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Unit of Study BIO10185 - Marine Mammals: Biology and Conservation (2018)

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Unit Snapshot

  • Pre-requisites

    192 credit points in any SCU units.

  • Enrolment information

    Offered only at the National Marine Science Centre in a three-week intensive mode, which includes a compulsory six day residential held outside normal residential weeks. Please refer to http://scu.edu.au/timetables for further information on timetables. There is a small additional cost (<$100) associated with external activities (e.g., for a whale watching vessel and for access to dolphins and seals).

Unit description

Introduces students to the biology and ecology of marine mammals. Students will learn about key threats to marine mammal populations. They will also analyse management priorities to ensure the continued survival and recovery of marine mammal populations into the future.

Unit content

Marine mammal  taxonomy and evolution.

Biology and ecology of marine mammals, including reproductive biology, migrations, physiology and behaviour.

Human threats to marine mammals, including the history of whaling and current threats.

Global conservation status of marine mammals.

Management and conservation planning for marine mammals.

Availabilities

Location Domestic International
National Marine Science Centre Coffs Harbour Session 2 Session 2
Online Session 2 N/A

Learning outcomes and graduate attributes

Unit Learning Outcomes express learning achievement in terms of what a student should know, understand and be able to do on completion of a unit. These outcomes are aligned with the graduate attributes. The unit learning outcomes and graduate attributes are also the basis of evaluating prior learning.

On completion of this unit, students should be able to:

GA1: Intellectual rigour, GA2: Creativity, GA3: Ethical practice, GA4: Knowledge of a discipline, GA5: Lifelong learning, GA6: Communication and social skills, GA7: Cultural competence
Learning outcome count Learning outcome description GA1 GA2 GA3 GA4 GA5 GA6 GA7
1 demonstrate understanding of the taxonomy, anatomy, biology and ecology of marine mammals
2 identify the common marine mammals occurring in Australian territorial waters
3 describe the main types of human interactions with marine mammals and how they can be managed
4 demonstrate understanding of how marine mammals are managed and the legislation governing their protection
5 analyse the risks posed to marine mammals by human activities including whaling, fisheries, habitat loss, shipping, pollution, tourism and climate change.

On completion of this unit, students should be able to:

  1. demonstrate understanding of the taxonomy, anatomy, biology and ecology of marine mammals
    • GA1:
    • GA4:
    • GA5:
  2. identify the common marine mammals occurring in Australian territorial waters
    • GA1:
    • GA4:
    • GA5:
  3. describe the main types of human interactions with marine mammals and how they can be managed
    • GA1:
    • GA4:
  4. demonstrate understanding of how marine mammals are managed and the legislation governing their protection
    • GA1:
    • GA4:
  5. analyse the risks posed to marine mammals by human activities including whaling, fisheries, habitat loss, shipping, pollution, tourism and climate change.
    • GA1:
    • GA4:

Prescribed learning resources

Prescribed Texts
  • No prescribed texts.

Prescribed Learning Resources may change in future Teaching Periods.