ENV BIOL 3580 - Conservation Biology III

North Terrace Campus - Semester 2 - 2024

This course will use existing theoretical understandings in conservation biology coupled with the ecological and evolutionary techniques for management and restoration of natural systems to address wildlife conservation issues. The course will focus on diverse Australian and international systems and cover the effects of introduced herbivores, carnivores, competitors, pathogens, vegetation clearance, habitat fragmentation, habitat degradation, and remedial actions on flora, fauna and ecological processes (e.g. pollination, gene flow, animal dispersal). Edge effects, corridors, succession, managing declining species, invasive species management, managing abundant species, conservation genetics, wildlife trafficking, biological and mechanical control of unwanted species, rehabilitation of degraded habitats, re-introduction and translocation biology will also be covered. Establishing adequate and effective monitoring programs, reserve design and risk assessment, as well as social and political factors in decision making will provide additional practical elements (associated with decision-making) to the course.

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Course Details

Course Code	ENV BIOL 3580
Course	Conservation Biology III
Coordinating Unit	Ecology and Evolutionary Biology
Term	Semester 2
Level	Undergraduate
Location/s	North Terrace Campus
Units	3
Contact	Up to 8 hours per week (overall 4 hours per week (weeks 1-2); up to 12 hours per week for weeks 3-8
Available for Study Abroad and Exchange	Y
Incompatible	ENV BIOL 3008
Assumed Knowledge	ENV BIOL 2502; ENV BIOL 3121
Assessment	Workshop reports, Exam

Course Staff

Course Coordinator: Dr Damien Fordham

Course Timetable

The full timetable of all activities for this course can be accessed from Course Planner.

Course Learning Outcomes

On successful completion of this course students should be able to:

1	List, assess and integrate ecological, biological, sociological, legislative and ethical perspectives to advance the management of flora, fauna or ecological processes to conserve wildlife;
2	Understand the spatial and temporal scales that influence wildlife conservation;
3	Apply scientific principles and modern technologies to help solve current problems or deficiencies in the management of flora, fauna or ecological processes of benefit to wildlife conservation;
4	Work co-operatively in small groups and interact with potential clients (e.g. Natural Resource sector personnel); and
5	Communicate effectively in written and oral formats at the standards expected in the industry.

University Graduate Attributes

This course will provide students with an opportunity to develop the Graduate Attribute(s) specified below:

University Graduate Attribute	Course Learning Outcome(s)
Attribute 1: Deep discipline knowledge and intellectual breadth Graduates have comprehensive knowledge and understanding of their subject area, the ability to engage with different traditions of thought, and the ability to apply their knowledge in practice including in multi-disciplinary or multi-professional contexts.	1,2,5
Attribute 2: Creative and critical thinking, and problem solving Graduates are effective problems-solvers, able to apply critical, creative and evidence-based thinking to conceive innovative responses to future challenges.	1,2,3,5
Attribute 3: Teamwork and communication skills Graduates convey ideas and information effectively to a range of audiences for a variety of purposes and contribute in a positive and collaborative manner to achieving common goals.	1,4,5
Attribute 4: Professionalism and leadership readiness Graduates engage in professional behaviour and have the potential to be entrepreneurial and take leadership roles in their chosen occupations or careers and communities.	1,2,3,4,5
Attribute 5: Intercultural and ethical competency Graduates are responsible and effective global citizens whose personal values and practices are consistent with their roles as responsible members of society.	1,2,3,4
Attribute 8: Self-awareness and emotional intelligence Graduates are self-aware and reflective; they are flexible and resilient and have the capacity to accept and give constructive feedback; they act with integrity and take responsibility for their actions.	1,3,4,5

Learning & Teaching Activities

Learning & Teaching Modes

The course applies the theory and practice of Conservation Biology to a series of largely Australian case studies delivered by lectures and workshops. An initial series of lectures during the first two weeks of the course will provide the background and context that has led to the current wildlife conservation crisis. This will be followed by six weeks of lectures (2 per week) and extended workshops (2 per week) each focusing on specific wildlife conservation issues. The lectures will introduce students to specific problems and possible solutions. The wildlife conservation issues raised in lectures, their possible solutions and any constraints will then be workshopped interactively with student-led discussion and resolution with guidance from staff and practitioners.

Workload

The information below is provided as a guide to assist students in engaging appropriately with the course requirements.

A student enrolled in a 3 unit course, such as this, should expect to spend, on average 12 hours per week on the studies required. This includes both the formal contact time required to the course (e.g., lectures and practicals), as well as non-contact time (e.g., reading and revision).

