Professor Eileen Scott, course coordinator,
School of Agriculture, Food and Wine,
Rm N106, Waite Main Building, Waite Campus,
tel (08) 8313 7266,
email eileen.scott@adelaide.edu.au

1	describe the nature and activities of microorganisms and invertebrates in agriculture, food and wine
2	demonstrate an understanding of the growth, handling and identification of microorganisms
3	describe the structure, function and evolution of the main invertebrate taxa relevant to agriculture, food and wine
4	apply an understanding of the processes involved in the recognition of key groups of invertebrates
5	demonstrate effective information handling and communication skills through individual and group work

A lab coat and closed footwear must be worn in every practical session.

Recommended reading

Communication

Cargill M and Bellotti M (2004) Written Communication in the Agricultural and Natural Resource Sciences, The University of Adelaide. http://www.agwine.adelaide.edu.au/students/external/carwripg1.pdf


General microbiology and bacteria

Madigan MT, Martinko JM et al. (2012) Brock Biology of Microorganisms (13th edition). Pearson. (earlier editions, 2000 onwards, are also suitable).

Willey JM, Sherwood LM and Woolverton CJ (2017) Prescott’s Microbiology (10th edition). McGraw-Hill. (earlier editions, 2005 onwards, are also suitable).


Fungi

Deacon JW (2006) Fungal Biology (4th edition). Blackwell Publishing.


Ingold CT and Hudson HJ (1993) The Biology of Fungi (6th edition). Chapman & Hall.


Virology

Hull R (2009 or electronic resource) Comparative Plant Virology (2nd edition). Academic Press.

Wagner EK and Hewlett MJ (2004) Basic Virology (2nd edition). Blackwell Publishing.


Applied microbiology

Agrios GN (1997, 2005 or electronic resource) Plant Pathology (4th, 5th edition). Academic Press.

Pitt J and Hocking AD (1997) Fungi and Food Spoilage (2nd edition). Blackie Academic Publishers.

or Pitt J and Hocking AD (electronic resource) Fungi and Food Spoilage (3rd edition). Springer.


Invertebrate biology

Barker, GM (ed.) (2001 or electronic resource) The Biology of Terrestrial Molluscs. CABI Publishing, Wallingford, UK. 558 p.

Barnes RSK, Calow PP, Olive PJW, Golding DW and Spicer JI (2001) The invertebrates: a synthesis (3rd edition). Wiley-Blackwell.

Edwards, CA, Hendrix P and Arancon N (2008) Biology and ecology of earthworms (4th edition). Springer, New York.

Harvey, MS and Yen AL (1989) Worms to wasps: an illustrated guide to Australia's terrestrial invertebrates. Oxford University Press.

Moore J (2006 or electronic resource) An introduction to the invertebrates (2nd edition). Cambridge University Press.

Naumann ID (ed.) (1994) Systematic and applied entomology: an introduction. Melbourne University Press.

Ruppert EE, Fox RS and Barnes RD (2004) Invertebrate zoology: a functional evolutionary approach, 7th ed. Thomson-Brooks/Cole.

Triplehorn CA and Johnson NF (2005) Borror and DeLong's Introduction to the Study of Insects (pp. 401-402). Belmont, CA: Thomson Brooks/Cole.

Teaching and course materials will be posted on MyUni (http://myuni.adelaide.edu.au/). Lectures will be recorded and posted on MyUni. Tutorial topics will be posted for discussion. A series of videos demonstrating common microbiological techniques will be available on MyUni (Practicals pages). Interactive pre-laboratory activities using the software Articulate will be used in formative and summative assessment. Online quizzes will be available to help with review and revision (formative assessment).

Lectures are supported by problem-solving tutorials, online activities and laboratory work that develop and reinforce material covered in lectures. Microbiology project work in weeks 4-6 and invertebrate collection in weeks 9-12 allow students to synthesise and apply the skills learned in the course to address practical situations.

Lectures: 2 hours, practicals/tutorials: 4 hours per week
Reading (lecture material, practical manual) and preparation for practicals and tutorials, including online activities: approximately 6 hours per week
Preparation of project poster: approximately 6-8 hours (total)
Revision for exams: approximately 20 hours
Estimated average weekly workload: 12 hours

Week 1 of 13
Topic: Introduction and overview of microorganisms
Lecture: Role and importance of microbiology in agriculture and related areas
Lecture: Microbial growth and its control
Tutorial: Overview of course and assessment
Practical: Microbial culture techniques, use of dissecting and compound microscopes 

Week 2 of 13
Topic: Bacteria and fungi
Lecture: Bacteria - form and function
Lecture: Fungi - form and function
Practical: Single-celled microorganisms: form and function

Week 3 of 13
Topic: Viruses, Identification and classification
Lecture: Viruses - form and function
Lecture: Identification and classification of microorganisms
Tutorial (small groups): Bacteria and fungi – structure and function
Practical: Complete work on single-celled microorganisms; Multi-celled microorganisms - form and function

Week 4 of 13
Topic: Microbial ecosystems
Lecture: Microbial ecosystems - introduction
Lecture: Food fermentaion and spoilage
Tutorial: Introduction to project
Practical: Project work on activities of microorganisms
Tutorial: Optional tutorial (begins 4.10 pm): Revision of weeks 1-4

Week 5 of 13
Topic: Microbial ecosystems
Lecture: Plant-microbe interactions – disease
Lecture: Plant disease and control
Practical: Project work (continued, 1 hour); Microbes as pathogens: bacteria, fungi and virus diseases

