Outline

Overview

This unit explores the dynamics of ecological systems, and considers the interactions between individual organisms and populations, organisms and the environment, and ecological processes. Lectures are grouped around four dominant themes: Interactions, Evolutionary Ecology, The Nature of Communities, and Conservation and Management. Emphasis is placed throughout on the importance of quantitative methods in ecology, including sound planning and experimental designs, and on the role of ecological science in the conservation, management, exploitation and control of populations. Relevant case studies and examples of ecological processes are drawn from marine, freshwater and terrestrial systems, with plants, animals, fungi and other life forms considered as required. Students will have some opportunity to undertake short term ecological projects, and to take part in discussions of important and emerging ideas in the ecological literature.

Unit details and rules

Academic unit	Life and Environmental Sciences Academic Operations
Credit points	6
Prerequisites ?	[12cp of BIOL2XXX] OR [6cp of BIOL2XXX and (MBLG2X72 or GEGE2X01 or GENE2002 or AVBS2XXX or ENSC2001)]
Corequisites ?	None
Prohibitions ?	BIOL3907
Assumed knowledge ?	None
Available to study abroad and exchange students	Yes

Teaching staff

Coordinator	Glenda Wardle, glenda.wardle@sydney.edu.au

Type	Description	Weight	Due	Length
Final exam (Record+)	Exam Exam	40%	Formal exam period	2 hours
Outcomes assessed:
Assignment	Practical project: written report Written task	25%	STUVAC	See Canvas
Outcomes assessed:
Presentation	Project outline talk Oral presentation	5%	Week 04	10 minutes
Outcomes assessed:
Assignment	Big Ideas in Ecology Written task	20%	Week 07	see Canvas
Outcomes assessed:
Presentation	Project presentation: poster Poster presentation	10%	Week 13	10 minutes
Outcomes assessed:
= group assignment ? = Type B final exam ?

Assessment summary

Exam: This will test your overall understanding of the subject, both theoretical and experimental.

Detailed information for each assessment can be found on Canvas.

All students must contribute to group assessments

Special consideration procedures apply.

Assessment criteria

The University awards common result grades, set out in the Coursework Policy 2014 (Schedule 1).

As a general guide, a high distinction indicates work of an exceptional standard, a distinction a very high standard, a credit a good standard, and a pass an acceptable standard.

Result name	Mark range	Description
High distinction	85 - 100	At HD level, a student demonstrates a flair for the subject as well as a detailed and comprehensive understanding of the unit material. A ‘High Distinction’ reflects exceptional achievement and is awarded to a student who demonstrates the ability to apply their subject knowledge and understanding to produce original solutions for novel or highly complex problems and/or comprehensive critical discussions of theoretical concepts.
Distinction	75 - 84	At DI level, a student demonstrates an aptitude for the subject and a well-developed understanding of the unit material. A ‘Distinction’ reflects excellent achievement and is awarded to a student who demonstrates an ability to apply their subject knowledge and understanding of the subject to produce good solutions for challenging problems and/or a reasonably well-developed critical analysis of theoretical concepts.
Credit	65 - 74	At CR level, a student demonstrates a good command and knowledge of the unit material. A ‘Credit’ reflectssolid achievement and is awarded to a student who has a broad general understanding of the unit material and can solve routine problems and/or identify and superficially discuss theoretical concepts.
Pass	50 - 64	At PS level, a student demonstrates proficiency in the unit material. A ‘Pass’ reflects satisfactory achievement and is awarded to a student who has threshold knowledge.
Fail	0 - 49	When you don’t meet the learning outcomes of the unit to a satisfactory standard.

For more information see guide to grades.

Late submission

In accordance with University policy, these penalties apply when written work is submitted after 11:59pm on the due date:

Deduction of 5% of the maximum mark for each calendar day after the due date.
After ten calendar days late, a mark of zero will be awarded.

This unit has an exception to the standard University policy or supplementary information has been provided by the unit coordinator. This information is displayed below:

Non-attendance for the project presentations attracts a mark of zero.

Academic integrity

The Current Student website provides information on academic integrity and the resources available to all students. The University expects students and staff to act ethically and honestly and will treat all allegations of academic integrity breaches seriously.

We use similarity detection software to detect potential instances of plagiarism or other forms of academic integrity breach. If such matches indicate evidence of plagiarism or other forms of academic integrity breaches, your teacher is required to report your work for further investigation.

