BIOSCI 207 : Adaptive Form and Function
Science
2024 Semester Two (1245) (15 POINTS)
Course Prescription
Course Overview
The aim of the course is to examine animal structure, function, physiology and behaviour using an integrative approach that will span from whole animal behaviour to anatomy and physiological mechanisms. The whole course is framed in the context of adaptive significance. Students will practice and develop skills in putting forward adaptive hypotheses for animal features they observe (from museum specimens to wild animal populations) and proposing their own methods for testing these hypotheses. Students will take part in a half-day field trip to Muriwai gannet colony. This course is a key part of the Zoology pathway leading directly on to stage 3 courses in animal behaviour, physiology and diversity, and will provide key skills that are important for any career relating to animal biology
Capabilities Developed in this Course
| Capability 1: | People and Place |
| Capability 2: | Sustainability |
| Capability 3: | Knowledge and Practice |
| Capability 4: | Critical Thinking |
| Capability 5: | Solution Seeking |
| Capability 6: | Communication |
| Capability 7: | Collaboration |
| Capability 8: | Ethics and Professionalism |
Learning Outcomes
- Research and synthesise knowledge of animal diversity and comparative morphology (Capability 3, 4, 6 and 7)
- Put forward adaptive hypotheses to explain the features of animals they observe in museum collections, in the wild and from photos and videos (Capability 3, 4, 5 and 6)
- Propose appropriate methods for testing their own adaptive hypotheses (Capability 3, 4, 5, 6 and 7)
- Describe and explain a variety of antipredator and predatory adaptations in animals (Capability 3, 4, 5 and 6)
- Describe and explain the physiological adaptations that animals use to cope with environmental variation (Capability 2, 3, 4, 5 and 6)
- Describe and explain how hormones influence behaviour (Capability 2, 3, 4, 5 and 6)
- Describe and discuss the adaptive significance of behaviour (Capability 2, 3, 4, 5 and 6)
- Use field observations of a wild animal population to test hypotheses (Capability 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7 and 8)
Assessments
| Assessment Type | Percentage | Classification |
|---|---|---|
| Lab & Field Trip Reports (Practical) | 30% | Individual Coursework |
| Tests (Theory) | 30% | Individual Test |
| Final Exam | 40% | Individual Examination |
| 3 types | 100% |
| Assessment Type | Learning Outcome Addressed | |||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | 5 | 6 | 7 | 8 | |||
| Lab & Field Trip Reports (Practical) | ||||||||||
| Tests (Theory) | ||||||||||
| Final Exam | ||||||||||
Tuākana
Tuākana Science is a multi-faceted programme for Māori and Pacific students providing topic specific tutorials,
one-on-one sessions, test and exam preparation and more. Explore your options at
https://www.auckland.ac.nz/en/science/study-with-us/pacific-in-our-faculty.html
https://www.auckland.ac.nz/en/science/study-with-us/maori-in-our-faculty.html
Key Topics
The four main topics covered in lectures are:
- Adaptations: students will learn how to put forward adaptive hypothesis and develop methods to test them. This will be taught via the topic of predatory and antipredator adaptations
- Comparative physiology: the physiological adaptations that animals use to cope with environmental variation,
- Hormones and behaviour: the complex interaction between animal hormones and their behaviour,
- Behavioural ecology: the adaptive significance of behaviour.
Special Requirements
The course includes a Saturday field trip; the date and time for the field trip is published in the BIOSCI 207 Canvas course. While participation is encouraged, an online alternative activity is available for students unable to attend.
Workload Expectations
This course is a standard 15 point course and students are expected to spend at least 10 hours per week involved in each 15 point course that they are enrolled in.
For this course, you can expect 3 hours of lectures, 4 hours of reading and thinking about the content and 4 hours of work on assignments and/or test preparation per week. In addition, there are 3 x 3 hour laboratory classes and 1 half-day field trip spread throughout the semester.
Delivery Mode
Campus Experience
Attendance is required at scheduled activities including labs to complete components of the course.
Lectures will be taught on campus and available as recordings.
