CQUniversity Unit Profile
ZOOL13015 Environmental Physiology of Animals
Environmental Physiology of Animals
All details in this unit profile for ZOOL13015 have been officially approved by CQUniversity and represent a learning partnership between the University and you (our student).
The information will not be changed unless absolutely necessary and any change will be clearly indicated by an approved correction included in the profile.
General Information

Overview

Students will gain an understanding of the physiological adaptations of animals that enable them to inhabit a range of environments and how animals can respond to environmental challenges such as climate change. Students will also conduct independent literature research and examine a range of procedures and technologies used to research the environmental physiology of animals.

Details

Career Level: Undergraduate
Unit Level: Level 3
Credit Points: 6
Student Contribution Band: 8
Fraction of Full-Time Student Load: 0.125

Pre-requisites or Co-requisites

BIOL11100

Important note: Students enrolled in a subsequent unit who failed their pre-requisite unit, should drop the subsequent unit before the census date or within 10 working days of Fail grade notification. Students who do not drop the unit in this timeframe cannot later drop the unit without academic and financial liability. See details in the Assessment Policy and Procedure (Higher Education Coursework).

Offerings For Term 1 - 2018

Distance

Attendance Requirements

All on-campus students are expected to attend scheduled classes – in some units, these classes are identified as a mandatory (pass/fail) component and attendance is compulsory. International students, on a student visa, must maintain a full time study load and meet both attendance and academic progress requirements in each study period (satisfactory attendance for International students is defined as maintaining at least an 80% attendance record).

Residential Schools

This unit has a Compulsory Residential School for distance mode students and the details are:
Click here to see your Residential School Timetable.

Class and Assessment Overview

Recommended Student Time Commitment

Each 6-credit Undergraduate unit at CQUniversity requires an overall time commitment of an average of 12.5 hours of study per week, making a total of 150 hours for the unit.

Class Timetable

Bundaberg, Cairns, Emerald, Gladstone, Mackay, Rockhampton, Townsville
Adelaide, Brisbane, Melbourne, Perth, Sydney

Assessment Overview

1. Written Assessment
Weighting: 40%
2. Practical Assessment
Weighting: 10%
3. Examination
Weighting: 50%

Assessment Grading

This is a graded unit: your overall grade will be calculated from the marks or grades for each assessment task, based on the relative weightings shown in the table above. You must obtain an overall mark for the unit of at least 50%, or an overall grade of ‘pass’ in order to pass the unit. If any ‘pass/fail’ tasks are shown in the table above they must also be completed successfully (‘pass’ grade). You must also meet any minimum mark requirements specified for a particular assessment task, as detailed in the ‘assessment task’ section (note that in some instances, the minimum mark for a task may be greater than 50%). Consult the University’s Grades and Results Policy for more details of interim results and final grades.

Previous Student Feedback

Feedback, Recommendations and Responses

Every unit is reviewed for enhancement each year. At the most recent review, the following staff and student feedback items were identified and recommendations were made.

Feedback from Unit Evaluation

Feedback

Students enjoyed the content of the unit, remarking that is was content not covered in other units but could be linked to other units.

Recommendation

The unit content will stay the same and the lecturer will continue to link it with prior knowledge.

Feedback from Unit Evaluation

Feedback

Students would like more details in the lab manual.

Recommendation

The lecturer will continue to make improvements to the lab manual.

Unit Learning Outcomes
On successful completion of this unit, you will be able to:
  1. Describe the functioning and control of physiological systems in a range of animals.
  2. Explain the physiological responses of animals to a range of environmental challenges.
  3. Present, analyse and interpret physiological data.
  4. Demonstrate a range of practical skills relevant to the study of environmental physiology.
Alignment of Learning Outcomes, Assessment and Graduate Attributes
N/A Level
Introductory Level
Intermediate Level
Graduate Level
Professional Level
Advanced Level

Alignment of Assessment Tasks to Learning Outcomes

Assessment Tasks Learning Outcomes
1 2 3 4
1 - Written Assessment - 40%
2 - Practical Assessment - 10%
3 - Examination - 50%

