| ZOOLOGY 2009 | |
Subjects: Semester 1 - ZOO3EPA, ZOO3EPC
Semester 2 - ZOO3EPB
Prerequisites:
Additional requirements
Workload
Each subject comprises three components, with or without options. Each component is worth 10 points and to complete either subject you require 30 points, i.e. you will need to select 3 components. On average, each component will have the equivalent of four lectures and two four-hour laboratory sessions scheduled per week for approximately four weeks. Each component is examined with the equivalent of a 1.5 hour theory exam and a number of reports relating to the laboratory or field work options.
A description of the various components and options to be offered in 2009 are listed below. A completed component selection form must be received by the Department before your enrolment in either ZOO3EPA or ZOO3EPB will be confirmed. You must also complete faculty enrolment procedures.
Go to the component selection form.
Research Project [10 pts, research work 0.5 day/week for 12 weeks or equivalent] (various academics) An opportunity for our best students to carry out a small research project under the guidance of an academic staff member for one semester. Projects on offer will vary each semester and depend on the availability of academic staff. Normally, only one student is selected into each project. Projects available in 2009 are listed below. Skills: research methods, data analysis and scientific report writing. Note, students must have a minimum of 80% in one of the 2nd year zoology subjects to be eligible. Selection is decided by interview.
| Projects | Academic | Semester Offered |
| Refining a monitoring tool to estimate abundance of terrestrial crayfish or Using egg size to determine larval stage length in ghost shrimps | Dr Fiona Bird | 1 or 2 |
| Other projects my be offered | contact relevant Dept. academic | 1 or 2 |
Heron Island Field Course [10
pts - field course] (Dr Giuseppe Posterino) Structure and development of reefs
and the physiology of corals and other marine organisms. Topics include biomineralisation,
osmotic and ionic regulation, and temperature and respiratory adaptations of
littoral animals. The physiological aspects of diving and adaptations to deep
oceans are also covered. The course is run completely (lectures and practicals)
at the Heron Island Research Station, Great Barrier Reef after end of year exams. Student Quota: min = 25,
max = 32. Skills: marine field work,
project design, team work, written presentation, snorkelling.
Mallee Field Course [10 pts - field course] (Dr Mike Clarke,/Dr Brian Malone/Dr Tim New/Dr Richard Zann) The aim of this course is to provide students with the opportunity to conduct ecological research in the field in a strikingly different biogeographical region, namely the mallee. Students will work in small groups to conduct a research project that they will develop themselves under the guidance of a staff member. Possible research topics include effects of habitat fragmentation upon avian, reptile or invertebrate communities, ecological responses to fire and grazing pressures, significance of old growth mallee to faunal communities. Student quota : min = 25, max = 36. Skills: experimental design and planning, hands-on experience of data collection in the field, team work, data collation and statistical analysis, written and oral presentation, SPSS computer package
ZOO3EPA (Semester 1)
Behavioural Ecology [10 pts-lectures and laboratory work] (Dr Richard Zann/Dr Michael Clarke). Competitive mating and sexual selection; sexual dimorphism, intra-sexual selection, epigamic selection. Parental investment and patterns of parental care and mating systems. Parent-offspring conflict. Behavioural ecology and sexual selection of non-human primates. Evolution of aid giving (altruism) and cooperation. Economic decisions and the individual. The laboratory section of this component explores Investigative Methods: Nature of scientific literature; electronic library searching skills; the nature of scientific writing and how to write scientific reports; how to make an oral presentation on a biological subject; practical experience in written and oral presentation. Practical skills in biological measurement (measuring fish). Introduction to the statistical package, SPSS. Experimental design, descriptive statistics (including confidence limits);
hypothesis testing (t-tests/ANOVAs); statistical relationships (correlations/regressions); analysis of frequencies; graphing results in Excel. Students must revise their first year statistics concepts before the semester begins.Animal Behaviour [10 pts - lectures and laboratory work] (Dr Richard Zann). Genetic and environmental determinants of behaviour and epigenetic theory of development. Experimental methods, Development of communication systems, sense organs, perception and motor responses. Role of genes in development. Role of pre-and post birth experiences in development of behaviour. Machinery of behavioural control: effective stimuli, stimulus selection and stimulus filtering at receptor, inter-neurons and brain. Goal directed behaviour and internal control mechanisms (open and closed loop). Case study—production and perception of song in field crickets. The laboratory aspect of this component utilises unstructured, original laboratory and field projects on any aspect of behaviour of any animal of student choice (within practical and Animal Ethics limits); invertebrates preferred. These mini research projects require much planning and preparation so an early start is essential. Skills: experimental design and planning, data collection, data reduction and statistical analysis; team work, written and oral presentation, SPSS computer package.
Australian Fauna [10 pts - lectures and volunteer work experience] (Drs Bird/Clarke/Malone/New/Zann). The origin, evolution, diversity and principal adaptations of the major groups of endemic fauna will be introduced. The biogeography of Australia's terrestrial and marine fauna will be presented with emphasis on the evolutionary origins, the modern elements and the implications for conservation and climate change. The major adaptations of endemic insects, marine invertebrates, fish, amphibians, reptiles, birds and mammals will be presented. The practical program involves a minimum of 20 hours of volunteer work experience with native animals or habitats of native animals. Students must organize their own placement with suitable organizations and may carry out their work experience any time before the end of June 2008. Suitable positions for volunteer work include assisting research work on native animals, assisting post-graduate research students and other research projects, working for wildlife shelters, veterinary surgeons, landcare groups, Waterwatch, friends groups for national parks, nature reserves and zoos, etc. An official letter from the volunteer's organization must confirm that the work has been completed. A two page report of the student's work experience will be assessed. Skills and experience: job application experience, on-site training, working under supervision, employer contacts, report writing.
ZOO3EPB (Semester 2)
Coastal Marine Ecology [10 pts - lectures and laboratory work] (Dr Fiona Bird). Ecology of coastal and shallow temperate marine habitats, including a discussion of benthic and pelagic systems, the structure and functioning of various ecosystems (eg. rocky shores, mudflats, mangroves and estuaries) and current issues relevant to the marine environment (eg. marine parks, exotic species). Practicals include a full day field trip. Skills: marine field methods, data analysis, written and oral presentations, report writing.
Freshwater Ecology [10 pts - lectures and laboratory work] (Dr Brian Malone). Ecology of lakes, ponds and streams. Topics include the physico-chemical properties of freshwater habitats and the relationships between structure and function progressing from individuals to populations, communities and ecosystems. Ecology of amphibian metamorphosis. Emphasis is placed on the methods used in freshwater research. Practicals: class research projects. Skills: teamwork, research methods, statistical analysis of data using computer software packages (SPSS), computer-based literature searching, written presentation.
Physiology of Excitable Tissues [10 pts - lectures and laboratory work] (Prof. George Stephenson). Subjects include electrophysiological methods, the physiology of ionic channels, nerve impulses, neural conduction and integration, neural and neuromuscular transmission, contraction in skeletal, cardiac and smooth muscles; and physiology of the senses. Skills: written presentation, critical analysis of data, working with live animal tissues.
ZOO3EPC (Semester 1)
Students must choose two field courses and one of the components offered in semester 2.