Use of generative artificial intelligence (AI) and automated writing tools

You may only use generative AI and automated writing tools in assessment tasks if you are permitted to by your unit coordinator. If you do use these tools, you must acknowledge this in your work, either in a footnote or an acknowledgement section. The assessment instructions or unit outline will give guidance of the types of tools that are permitted and how the tools should be used.

Your final submitted work must be your own, original work. You must acknowledge any use of generative AI tools that have been used in the assessment, and any material that forms part of your submission must be appropriately referenced. For guidance on how to acknowledge the use of AI, please refer to the AI in Education Canvas site.

The unapproved use of these tools or unacknowledged use will be considered a breach of the Academic Integrity Policy and penalties may apply.

Studiosity is permitted unless otherwise indicated by the unit coordinator. The use of this service must be acknowledged in your submission as detailed on the Learning Hub’s Canvas page.

Outside assessment tasks, generative AI tools may be used to support your learning. The AI in Education Canvas site contains a number of productive ways that students are using AI to improve their learning.

Learning support

Simple extensions

If you encounter a problem submitting your work on time, you may be able to apply for an extension of five calendar days through a simple extension.  The application process will be different depending on the type of assessment and extensions cannot be granted for some assessment types like exams.

Special consideration

If exceptional circumstances mean you can’t complete an assessment, you need consideration for a longer period of time, or if you have essential commitments which impact your performance in an assessment, you may be eligible for special consideration or special arrangements.

Special consideration applications will not be affected by a simple extension application.

Using AI responsibly

Co-created with students, AI in Education includes lots of helpful examples of how students use generative AI tools to support their learning. It explains how generative AI works, the different tools available and how to use them responsibly and productively.

Weekly schedule

WK	Topic	Learning activity
Week 01	Population growth	Lecture (1 hr)
	Life histories	Lecture (1 hr)
	Form groups and project ideas	Science laboratory (3 hr)
Week 02	Population models	Lecture (1 hr)
	Population models: case studies	Lecture (1 hr)
	1. Demography analysis (group A); 2. Finalise project ideas (group B)	Science laboratory (3 hr)
Week 03	Population regulation	Lecture (1 hr)
	Metapopulations and extinctions	Lecture (1 hr)
	1. Finalise project ideas (group A); 2. Demography analysis (group B)	Science laboratory (3 hr)
Week 04	Ecological interactions: overview	Lecture (1 hr)
	Competition and predation	Lecture (1 hr)
	Group project presentations	Science laboratory (3 hr)
Week 05	Plant-herbivore interactions – herbivore perspective	Lecture (1 hr)
	Plant-herbivore interactions – plant perspective	Lecture (1 hr)
	Self-directed project work	Science laboratory (3 hr)
Week 06	Complex interactions	Lecture (1 hr)
	Interactions with invasive species – what can we learn?	Lecture (1 hr)
	Self-directed project work	Science laboratory (3 hr)
Week 07	What are communities? A short history	Lecture (1 hr)
	Community dynamics and succession	Lecture (1 hr)
	Discussion of ecological topic	Science laboratory (3 hr)
Week 08	Disturbance and patch dynamics	Lecture (1 hr)
	1. Assembly rules; 2. Gamma diversity	Lecture (1 hr)
	Self-directed project work	Science laboratory (3 hr)
Week 09	Managing disturbance and communities	Lecture (1 hr)
	Ecological units beyond communities	Lecture (1 hr)
	Self-directed project work	Science laboratory (3 hr)
Week 10	Fragmentation and the extinction debt	Lecture (1 hr)
	Thresholds: what can we afford to lose?	Lecture (1 hr)
	Self-directed project work	Science laboratory (3 hr)
Week 11	Hotspots and surrogates	Lecture (1 hr)
	Restoration ecology: individuals and landscapes	Lecture (1 hr)
	Self-directed project work	Science laboratory (3 hr)
Week 12	Co-extinction: how evolutionary biology fits into conservation	Lecture (1 hr)
	Human dimensions of ecology	Lecture (1 hr)
	Project work	Science laboratory (3 hr)
Week 13	Poster session	Science laboratory (3 hr)
	Urban Ecology	Lecture (1 hr)
	Future of ecology	Lecture (1 hr)

Study commitment

Typically, there is a minimum expectation of 1.5-2 hours of student effort per week per credit point for units of study offered over a full semester. For a 6 credit point unit, this equates to roughly 120-150 hours of student effort in total.

Learning outcomes

Learning outcomes are what students know, understand and are able to do on completion of a unit of study. They are aligned with the University's graduate qualities and are assessed as part of the curriculum.

