, Dr Tasmin Rymer.
Contact hours:	26 hours lectures 30 hours practicals - Practical and computer workshops
Assessment:	end of semester exam (50%); practical reports, written assignments and on-course work (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.