FRESHWATER ECOSYSTEMS FIELD COURSE
ENV3FRE
2020
Credit points: 15
Subject outline
Aquatic Ecosystems Field Course is based around a seven-day camp (5 full days) centred on the Ovens River in North East Victoria. The field trip will specifically address field techniques used to study aquatic and riparian (stream side) communities, through team-based research combined with evening discussions and presentations. Pre-trip commitments will involve the successful completion of on-line background modules to assist in your understanding of the field project objectives. The field project will focus on the areas of: geomorphology-hydrology, water quality, macroinvertebrate communities, fish and vegetation, the results of which will form the basis of a post-field trip report and a major assessment task. The subject will also cover aspects of river management, in particular the role of flow regime in achieving ecological outcomes. This subject is an introduction to field research and will be suitable for aspiring park rangers, field ecologists and anyone interested in a career working in science and the environment.
School: Life Sciences (Pre 2022)
Credit points: 15
Subject Co-ordinator: Ewen Silvester
Available to Study Abroad/Exchange Students: Yes
Subject year level: Year Level 3 - UG
Available as Elective: Yes
Learning Activities: N/A
Capstone subject: No
Subject particulars
Subject rules
Prerequisites: N/A
Co-requisites: N/A
Incompatible subjects: N/A
Equivalent subjects: N/A
Quota Management Strategy: Merit based quota management
Quota-conditions or rules: Students selected from provisionally enrolled list, based on second year results.
Special conditions: Students MUST check details of dates, costs and reimbursement cut-off dates of field trips with the department. This field course incurs additional costs. The field trip start point is from Wodonga campus and students are expected to make their own way there, or travel independently to Harrietville directly - both of these options are at the student's own cost.
Minimum credit point requirement: N/A
Assumed knowledge: N/A
Career Ready
Career-focused: No
Work-based learning: No
Self sourced or Uni sourced: N/A
Entire subject or partial subject: N/A
Total hours/days required: N/A
Location of WBL activity (region): N/A
WBL addtional requirements: N/A
Graduate capabilities & intended learning outcomes
Graduate Capabilities
Intended Learning Outcomes
Melbourne (Bundoora), 2020, Week 35-47, Blended
Overview
Online enrolment: Yes
Maximum enrolment size: 41
Subject Instance Co-ordinator: Ewen Silvester
Class requirements
Field TripWeek: 39 - 40
One 7.00 days field trip per study period on any day including weekend during the day from week 39 to week 40 and delivered via face-to-face.
The subject is based around the Ovens River, North East Victoria. It will be conducted during the mid-semester break of second semester.
Unscheduled Online ClassWeek: 35 - 39
One 15.00 hours unscheduled online class per study period on any day including weekend during the day from week 35 to week 39 and delivered via online.
Online components will be conducted from early in semester 2 until the week before the field trip.
Assessments
| Assessment element | Category | Contribution | Hurdle | % | ILO* |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Field work report (2,000-words)Hurdle Requirement: Students must achieve a minimum of 50% in order to pass the subject.Due four weeks after field trip | N/A | N/A | Yes | 40 | SILO1, SILO3, SILO4 |
Pre-field multiple choice quiz (1,000-words equivalent)Tests student understanding of three modules: (i) freshwater ecosystems, (ii) field techniques, and (iii) research design and analysis. | N/A | N/A | No | 30 | SILO1, SILO2, SILO4 |
Annotated bibliography (500-words)Each group is requested to review up to 10 journal articles (dependent upon number of members in each group) and create an annotated bibliography foe each article. The entire document is no more than 500 words (50 words for each article). | N/A | N/A | No | 10 | SILO1, SILO4 |
Teamwork exercises (200-words equivalent)Combination of on-line and on-trip tasks that prepare students for working in team environments and assess their ability to take on different roles in teams. Assessment is via submission to on-line discussion forums (5%) and peer evaluation (5%). | N/A | N/A | No | 10 | SILO2 |
Oral presentation (200-words equivalent)Oral presentations are delivered in groups on the penultimate day of the field trip. | N/A | N/A | No | 10 | SILO2, SILO4 |