BIOSCI 333 : Marine Ecology and Conservation
Science
2025 Semester Two (1255) (15 POINTS)
Course Prescription
Course Overview
There are three timetabled classes per week and interactive computer labs where you will use real-world data to develop hypotheses, query data, develop your analytical and data visualisation skills, and integrate theory and published literature to answer questions about applied and/or conservation ecology. Our course format encourages students to interact with each other and the lecturers in preparation for a career in marine ecology.
Students completing this programme have progressed into post-graduate studies in Marine Ecology and been employed in many places such as the Ministry for Primary Industries, Regional Councils, aquaculture and fishing companies, CRIs, the Department of Conservation, ecological consultancies and non-government organisations.
Course Requirements
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
- Descibe ecological interactions and processes within marine ecosystems. (Capability 3)
- Apply and integrate theoretical knowledge about the marine environment to understanding oceanic organisms, the effects of disturbance, and human impacts. (Capability 1, 2, 3, 4 and 5)
- Develop and demonstrate the ability to ask ecologically relevant questions and propose testable hypotheses about the marine environment. (Capability 3, 4 and 5)
- Analyse current issues facing marine ecosystems and/or the organisms living there and consider how disciplines other than ecology are important for solving these problems. (Capability 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7 and 8)
- Select and analyse scholarly information from various sources (including electronic and print resources) to interpret data and answer questions about marine ecology and conservation taking into account social, cultural and economic considerations as needed. (Capability 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6 and 7)
- Analyse data and communicate scientific ideas and concepts in a written form using standard scientific conventions, including synthesis and interpretation of data using analytical and numeracy skills. (Capability 3, 4, 5 and 6)
- Where appropriate, apply and integrate information about compliance and health and safety issues, research ethics and integrity associated with professional practice into your practical assessments. (Capability 3, 4, 6 and 8)
Assessments
| Assessment Type | Percentage | Classification |
|---|---|---|
| Assignments | 80% | Individual Coursework |
| Final Exam | 20% | Individual Coursework |
| 2 types | 100% |
| Assessment Type | Learning Outcome Addressed | |||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | 5 | 6 | 7 | ||||
| Assignments | ||||||||||
| Final Exam | ||||||||||
Key Topics
Workload Expectations
This course is a standard 15 point course and students are expected to spend 10 hours per week involved in each 15 point course that they are enrolled in.
For this course, you can expect 32 hours of lectures, 15 hours of labs (5 x 3hr labs), and 10 hours of optional activities associated with your practical work. We expect you to spend reasonable amounts of time on internal coursework and exam preparation, i.e; to make up to 150 hours on the course (these estimates include e.g., reading time, integration of ideas, preparation of reports and/or in-course materials for examination).
Delivery Mode
Campus Experience
Attendance is required at scheduled labs to complete components of the course.
We highly recommend attendance at the lectures. These will be recorded with the excpetion of any group discussions within lectures. Other learning activities including tutorials, labs and group discussions will not be available as recordings.
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.
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.
Academic Integrity
The University of Auckland will not tolerate cheating, or assisting others to cheat, and views cheating in coursework, tests and examinations 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. A student's assessed work may be reviewed against electronic source material using computerised detection mechanisms. Upon reasonable request, students may be required to provide an electronic version of their work for computerised review.
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 your assessment is fair, and not compromised. Some adjustments may need to be made in emergencies. You will be kept fully informed by your course co-ordinator, 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 you may be asked to submit your 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. The final decision on the completion mode for a test or examination, and remote invigilation arrangements where applicable, will be advised to students at least 10 days prior to the scheduled date of the assessment, or in the case of an examination when the examination timetable is published.