654-306 Marine Zoology

Previously carried subject code 654-313 Marine Zoology.

Experiments involving the use of animals are an essential part of this subject; exemption is not possible.

654-201 and 654-202.

For 2007, students who completed 654-201 but not 654-202 will also be eligible to enrol in this subject.

Upon completion of this subject students should have:

• an appreciation of the range and diversity of the main groups of marine animals particularly those of south-eastern Australia;

• an understanding of the morphological, physiological, behavioural and developmental characteristics of selected groups; and

• an understanding of some current research issues involving marine animals.

In the practical component students should develop the ability to recognise and classify the main groups of marine animals and develop an understanding of their morphological, physiological, behavioural and developmental characteristics. The subject provides for advanced study of animal groups that are important in the marine environment. Structural, physiological, behavioural and developmental aspects of their biology are covered with particular emphasis on areas in which there is current research activity.

This subject builds upon existing generic skills, including an ability to approach and assimilate new knowledge from observation and the literature. Students should learn how to access information from the primary scientific literature, through both electronic and traditional sources, and gain experience in writing scientific reports. Students should learn the importance of careful observation and the context in which that observation is undertaken when posing and answering theoretical questions and when solving practical problems. It should assist students in developing the ability to recognise which questions relating to a topic are important and which are amenable to solution with the available tools. It should develop students' abilities to work in field situations and to integrate their observations with existing literature and knowledge.

The relative weighting of assessed written work and assessed practical work will be chosen so as to maximise the student's final mark: Essays and/or reports of up to 3000 words (either 60% or 80%) and practical record (either 40% or 20%), both due during first semester immediately following the summer semester in which the subject was undertaken. The record of practical work is a description of observations and experimental results obtained during fieldwork undertaken during the summer semester; the essays and reports are submitted and assessed during first semester.