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Unit Summary
Unit type
UG Coursework Unit
Credit points
12
AQF level
Level of learning
Intermediate
Former School/College
Pre-requisites
have foundation knowledge of plant and animal taxonomy (Domain, Kingdom and major phyla), use of taxonomic keys, major biological processes (productivity, trophic relationships, population dynamics), chemical equation writing, scientific report structure, basic statistical tests and computing skills. These are assumed knowledge obtained from the following introductory level units or equivalent experience. BIO00201 - Biology BIO00202 - Ecology CHE00201 - Chemistry MAT00211 - Environmental Information Analysis
Unit aim
Introduces students to the major types of coastal marine habitat, from estuaries, intertidal shores, rocky and coral reefs, to show their basic structure and the processes that maintain them as recognisable entities. In addition, this unit builds on the basic knowledge acquired in the Biology and Ecology units of the first year to survey the major groups of marine animals and plants and show their roles in the maintenance of marine habitats. The practical work includes field trips to mangroves, seagrass, rocky shore and sediment habitats. It includes boat work to sample plankton and benthos.
Unit content
The following topics will be covered by the study guide, textbook and Internet readings and lectures and are assessed by two online quizzes and a final exam:
- Global ocean systems and Australian marine biogeography
- Estuarine habitats including seagrasses, mangroves and saltmarshes
- The pelagic environment: plankton, fish and other nekton
- Sedimentary habitats
- Rocky habitats
- Coral reefs.
The following marine taxonomy topics are for self-directed study and are covered by the Practical Handbook, supported by recommended reference books and on-line resources. They will be assessed in the online quizzes and final exam and reinforced by field exercises: - polychaetes and other worms - molluscs - crustaceans - echinoderms - cnidarians and ctenophores - sessile phyla: sponges, ascidians and bryozoans - marine Plants: macroalgae, mangroves, saltmarshes and seagrasses. All students will be expected to contribute to a group seminar presentation on a marine species of concern to Australian marine resource managers. Field trips - Plankton collection, Richmond River - Estuarine habitats, Mobbs Bay, Ballina - Subtidal benthos sampling, Ballina - Open coast rocky shore zonation.
Learning outcomes
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 | GA2 | GA3 | GA4 | GA5 | GA6 | GA7 | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | identify the major taxa of marine organisms and recognise local examples | |||||||
| 2 | demonstrate an understanding of the basic organisation and function of the major coastal marine habitats and communities and relate this to issues in marine resource management | |||||||
| 3 | plan and conduct sampling programs of marine organisms in a variety of habitats and to present their findings in a variety of formats. | |||||||
On completion of this unit, students should be able to:
-
identify the major taxa of marine organisms and recognise local examples
- GA4:
- GA5:
-
demonstrate an understanding of the basic organisation and function of the major coastal marine habitats and communities and relate this to issues in marine resource management
- GA1:
- GA4:
- GA5:
-
plan and conduct sampling programs of marine organisms in a variety of habitats and to present their findings in a variety of formats.
- GA1:
- GA4:
- GA5:
Prescribed texts
- Townsend, DW, 2012, Oceanography and Marine Biology, 1st edn, Sinauer & Associates Inc, Massachusetts USA. ISBN: 978-0-87893-602-1.