Alignment of Graduate Attributes to Learning Outcomes

Graduate Attributes Learning Outcomes
1 2 3 4
1 - Communication
2 - Problem Solving
3 - Critical Thinking
4 - Information Literacy
5 - Team Work
6 - Information Technology Competence
7 - Cross Cultural Competence
8 - Ethical practice
9 - Social Innovation
10 - Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Cultures

Alignment of Assessment Tasks to Graduate Attributes

Assessment Tasks Graduate Attributes
1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10
1 - Written Assessment - 40%
2 - Practical Assessment - 10%
3 - Examination - 50%
Textbooks and Resources

Textbooks

Prescribed

Principles of Animal Physiology

Edition: 3rd (2015)
Authors: Moyes & Schulte
Pearson
Edinburgh Edinburgh , UK
ISBN: 9780321838179
Binding: Other

IT Resources

You will need access to the following IT resources:
  • CQUniversity Student Email
  • Internet
  • Unit Website (Moodle)
Referencing Style

All submissions for this unit must use the referencing styles below:

For further information, see the Assessment Tasks.

Teaching Contacts
Olivia Daniels Unit Coordinator
o.daniels@cqu.edu.au
Schedule
Week 1 Begin Date: 05 Mar 2018

Module/Topic

Basic Principles

Chapter

Chapter 1, 2, 3; Moyes & Schulte

Events and Submissions/Topic


Week 2 Begin Date: 12 Mar 2018

Module/Topic

Energy and Nutrition

Chapter

Chapter 14; Moyes & Schulte

Events and Submissions/Topic

Identify which group of animals you will be researching for your literature review and notify your course coordinator by email.

Week 3 Begin Date: 19 Mar 2018

Module/Topic

Osmoregulation and excretion

Chapter

Chapter 13; Moyes & Schulte

Events and Submissions/Topic

Week 4 Begin Date: 26 Mar 2018

Module/Topic

Respiration and circulation

Chapter

Chapter 9 & 11; Moyes & Schulte

Events and Submissions/Topic

Week 5 Begin Date: 02 Apr 2018

Module/Topic

Thermoregulation

Chapter

Chapter 15; Moyes & Schulte

Events and Submissions/Topic

Literature review: Send an annotated list of at least 15 relevant articles to your course coordinator.

Vacation Week Begin Date: 09 Apr 2018

Module/Topic

Chapter

Events and Submissions/Topic

Week 6 Begin Date: 16 Apr 2018

Module/Topic

Sensory Systems and Locomotion

Chapter

Chapter 5, 6, 7; Moyes & Schulte

Events and Submissions/Topic

Compulsory Residential School:18 - 20 April

Week 7 Begin Date: 23 Apr 2018

Module/Topic

Hormones, Pheremones and Reproduction

Chapter

Chapter 4 & 16; Moyes & Schulte

Events and Submissions/Topic

Send an outline of your literature review to the course coordinator for feedback.

Week 8 Begin Date: 30 Apr 2018

Module/Topic

Marine life

Chapter

Events and Submissions/Topic

Week 9 Begin Date: 07 May 2018

Module/Topic

Estuaries

Chapter

Events and Submissions/Topic

Submit your first draft of your literature review to Turnitin for checking.

Week 10 Begin Date: 14 May 2018

Module/Topic

Freshwater and extreme aquatic habitats

Chapter

Events and Submissions/Topic

Week 11 Begin Date: 21 May 2018

Module/Topic

Terrestrial ecosystems

Chapter

Events and Submissions/Topic

Week 12 Begin Date: 28 May 2018

Module/Topic

Extreme terrestrial habitats and Review

Chapter

Events and Submissions/Topic

Literature Review Due: Week 12 Monday (28 May 2018) 9:00 am AEST
Review/Exam Week Begin Date: 04 Jun 2018

Module/Topic

Revision. Exams start Thursday 7/6/18

Chapter

Events and Submissions/Topic

Exam Week Begin Date: 11 Jun 2018

Module/Topic

Chapter

Events and Submissions/Topic

Assessment Tasks

1 Written Assessment

Assessment Title
Literature Review

Task Description

You are required to write a 4,000 to 5,000 word literature review on the following topic:

Choose a group of Australian animals from the list below and discuss their physiological and behavioural adaptations to the environment. Use this information to comment on their potential to adapt to climate change.

