Outline

Overview

This field course provides a practical introduction to the experimental analysis of marine populations and communities. Students gain experience using a range of ecological sampling techniques and develop a detailed understanding of the logical requirements necessary for manipulative field experiments. No particular mathematical or statistical skills are required for this subject. Group experimental research projects in the field are the focus of the unit during the day, with lectures and discussion groups about the analysis of experimental data and current issues in experimental ecology, management and conservation occurring in the evening. The skills learned in this course, which include critical thinking, problem solving, project management, experimental design, data handling and analysis and scientific writing, are highly sought after by a range of employers, including from academia, government and consultancy.

Unit details and rules

Academic unit	Life and Environmental Sciences Academic Operations
Credit points	6
Prerequisites ?	12 credit points of BIOL2XXX or [6 credit points of BIOL2XXX and (AVBS2XXX or ENVX2001)]
Corequisites ?	None
Prohibitions ?	BIOL3908 or BIOL2028 or BIOL2928
Assumed knowledge ?	None
Available to study abroad and exchange students	No

Teaching staff

Coordinator	Pauline Ross, pauline.ross@sydney.edu.au
Demonstrator(s)	Emily McLaren, emily.mclaren@sydney.edu.au
Demonstrator(s)	Monique Webb, monique.webb@sydney.edu.au
Lecturer(s)	Ziggy Marzinelli, e.marzinelli@sydney.edu.au
	Pauline Ross, pauline.ross@sydney.edu.au
	Maria Byrne, maria.byrne@sydney.edu.au

Assessment

The census date for this unit availability is 29 November 2024

Details
Criteria

Type	Description	Weight	Due	Length
Assignment	Project proposal Scientific report summary	10%	Week 04 Due date: 26 Nov 2024 at 23:59	2 pages
Outcomes assessed:
Participation	Research participation Participation in fieldwork, research talks/presentation and discussions.	10%	Week 04 Due date: 30 Nov 2024 at 23:59	Throughout the course.
Outcomes assessed:
Assignment	Data analysis and checking Data spreadsheet and analysis	10%	Week 06 Due date: 28 Nov 2024 at 23:59	2 pages
Outcomes assessed:
Assignment	Assessment of biodiversity Written assignment	20%	Week 07 Due date: 06 Dec 2024 at 23:59	4 pages max.
Outcomes assessed:
Assignment	Research project report Written assignment	50%	Week 09 Due date: 15 Dec 2024 at 23:59	10 pages (double-spaced)
Outcomes assessed:
= hurdle task ? = group assignment ?

Assessment summary

Research participation: These marks are awarded for active involvement in discussions and fieldwork, as well as research presentations.

Assessment of biodiversity: This assignment is to help you determine the diversity of the locality/system under investigation. Usually, this will involve some type of quantitative sampling as we can rarely, if ever, just count all the organisms we are interested in.

Project proposal: By the start of day 3 of the fieldwork, you need to submit a project proposal. You must include statements of observation, model and hypothesis. You must indicate what statistical tests you will use to support or refute your hypothesis. You should detail the experiments(s) you will carry out, and include clear diagrams if these will aid understanding. You need to have a written feasible work plan and an equipment list.

Data analysis and checking: This summary should include the design of the spreadsheet you will use to store and manipulate the data, any checking mechanisms you have used to ensure the veracity of entered data, the type of statistical analysis you will use and the type of graphs you may use.

Research project report: After working on your projects, you will go to the literature to research whether other similar studies have been done on your organism, here or elsewhere. Discussion of how your work relates to other studies should be an important part of your project report.

Detailed information for each assessment as well as information on late submission penalties can be found on Canvas.

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.

For more information see sydney.edu.au/students/guide-to-grades.

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:

It is expected that unless an application for special consideration, special arrangement or previously arranged disability adjustment has approved an extension, students will submit all assessment for a unit of study on or before the due date specified. If the assessment is completed or submitted by the student before the due date or within the period of extension, no academic penalty will be applied to that piece of assessment. If assessments are submitted after the due date or if an extension is not granted, or is granted but work is submitted by the student after the extended due date, the late submission of assessment will result in an academic penalty as follows: (a) any assessment submitted after the due time and date (or extended due time and date) will incur a late penalty of 5% of the total marks per 24 hour period, or part thereof, late (note that this is applied to the mark gained after the submitted work is marked); (b) assessments submitted after the “Closing Date” noted in the Unit of Study Outline will not be marked or assessed.

