Undergraduate - UnitBIO2231 - Animal diversity

This unit entry is for students who completed this unit in 2015 only. For students planning to study the unit, please refer to the unit indexes in the the current edition of the Handbook. If you have any queries contact the managing faculty for your course or area of study.

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6 points, SCA Band 2, 0.125 EFTSL

Refer to the specific census and withdrawal dates for the semester(s) in which this unit is offered.

Level	Undergraduate
Faculty	Faculty of Science
Organisational Unit	School of Biological Sciences
Offered	Clayton First semester 2015 (Day)
Coordinator(s)	Dr Christopher Johnstone

Synopsis

Examines the diversity of animals and organises them in a systematic way using their evolutionary history. We examine a range of representatives from different animal phyla, starting with the structurally simple and progressing to mammals, in the context of emerging and changing patterns in their body plans. These are related to changes in the ecology and diversification within the phyla. Concepts and theories developed during the theory part of the course are developed further in the practical classes. During these interactive sessions use of live material is made for observation and the characters used to group animals into higher taxonomic groups are demonstrated and discussed.

Outcomes

On completion of this unit students will be able to:

Describe the origin of animals and how they differ from other living organisms;

Explain the relationship between animal diversity and evolutionary derived changes in animal body plans;

Identify major animal phyla;

Demonstrate skills in library and field research, data and information gathering, collation and organisation suitable for the preparation of a scientific report;

Demonstrate basic laboratory techniques associated with examining and handling zoological specimens.

Assessment

Final theory exam (2 hours): 35%
Final practical exam (2 hours): 25%
Continuous assessment (miniquizzes): 10%
Practical assignments: 20%
Research project: 10%

Workload requirements

Two 1-hour lectures and one 3-hour practical (or equivalent)

Chief examiner(s)

Dr Christopher Johnstone

This unit applies to the following area(s) of study

Ecology and conservation biology
Zoology

Prerequisites

BIO1011 and either BIO1022 or BIO1042, or permission