BZ5061 - Behavioural Ecology

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

Master of Applied Science, Graduate Certificate of Development Practice, Graduate Diploma of Development Practice, Master of Science, Master of Development Practice, Graduate Diploma of Science and Bachelor Science Advanced.

Understanding the evolution of animal behaviour is a key component of the successful biologists tool kit. Students will learn the necessary theoretical and practical skills enabling them to conduct, interpret and report a diversity of behavioural studies, with an emphasis on the implementation in tropical systems.

Learning Outcomes

• to further develop written, verbal and presentation skills;
• to understand how ecological and behavioural processes operate within an evolutionary framework;
• to understand how to propose and evaluate alternative hypotheses concerning the evolution of ecological and behavioural characteristics;
• to understand the process of natural selection and evolution.

Graduate Qualities

• The ability to appraise information critically;
• The ability to conceptualise and evaluate a range of potential solutions to relevant problems;
• The ability to plan, conduct and manage research in their discipline;
• The ability to identify and take serendipitous advantage of research opportunities;
• The potential to lead and contribute to projects effectively and efficiently;
• The ability to conduct their research in an ethical manner.

Assumed Knowledge:	Students enrolling in this subject should have a good background in undergraduate biology. Knowledge of ecology and biological statistics are recommended.
Inadmissible Subject Combinations:	BZ3061 ZL3061 ZL5061

Availabilities
Townsville, Internal, Study Period 2
Census Date 29-Aug-2013
Coordinator:	Professor Simon Robson
Lecturers:	Professor Glen Chilton, Dr Justin Welbergen, Professor Mark McCormick, Professor Lin Schwarzkopf, Dr Stefan Walker, Professor Simon Robson.
Contact hours:	26 hours lectures 13 hours tutorials
Assessment:	end of semester exam (30%); tutorial attendance and participation (40%); essays (15%); literature review (15%).

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.