  1. Microbats
  2. Dasyurids
  3. Bettongs
  4. Platypus

More information will be available on the Moodle site.


Assessment Due Date

Week 12 Monday (28 May 2018) 9:00 am AEST


Return Date to Students

Exam Week Friday (15 June 2018)


Weighting
40%

Minimum mark or grade
45%

Assessment Criteria

Marks will be awarded for writing skills, content, research and referencing. Marks will not be allocated for sections that are plagiarised or copied, in line with CQU Policy. A detailed marking scheme is available on the Moodle site.


Referencing Style

Submission
Online

Learning Outcomes Assessed
  • Describe the functioning and control of physiological systems in a range of animals.
  • Explain the physiological responses of animals to a range of environmental challenges.


Graduate Attributes
  • Communication
  • Problem Solving
  • Critical Thinking
  • Information Literacy
  • Information Technology Competence

2 Practical Assessment

Assessment Title
Practical Assessment

Task Description

You are required to submit your Laboratory Log Book, including experimental data, calculations and answers to questions. Exact details will be provided on the Moodle site and discussed at the residential school.


Assessment Due Date

On completion of the residential school


Return Date to Students

Week 8 Friday (4 May 2018)


Weighting
10%

Minimum mark or grade
45%

Assessment Criteria

Marks will be awarded for completeness and presentation of data, accuracy of calculations and answers to questions. Detailed marking criteria will be provided on the Moodle site.


Referencing Style

Submission
Offline

Learning Outcomes Assessed
  • Describe the functioning and control of physiological systems in a range of animals.
  • Explain the physiological responses of animals to a range of environmental challenges.
  • Present, analyse and interpret physiological data.
  • Demonstrate a range of practical skills relevant to the study of environmental physiology.


Graduate Attributes
  • Communication
  • Problem Solving
  • Information Literacy
  • Team Work
  • Information Technology Competence
  • Ethical practice

Examination

Outline
Complete an invigilated examination

Date
During the examination period at a CQUniversity examination centre

Weighting
50%

Length
180 minutes

Minimum mark or grade
45%

Exam Conditions
Closed Book

Materials
Dictionary - non-electronic, concise, direct translation only (dictionary must not contain any notes or comments).
Academic Integrity Statement

As a CQUniversity student you are expected to act honestly in all aspects of your academic work.

Any assessable work undertaken or submitted for review or assessment must be your own work. Assessable work is any type of work you do to meet the assessment requirements in the unit, including draft work submitted for review and feedback and final work to be assessed.

When you use the ideas, words or data of others in your assessment, you must thoroughly and clearly acknowledge the source of this information by using the correct referencing style for your unit. Using others’ work without proper acknowledgement may be considered a form of intellectual dishonesty.

Participating honestly, respectfully, responsibly, and fairly in your university study ensures the CQUniversity qualification you earn will be valued as a true indication of your individual academic achievement and will continue to receive the respect and recognition it deserves.

As a student, you are responsible for reading and following CQUniversity’s policies, including the Student Academic Integrity Policy and Procedure. This policy sets out CQUniversity’s expectations of you to act with integrity, examples of academic integrity breaches to avoid, the processes used to address alleged breaches of academic integrity, and potential penalties.

What is a breach of academic integrity?

A breach of academic integrity includes but is not limited to plagiarism, self-plagiarism, collusion, cheating, contract cheating, and academic misconduct. The Student Academic Integrity Policy and Procedure defines what these terms mean and gives examples.

Why is academic integrity important?

A breach of academic integrity may result in one or more penalties, including suspension or even expulsion from the University. It can also have negative implications for student visas and future enrolment at CQUniversity or elsewhere. Students who engage in contract cheating also risk being blackmailed by contract cheating services.

Where can I get assistance?

For academic advice and guidance, the Academic Learning Centre (ALC) can support you in becoming confident in completing assessments with integrity and of high standard.

What can you do to act with integrity?