Week 6 of 13
Topic: Microbial ecosystems
Lecture: Plant-microbe interactions – rhizobium
Lecture: Bioremediation, compost, silage
Tutorial: Optional tutorial (over lunch): Preparation for mid-semester written exam
Tutorial (small groups): Review progress in project and discuss assessment
Practical: Project work (continued)

Week 7 of 13
Topic: Microbial ecosystems
Lectorial: Introduction to rumen microbiology and invertebrate collection, and opportunity to ask questions about course content so far
Lecture: Industrial microbiology
Non-compulsory, redeemable mid-semester exam (afternoon)
Optional "clinic" on finalising the project poster (after exam)

Week 8 of 13
Topic: Microbial ecosystems
Lectures: Rumen microbiology
Practical: Rumen microbiology

Week 9 of 13
Topic: Invertebrate biology
Lecture: Overview of invertebrates of importance in agriculture, viticulture and food production, Platyhelminths
Lecture: Annelida (earthworms and leeches), Mollusca (snails and slugs)
Practical: Principles and practices for collecting and preserving invertebrates

Week 10 of 13
Topic: Invertebrate biology
Lecture: Nematoda (nematodes as animal and plant parasites)
Lecture: Arthropoda (slaters, millipedes, centipedes)
Practical: Worms, snails, slugs and nematodes: anatomy, biology and ecology

Week 11 of 13
Topic: Invertebrate biology
Lecture: Arachnida (spiders, mites, ticks)
Lecture: Hexapoda (insects and related organisms)
Practical: Arthropod identification: anatomy, biology and ecology

Week 12 of 13
Topic: Invertebrate biology
Lectures: Hexapoda (insects and related organisms)
Practical: Quizz on practicals 9-11; Invertebrate collection: identification and curation

Week 13 of 13
Optional revision sessions will be offered.

Attendance at practicals and tutorials is compulsory.

 Due to the current COVID-19 situation modified arrangements have been made to assessments to facilitate remote learning and teaching.

Assessment task	Type of assessment	Percentage for grading purposes	Hurdle?	Approximate timing of assessment	Learning Outcome
Practical and tutorial exercises	Formative and Summative	26%	No	Weeks 1-3, 5, 8, 9-12	1-5
Microbiology project work	Formative and summative	20%	No	Weeks 4-6, 9	1, 2, 5
Quiz on invertebrate biology practicals 9-11	Summative	4%	No	Week 12	3, 4, 5
Online quizzes for learning and revision	Formative	0%	No	Weeks 2-13	1-4
Mid-semester theory exam	Formative and Summative	25%	No	Week 7	1, 2, 5
Final exam	Summative	25%	No	Exam period	1-5

Attendance at practical classes and tutorials is compulsory. Students who miss a practical or tutorial session should obtain a replacement assessment from the lecturer in charge and submit it on the date advised. There will be no opportunity for additional assessment on the practical component of the course.

Written examinations
Mid-semester examination: there will be a compulsory mid-semester examination in week 7, covering material presented in weeks 1-6, making up 25% in total of the final grade for the course. 

Final examination: an end-of-semester written examination will be used to assess, summatively, understanding of the course material material covered in weeks 9-12 making up 25% in total of the final grade for the course.  

Assessment of practical and tutorial work

Formative assessment. Tutorial classes will include diagnostic and formative assessment, to review information and understanding. Tutorial discussion topics and quizzes will be posted on MyUni.

Summative assessment and submission of work for assessment. Instructions for format, content and submission of practical reports, tutorial work and project work will be provided by the lecturer concerned.
 
Practical report 1. Single- and multi-celled microorganisms; prepared in pairs, template distributed in class, data entered in practical sessions 2 and 3 and tutorial 2, due date to be advised in class, 5% of final mark, addresses learning objectives 1, 2, 5

Practical report 2. Plant disease; prepared in pairs, template distributed in class, due date to be advised in class, 5% of final mark, addresses learning objectives 1, 2, 5

Practical report 3. Rumen microbiology; individual exercise, instructions given in class, due date to be advised in class, 5% of final mark, addresses learning objectives 1, 2, 5

Practical report 4. Invertebrate collection; individual exercise, instructions given in class, due in week 13, 11% of final mark, addresses learning objectives 3, 4, 5

Microbiology project report (group poster). Microbial activities - experiments and interpretation; presented as one poster per group of students, instructions in practical manual and tutorial 3, formative review of progress in tutorial 4, due 10.10 am on specified date, 20% of final mark, addresses learning objectives 1, 2, 5

Quiz. Invertebrate biology practical work; individual assessment task, instructions given in class, held in practical 12, 4% of final mark, addresses learning objectives 3, 4, 5

A completed assessment cover-sheet must be attached to each practical/tutorial report. Practical/tutorial reports are submitted in class unless stated otherwise.

A student who misses an assessed exercise or whose work is impaired through illness or equivalent may be offered a replacement assessment task.

Staff endeavour to return marked assessments and provide feedback to students within 2 weeks of submission.

Late submission of assessments
If an extension is not applied for, or not granted, then a penalty for late submission will apply. A penalty of 10% of the value of the assignment for each calendar day that is late (i.e. weekends count as 2 days), up to a maximum of 50% of the available marks will be applied. This means that an assignment that is 5 days or more late without an approved extension can only receive a maximum of 50% of the mark.

In response to the course SELT in 2018, the course workload has been reduced by removing two exercises and two demonstrations from practicals in weeks 2-3.