The course will not include live online events.
The activities for the course are scheduled as a standard weekly timetable.
Learning Resources
Course materials are made available in a learning and collaboration tool called Canvas which also includes reading lists and lecture recordings (where available).
Please remember that the recording of any class on a personal device requires the permission of the instructor.
All resources are provided via canvas
Student Feedback
During the course Class Representatives in each class can take feedback to the staff responsible for the course and staff-student consultative committees.
At the end of the course students will be invited to give feedback on the course and teaching through a tool called SET or Qualtrics. The lecturers and course co-ordinators will consider all feedback.
Your feedback helps to improve the course and its delivery for all students.
Staff welcome feedback on the course throughout the semester, including the SET evaluations. Please contact your course coordinator or student representative at any time with your feedback
Academic Integrity
The University of Auckland will not tolerate cheating, or assisting others to cheat, and views cheating in coursework as a serious academic offence. The work that a student submits for grading must be the student's own work, reflecting their learning. Where work from other sources is used, it must be properly acknowledged and referenced. This requirement also applies to sources on the internet. A student's assessed work may be reviewed for potential plagiarism or other forms of academic misconduct, using computerised detection mechanisms.
Class Representatives
Class representatives are students tasked with representing student issues to departments, faculties, and the wider university. If you have a complaint about this course, please contact your class rep who will know how to raise it in the right channels. See your departmental noticeboard for contact details for your class reps.
Copyright
The content and delivery of content in this course are protected by copyright. Material belonging to others may have been used in this course and copied by and solely for the educational purposes of the University under license.
You may copy the course content for the purposes of private study or research, but you may not upload onto any third party site, make a further copy or sell, alter or further reproduce or distribute any part of the course content to another person.
Inclusive Learning
All students are asked to discuss any impairment related requirements privately, face to face and/or in written form with the course coordinator, lecturer or tutor.
Student Disability Services also provides support for students with a wide range of impairments, both visible and invisible, to succeed and excel at the University. For more information and contact details, please visit the Student Disability Services’ website http://disability.auckland.ac.nz
Special Circumstances
If your ability to complete assessed coursework is affected by illness or other personal circumstances outside of your control, contact a member of teaching staff as soon as possible before the assessment is due.
If your personal circumstances significantly affect your performance, or preparation, for an exam or eligible written test, refer to the University’s aegrotat or compassionate consideration page https://www.auckland.ac.nz/en/students/academic-information/exams-and-final-results/during-exams/aegrotat-and-compassionate-consideration.html.
This should be done as soon as possible and no later than seven days after the affected test or exam date.
Learning Continuity
In the event of an unexpected disruption, we undertake to maintain the continuity and standard of teaching and learning in all your courses throughout the year. If there are unexpected disruptions the University has contingency plans to ensure that access to your course continues and course assessment continues to meet the principles of the University’s assessment policy. Some adjustments may need to be made in emergencies. You will be kept fully informed by your course co-ordinator/director, and if disruption occurs you should refer to the university website for information about how to proceed.
The delivery mode may change depending on COVID restrictions. Any changes will be communicated through Canvas.
Student Charter and Responsibilities
The Student Charter assumes and acknowledges that students are active participants in the learning process and that they have responsibilities to the institution and the international community of scholars. The University expects that students will act at all times in a way that demonstrates respect for the rights of other students and staff so that the learning environment is both safe and productive. For further information visit Student Charter https://www.auckland.ac.nz/en/students/forms-policies-and-guidelines/student-policies-and-guidelines/student-charter.html.
Disclaimer
Elements of this outline may be subject to change. The latest information about the course will be available for enrolled students in Canvas.
In this course students may be asked to submit coursework assessments digitally. The University reserves the right to conduct scheduled tests and examinations for this course online or through the use of computers or other electronic devices. Where tests or examinations are conducted online remote invigilation arrangements may be used. In exceptional circumstances changes to elements of this course may be necessary at short notice. Students enrolled in this course will be informed of any such changes and the reasons for them, as soon as possible, through Canvas.