6 points, SCA Band 2, 0.125 EFTSL
Undergraduate - Unit
Refer to the specific census and withdrawal dates for the semester(s) in which this unit is offered.
Faculty
Organisational Unit
Coordinator(s)
Unit guides
Synopsis
This unit investigates how plants and animals respond to their environment. The unit covers a range of biomes including oceans, freshwaters and terrestrial ecosystems and considers the major environmental stresses caused by global change in these systems and how the biota acclimate and adapt to such stresses.
Outcomes
On completion of this unit students will be able to:
- Describe the basic processes governing the ways in which organisms respond to changes in their environment, from alterations in patterns of gene expression, through differences in metabolic activities to changes in morphology;
- Explain the mechanisms by which biota cope with specific stresses in their environments, particularly those associated with global change;
- Demonstrate a critical, analytical approach to scientific research and have developed skills in writing scientific reports.
Assessment
Examination (2 hours): 50%
Practical work: 50%
Workload requirements
Two 1-hour lectures and the equivalent of three hours laboratory work per week.
This unit may have a weekend excursion.
See also Unit timetable information
Chief examiner(s)
This unit applies to the following area(s) of study
Prerequisites
12 points from level two BIO or GEN units or by permission