BZ5725 - Herpetology
[Offered in even-numbered years]
| Credit points: | 03 |
| Year: | 2014 |
| Student Contribution Band: | Band 2 |
| Administered by: | School of Marine & Tropical Biology (pre 2015) |
Available to students enrolled for the Graduate Diploma of Research Methods, Master of Applied Science, Graduate Certificate of Science, Graduate Diploma of Science, Bachelor of Science (Advanced), Graduate Certificate of Development Practice, Graduate Diploma of Development Practice, Master of Science and Master of Development Practice.
Australia has one of the richest faunas of frogs and reptiles found on any continent. The Australian herpetofauna is taxonomically and functionally diverse, with a wide variety of ecological types, habitat requirements and life histories. Reptiles and amphibians are poorly studied in comparison with the other terrestrial vertebrates and are generally less vagile and more habitat-specific than birds or mammals. They can thus serve as valuable indicators of the status of habitats and should be included in habitat evaluations. Members of both taxa exhibit a very wide range of reproductive and behavioural adaptations that enable them to survive in Australia's harsh environments. The subject examines the diversity of form and function of Australian amphibians and reptiles, emphasising the tropical fauna and will work with techniques needed to survey them and study their biology. Students will be required to attend BZ3725 lectures and practicals.
Learning Outcomes
- learn and apply the basic techniques needed to survey and study the biology of amphibians and reptiles;
- learn to identify representatives of major taxa;
- understand the taxonomic and functional diversity of Australian amphibians and reptiles, particularly the tropical fauna.
| 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 understanding of zoology. |
| Inadmissible Subject Combinations: | BZ3725 ZL3211 ZL5211 |
Availabilities | |
| Townsville, Block, Study Period 10 | |
| Census Date 11-Dec-2014 | |
| Face to face teaching 24-Nov-2014 to 05-Dec-2014 | |
| Coordinator: | Professor Lin Schwarzkopf |
| Contact hours: |
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| Assessment: | end of semester exam (45%); other exams (15%); assignments (30%); field project report; (10%). |
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.