654-319 Biology of Marsupials and Monotremes

Credit cannot be granted for both this subject and 654-309 prior to 2003.

654-202 and one of 654-203 or 654-204.

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.

This subject builds upon existing generic skills, including an ability to approach and assimilate new knowledge from observation and the literature, and an ability to use that knowledge to evaluate and communicate results. Students should learn how to access information from the primary scientific literature, through both electronic and traditional sources. They should gain experience in evaluating scientific papers and writing a scientific review that is completed on time and meets the appropriate scientific standards.

A 2-hour end-of-semester written examination (75%). Up to 3000 words of assignment (25%).