Zoology 2012 components
Subjects
Semester 1 - ZOO3EPA
Semester 2 - ZOO3EPB
Prerequisites
- either ZOO2AFE or ZOO2APH. (Both are strongly recommend), and
- Attendance at the Animal Ethics Committee (AEC) ZOO2APH workshop is a requisite. The AEC Workshop runs at the start of Semester 2; if you have not completed the workshop your ZOO3EPA mark will be withheld until you do.
Additional requirements
- dissection of dead animals and working with living animals or living tissues under supervision.
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.
Descriptions of the various components and options to be offered in 2012 are 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.
Components and Options
When you have decided on your components, go to the component selection form.
Wildcard Components
The following components can be used as component credits in either ZOO3EPA or ZOO3EPB
Research Project
[10 pts, research work 0.5 day/week for 12 weeks or equivalent]
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. The project available in 2012 is 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 | No Projects offered for 2012 |
|---|
Heron Island Field Course
[10 pts - field course] (Dr Giuseppe Posterino / Dr Travis Dutka)
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 = 36. 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 Heloise Gibb/ Dr Richard Peters/ Dr Kylie Robert)
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 or invertebrate communities, behavioural ecology of birds and lizards, 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 statistical software package.
ZOO3EPA (Semester 1)
Reproductive Physiology
[10 credit points - lectures and laboratory work] (Dr Kylie Robert)
Emphasis on eutherian and metatherian reproductive physiology. After completion of the component, students should have an understanding of:- the structure and function of male and female reproductive systems, endocrine, neuroendocrine and enviromental control of reproduction, development of gametes, embryos, pregnancy and parturition, major differences between eutherian and metatherian reproduction, topical examples of reproductive technologies, environmental endocrine disruptors, fertility control of pest species.
Animal-Plant Interactions
[10 credit points - lectures and laboratory work] (Dr Martin Steinbauer, Dr Steve Leonard)
Relationships between animals and plants are not one-sided. Plants affect the animals that consume or pollinate them as much they are affected by those animals. This course will consider the interactions of vertebrates and invertebrates with plants at scales ranging from the individual leaf or flower to entire habitats. No Botany prerequisites are required.
Skills: teamwork, research methods, statistical analysis of data using computer software packages (SPSS), report writing..
Moving into Metabolism
[10 credit points - lectures and laboratory work] (Dr Robyn Murphy)
Using various vertebrate species as models, this component will examine three topics: (1) metabolism, (2) physiology of movement and (3) thermogenic regulation. Branching from a choice of these topics, students will undertake a critical analysis of scientific literature and present work in an informal setting. Students with particular interests may introduce new topics into the literature review part of this component.
Skills: data analysis and interpretation, critical reviews of literature, management and presentation skills.
ZOO3EPB (Semester 2)
Behavioural Ecology
[10 credit points-lectures and laboratory work] (Dr Richard Peters)
This component will examine the diversity that we see in animal behaviour within a framework that incorporates animal ecology and evolution. We will focus on functional explanations of behaviour, namely how behaviour contributes to survival and/or reproductive success, and also address some of the underlying mechanisms that that contribute to this diversity. Topics to be considered will include social behaviour, finding prey, avoiding predators and animal communication strategies.
The laboratory section of this component will provide the opportunity to conduct behavioural experiments with live animals. Students will participate in experimental design, implementing the experiment and collecting data, analysing results and communicating the findings in oral and written formats.
Coastal Marine Ecology
[10 credit points - 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 half day field trip.
Skills: teamwork, marine field methods, statistical data analysis using SPSS, computer based literature searching, written and oral presentations, report writing.
Physiology of Excitable Tissues
[10 credit points - lectures and laboratory work] (Professor Graham Lamb/ Dr Giuseppe Posterino)
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.