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 654-314 Biology of Marsupials and Monotremes

Note

  • Experiments involving the use of animals are an essential part of this subject; exemption is not possible.
  • Students may not gain credit for 654-314 and 654-309 Field Biology of Marsupials and Monotremes.

Credit Points

18.75

Coordinator

Dr S J Ward and Professor M B Renfree

Prerequisites

Zoology 654-202.

Semester

2

Contact

30 lectures (3 per week) and 30 hours practical work including a day/night excursion

Subject Description

This subject covers a wide range of biological disciplines, and shows how they are interconnected in the marsupials and monotremes. By the completion of the course, students should have developed an appreciation of the physiology, reproduction, behaviour, ecology and genetics of these mammals and understand how these characteristics have developed in the evolutionary and biogeographical histories of Australia and South America. This subject also covers the basic taxonomic features of modern marsupials and monotremes, the separate radiations of marsupials in Australia and South America, and the relationships between the three groups of extant mammals. The reproductive and developmental biology of marsupials and monotremes separates them markedly from each other and from eutherian mammals, and this subject puts particular emphasis on their study. We also show how studies of marsupials provide unique opportunities for understanding mammalian biology generally.

Assessment

A 3-hour end-of-semester written examination. Up to 20 pages of practical and excursion/field reports, and/or oral presentation.



Search : Index : Faculty of Science : Zoology
Prev 654-313 Marine Invertebrate Zoology
Status:                   Official 1998
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