BZ2808 - Adapting to Environmental Challenges
| Credit points: | 03 |
| Year: | 2016 |
| Student Contribution Band: | Band 2 |
| Administered by: | College of Science and Engineering |
This subject considers the ways that animals and plants interact and adapt to the physical aspects of their environment. We examine the morphological, physiological and behavioural adaptations that arise from environmental challenges faced by species across a range of spatial and temporal scales. In the practical component of this subject, students get to project manage a scientific study from beginning to end. Working in small groups, students design a research experiment that examines/tests the adaptations of a non-protected plant/invertebrate species, conduct that experiment, manage the project logistics and budget, analyse the results, and are trained to report their findings in two formats: a seminar and a peer-reviewed written report. Students also learn to constructively critique the work of others and gain experience in the peer review process.
Learning Outcomes
- Identify and describe the morphological, physiological and behavioural mechanisms by which animals and plants accommodate physical limitations of specific environments;
- Evaluate evidence of adaptation across different taxa and ecosystems, and describe the trends observed;
- Collect and critically evaluate primary, peer reviewed scientific knowledge about an area of research, and determine the quality and quantity of information relevant to the proposed study;
- Work in a small team to design and run a scientific project, with compliance to national, state and local government legislation, WH&S guidelines, financial constraints, assessment objectives and project deadlines;
- Communicate the results of a scientific research project in oral and written forms, via a presentation to an open forum, and with a scientific paper;
- Critique others work, by participating in the peer review of other BZ2808 and BZ5808 scientific studies, and provide constructive feedback to the authors.
| Assumed Knowledge: | Students enrolling in this subject should have a good background in level 1 science subjects including chemistry (CH1011 or CH1001) zoology and botany (BZ1005 OR BZ1004 OR BZ1003 OR BZ1006 OR BZ1007 OR BZ1008) or equivalent. |
| Prerequisites: | BZ1004 OR BZ1005 OR BZ1006 OR BZ1007 OR BZ1008 |
| Inadmissible Subject Combinations: | BZ5008 ZL2008 ZL5008 BZ5808 BZ2008 |
Availabilities | |
| Cairns, Internal, Study Period 2 | |
| Census Date 25-Aug-2016 | |
| Coordinator: | Dr Lucas Cernusak |
| Contact hours: |
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| Assessment: | on-course assessment; (50%); centrally-administered final exam (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.