Learning Activities Summary

The course will use a series of lectures and associated workshops to introduce students to a suite of conservation-related topics that outline the consequences to Australian wildlife of vegetation clearance, changes in levels and types of herbivory and predation, and changes in human use of natural resources. The lectures and associated workshops will outline some of the key advances and practical solutions being developed by conservation biologists in the academic, private and government sectors. In a workshop-style setting, students would work in small groups (4-5 students) collecting relevant readily-available information, applying their understanding of conservation biology and developing potential solutions in small groups which they present back to the class and debate and defend their recommended actions. Similar or related topic areas would be grouped into modules. The lectures and workshops associated with the different modules will cover the theoretical, practical and analytical skills needed in biological surveys, wildlife monitoring and biodiversity informatics. Topics within the modules will include restoration techniques, social science and government policy, wildlife reproduction and breeding, and the fundamental ecological and evolutionary principles applied to the management of pests and native wildlife. Students would produce summary reports for three of the workshopped topics, demonstrating their written communication skills in summarising and reporting on findings.

Specific Course Requirements

This course requires students to work in small groups (3-5 students) as part of the workshops that examine and assess management options to help solve wildlife conservation problems.

The University's policy on Assessment for Coursework Programs is based on the following four principles:

Assessment must encourage and reinforce learning.
Assessment must enable robust and fair judgements about student performance.
Assessment practices must be fair and equitable to students and give them the opportunity to demonstrate what they have learned.
Assessment must maintain academic standards.

Assessment Summary

Assessment Task	Task Type	Due	Weighting	Learning Outcome
Module (workshop) reports (3)	Formative & Summative	Weeks 5, 7 & 9	60%	1,2,3,4,5
Final exam (2h)	Summative	Exam Period	40%	1,2,3,4

Assessment Detail

Workshop module reports (60%, 3 x 20%)
Students will be required to produce three written reports (submitted in week 5, week 7 & week 9) that effectively summarise the outcomes from three of the 12 modules (workshops). The reports will be required to define the issue or problem, outline the contributing factors that were considered in charting a course of action to address the problem, and justify why that course of action or recommendation was made. One report should come from each of the three themes. The reports will include an appendix that lists the extent of interactions within the student’s small group and indicate what components worked and did not work, including share of load and how the interactions could be improved. The length of the reports will vary depending on the modules but should be in the vicinity of 8-10 pages (2,000-3,000 words).These module reports will assess learning outcomes 1, 2, 3, 4 & 5.

Final exam (40%, exam period)
A two hour exam will be used to assess learning outcomes 1, 2, 3, and 5. The exam will require students to choose two questions (from a choice of questions) where a wildlife conservation problem is outlined. Students then provide a written answer that outlines their approach to addressing the problem.

Submission

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 the assignment 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 late or more without an approved extension can only receive a maximum of 50% of the marks available for that assignment.

Course Grading

Grades for your performance in this course will be awarded in accordance with the following scheme:

M10 (Coursework Mark Scheme)
Grade	Mark	Description
FNS		Fail No Submission
F	1-49	Fail
P	50-64	Pass
C	65-74	Credit
D	75-84	Distinction
HD	85-100	High Distinction
CN		Continuing
NFE		No Formal Examination
RP		Result Pending

Further details of the grades/results can be obtained from Examinations.

Grade Descriptors are available which provide a general guide to the standard of work that is expected at each grade level. More information at Assessment for Coursework Programs.

Final results for this course will be made available through Access Adelaide.

Student Feedback

The University places a high priority on approaches to learning and teaching that enhance the student experience. Feedback is sought from students in a variety of ways including on-going engagement with staff, the use of online discussion boards and the use of Student Experience of Learning and Teaching (SELT) surveys as well as GOS surveys and Program reviews.

SELTs are an important source of information to inform individual teaching practice, decisions about teaching duties, and course and program curriculum design. They enable the University to assess how effectively its learning environments and teaching practices facilitate student engagement and learning outcomes. Under the current SELT Policy (http://www.adelaide.edu.au/policies/101/) course SELTs are mandated and must be conducted at the conclusion of each term/semester/trimester for every course offering. Feedback on issues raised through course SELT surveys is made available to enrolled students through various resources (e.g. MyUni). In addition aggregated course SELT data is available.
Student Support
Policies & Guidelines
This section contains links to relevant assessment-related policies and guidelines - all university policies.
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Students are reminded that in order to maintain the academic integrity of all programs and courses, the university has a zero-tolerance approach to students offering money or significant value goods or services to any staff member who is involved in their teaching or assessment. Students offering lecturers or tutors or professional staff anything more than a small token of appreciation is totally unacceptable, in any circumstances. Staff members are obliged to report all such incidents to their supervisor/manager, who will refer them for action under the university's student’s disciplinary procedures.

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Authorised by:	Deputy Vice-Chancellor and Vice-President (Academic)
Maintained by:	Course Outlines Administrator