Outcomes
Graduate qualities

At the completion of this unit, you should be able to:

LO1. understand key concepts and controversies in ecology
LO2. appreciate the experimental basis to developing ecological concepts
LO3. interpret and critically evaluate relevant research articles
LO4. demonstrate experience in ecological research
LO5. understand the role of applied ecology.

Graduate qualities

The graduate qualities are the qualities and skills that all University of Sydney graduates must demonstrate on successful completion of an award course. As a future Sydney graduate, the set of qualities have been designed to equip you for the contemporary world.

GQ1	Depth of disciplinary expertise Deep disciplinary expertise is the ability to integrate and rigorously apply knowledge, understanding and skills of a recognised discipline defined by scholarly activity, as well as familiarity with evolving practice of the discipline.
GQ2	Critical thinking and problem solving Critical thinking and problem solving are the questioning of ideas, evidence and assumptions in order to propose and evaluate hypotheses or alternative arguments before formulating a conclusion or a solution to an identified problem.
GQ3	Oral and written communication Effective communication, in both oral and written form, is the clear exchange of meaning in a manner that is appropriate to audience and context.
GQ4	Information and digital literacy Information and digital literacy is the ability to locate, interpret, evaluate, manage, adapt, integrate, create and convey information using appropriate resources, tools and strategies.
GQ5	Inventiveness Generating novel ideas and solutions.
GQ6	Cultural competence Cultural Competence is the ability to actively, ethically, respectfully, and successfully engage across and between cultures. In the Australian context, this includes and celebrates Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander cultures, knowledge systems, and a mature understanding of contemporary issues.
GQ7	Interdisciplinary effectiveness Interdisciplinary effectiveness is the integration and synthesis of multiple viewpoints and practices, working effectively across disciplinary boundaries.
GQ8	Integrated professional, ethical, and personal identity An integrated professional, ethical and personal identity is understanding the interaction between one’s personal and professional selves in an ethical context.
GQ9	Influence Engaging others in a process, idea or vision.

Outcome map

Learning outcomes	Graduate qualities
Learning outcomes

Responding to student feedback

This section outlines changes made to this unit following staff and student reviews.

Changes introducing the big idea assessment have been made since this unit was last offered.

Additional information

Work, health and safety

We are governed by the Work Health and Safety Act 2011, Work Health and Safety Regulation 2011 and Codes of Practice. Penalties for non-compliance have increased. Everyone has a responsibility for health and safety at work. Information about the Uni-versity’s Work Health and Safety policy http://sydney.edu.au/whs/policies/legislation.shtml. explains the responsibilities and expectations of workers and others, and the procedures for managing WHS risks associated with University
activities.

Your staff, lecturers and supervisors must do what they can to eliminate or minimise risks to health and safety so far as is reasonably practicable.

Students and visitors - are required to take reasonable care that their acts or omissions do not adversely affect the health and safety of themselves or others, and to comply with any reasonable instructions given to ensure health and safety. With respect to working in the practical classes, “reasonable care” includes wearing a lab coat and closed in shoes (the top of the foot must be covered), and complying with safety instructions when handling hazardous materials and/or equipment.

Disclaimer

The University reserves the right to amend units of study or no longer offer certain units, including where there are low enrolment numbers.

To help you understand common terms that we use at the University, we offer an online glossary.

Current students

Overview

Overview

Unit details and rules

Teaching staff

Assessment

Assessment

Assessment summary

Assessment criteria

Late submission

Academic integrity

Learning support

Learning support

Simple extensions

Special consideration

Using AI responsibly

Weekly schedule

Weekly schedule

Study commitment

Learning outcomes

Learning outcomes

Graduate qualities

Outcome map

Responding to student feedback

Responding to student feedback

Additional information

Additional information

Work, health and safety

Disclaimer

On this page

Useful links

Media

Student links

About us

Connect

Current students

BIOL3007: Ecology

Semester 2, 2021 [Normal day] - Remote

Overview

Overview

Unit details and rules

Teaching staff

Assessment

Assessment

Assessment summary

Assessment criteria

Late submission

Academic integrity

Learning support

Learning support

Simple extensions

Special consideration

Using AI responsibly

Weekly schedule

Weekly schedule

Study commitment

Learning outcomes

Learning outcomes

Graduate qualities

Outcome map

Responding to student feedback

Responding to student feedback

Additional information

Additional information

Work, health and safety

Disclaimer

On this page

Useful links

Media

Student links

About us

Connect