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.

Support for students

The Support for Students Policy 2023 reflects the University’s commitment to supporting students in their academic journey and making the University safe for students. It is important that you read and understand this policy so that you are familiar with the range of support services available to you and understand how to engage with them.

The University uses email as its primary source of communication with students who need support under the Support for Students Policy 2023. Make sure you check your University email regularly and respond to any communications received from the University.

Learning resources and detailed information about weekly assessment and learning activities can be accessed via Canvas. It is essential that you visit your unit of study Canvas site to ensure you are up to date with all of your tasks.

If you are having difficulties completing your studies, or are feeling unsure about your progress, we are here to help. You can access the support services offered by the University at any time:

Support and Services (including health and wellbeing services, financial support and learning support)
Course planning and administration
Meet with an Academic Adviser

Weekly schedule

WK	Topic	Learning activity
Multiple weeks	Fieldwork and research project	Field trip (64 hr)
	Lectures on marine field ecology, experimental design and data analyses.	Lecture (7 hr)
	Field project discussion and development	Project (10 hr)

Attendance and class requirements

Attendance: Unless otherwise indicated, students are expected to attend a minimum of 80% of timetabled activities for a unit of study, unless granted exemption by the associate dean. For some units of study the minimum attendance requirement, as specified in the relevant table of units or the unit of study outline, may be greater than 80%. The associate dean may determine that a student has failed a unit of study because of inadequate attendance.

Field trip is compulsory

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.

Required readings

All readings for this unit can be accessed through the Library eReserve, available on Canvas.

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. Describe and discuss the concepts associated with experimental analysis of marine populations and assemblages
LO2. Demonstrate a detailed understanding of the logical requirements necessary for manipulative ecological field experiments
LO3. Demonstrate knowledge of a range of ecological sampling techniques
LO4. Critically read, evaluate and synthesise information from the primary literature
LO5. Select and apply statistical tools to analyse ecological data to test hypotheses
LO6. Communicate your findings concisely and scientifically in both written and graphical forms.

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.

We are back at Warrah (Crommelin Research Station, Pearl Beach)

Additional information

This field course provides a practical introduction to the experimental analysis of marine populations and assemblages. Students gain experience using a range of ecological sampling techniques and develop a detailed understanding of the logical requirements necessary for manipulative ecological field experiments. Field sampling and experiments are combined with lectures, tutorials and group discussions. No particular mathematical or statistical skills are required for this subject. Group experimental research projects in the field are the focus of the unit, with lectures, field practicals and discussion groups about the analysis of experimental data and current issues in experimental marine ecology occurring throughout the course.

More information can be found on Canvas.

Additional costs

There is a $250 charge for this unit which covers accomodation and food for the field trip and any other activities.

Site visit guidelines

Please refer to the pre-trip briefing and risk assessment form.

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. The University’s Work Health and Safety policy explains the responsibilities and expectations of workers and others, and the procedures for managing WHS risks associated with University activities.

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

Support for students

Weekly schedule

Weekly schedule

Attendance and class requirements

Study commitment

Required readings

Learning outcomes

Learning outcomes

Graduate qualities

Outcome map

Responding to student feedback

Responding to student feedback

Additional information

Additional information

Additional costs

Site visit guidelines

Work, health and safety

Disclaimer

On this page

Useful links

Media

Student links

About us

Connect

Current students

BIOL3008: Marine Field Ecology

Intensive December, 2024 [Block mode] - Camperdown/Darlington, Sydney

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

Support for students

Weekly schedule

Weekly schedule

Attendance and class requirements

Study commitment

Required readings

Learning outcomes

Learning outcomes

Graduate qualities

Outcome map

Responding to student feedback

Responding to student feedback

Additional information

Additional information

Additional costs

Site visit guidelines

Work, health and safety

Disclaimer

On this page

Useful links

Media

Student links

About us

Connect