ENV BIOL 2530 - Zoology II (Marine Biology)

North Terrace Campus - Semester 1 - 2025

This course will introduce you to the diversity of invertebrate and vertebrate animals that inhabit marine, freshwater terrestrial environments. Concepts of phylogeny will be introduced and the enormous diversity of animals will be examined in a phylogenetic framework. Major events in animal evolution will be provided with a strong focus on how animal form matches function at all levels. We will discuss the features of the major groups of invertebrates and focus on their origins and diversification. The biology of the vertebrates will follow groups from fishes to terrestrial vertebrates, including the amphibians, reptiles, birds and mammals. We will flavour these with interesting lectures on animal adaptations and some of the major evolutionary hurdles in vertebrate evolution. Topics in animal physiology relevant to both vertebrates and invertebrates will include the flow of energy through organisms, the process of respiration and the function of the nervous and sensory systems as well as functional morphology.

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Course Details

Course Code	ENV BIOL 2530
Course	Zoology II (Marine Biology)
Coordinating Unit	Ecology and Evolutionary Biology
Term	Semester 1
Level	Undergraduate
Location/s	North Terrace Campus
Units	3
Contact	Up to 7 hours per week
Available for Study Abroad and Exchange	N
Incompatible	ENV BIOL 2503
Assumed Knowledge	(BIOLOGY 1101 or BIOLOGY 1001 or BIOLOGY 1401) and (BIOLOGY 1201 or BIOLOGY 1202)
Restrictions	Available to BSc (Marine Biology) or Bachelor of Marine and Wildlife Conservation students only
Assessment	Practical work, essay, online assessments

Course Staff

Course Coordinator: Associate Professor Jeremy Austin

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.   Understand the diversity and evolutionary relationships among animals

2.   Explain the basic structure and function of different groups of invertebrates and vertebrates, with a focus on marine
species

3.   Identify common marine organisms to broad groups (e.g. Phyla)

4.   Through laboratory work, explain the external, internal characters and reproductive biology of the squid

5.   Synthesise field observations from the marine environment into a short video

6.   Synthesise and evaluate information from readings to write an essay on a marine topic

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.	1-6
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.	1-6
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.	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.	5, 6

Learning & Teaching Modes

This course consists of:

3 X 1-hour lectures per week (31 in total)
1 X 3-hour practicals for 5 weeks
1 X 1-hour tutorials for 3 weeks

The two self-directed learning exercises relate to rocky reef marine invertebrates and the other a backyard arthropod exercise, which form part of the course and should be undertaken in students own time. The rocky reef marine invertebrates one may be undertaken in groups of up to 4 people. All other assessment items should be done individually. In addition, there are five weeks of laboratory practical classes. The essay, self-directed learning exercises and practicals build on material covered in lectures. For the marine students tutorials will provide additional depth to the marine content.

The tutorials are based on marine phylogenetic morphology and diversity and their relationships to the environment in which they live.

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 for the course (e.g., lectures and practicals), as well as non-contact time (e.g., reading and revision; self-directed learning exercises and essay).

Learning Activities Summary

Week	Lecture	Lab Class	Tutorial
1	1-3 Animal diversity & body plans; Sponges, Cnidarians	Practical 1. Introduction to Microscopy & Scientific Illustration	Tutorial 1
2	4-6 “Worms” & Molluscs Form and function in animals (3 lectures)	Practical 2. Molluscs: squid dissection	Tutorial 2
3	7-9 No lecture Monday Public Hol Annelids Essay topic and essay writing	No practical	Tutorial 3
4	10-11 Arthropods, Crustaceans Chelicerates and Myriapods Chelicerates and Myriapods contd	No practical
5	12-14 Insects Insects continued Echinoderms	No practical
6	15-17 No lecture Monday Hemichordates & vertebrate beginnings Diversity of fishes	Practical 3. Insect adaptive radiation & diversity
7	18-20 Diversity of fishes continued Origins of tetrapods, amphibians Amniote origins, diversity	No practical
8	21-23 Origins of birds & mammals Origin of birds & mammals cont’d Bird diversity	Practical 4. Vertebrate evolution
9	24-26 Mammal diversity 1 Mammal diversity – 2 Vertebrate research workshop	No practical
10	27-28 Locomotion in vertebrates Bioenergetics and homeostasis in vertebrates No lecture Friday	Practical 5. Functional Morphology of Vertebrates
11	29-30 Locomotion in vertebrates Bioenergetics and homeostasis in vertebrates No lecture Friday	No practical
12	31 No lecture Monday Essay feedback; exam information No lecture Friday	No practical

Specific Course Requirements

None

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	Type of assessment	Percentage of total assessment for grading purposes	Hurdle Yes or No	Outcomes being assessed / achieved	Approximate Timing of Assessment
Practical reports and self-directed field exercises	Formative/Summative	35%	No	1-5	Week 2, 6, 7, 10
Video	Summative	10%	No	5	Week 5
Essay	Formative/Summative	15%	No	1, 2, 6	Week 9
Theory Exam	Summative	40%	No	1-3	Exam period

Assessment Related Requirements

Students will be required to submit their work for the practicals which are formally assessed at the completion of the practical, e.g. Mollusca and Functional Morphology, or show their work to either the academic in charge of the practical or the demonstrator and have them sign off that it has been satisfactorily completed (e.g. Microscopy, Insects, Vertebrate evolution).

Assessment Detail

Practical reports (total of 15% of course grades)

Two practical reports are to be handed up for assessment: the mollusc practical (5%) at the end of the practical; and the functional morphology prac (10%) which should also be handed up at the end of the practical.

Self-directed field exercises (total of 20% of course grades)

There are two self-directed field exercises each worth 10% that students should complete in their own time. One is related to rocky reef invertebrates and the other to backyard arthropods. Both will expose students to a diversity of organisms, allow them to use a variety of methods for observing/collecting organisms and help them to collate observations and information related to different
organisms. The rocky reef invertebrates one will be completed in groups of 3- 4 people - it should be submitted electronically through the My Uni groups function. The backyard arthropods one should be completed individually and handed into the UG teaching lab staff.

Video (total of 10% of course grades)

The diversity of marine invertebrates living in high and low rocky inter-tidal zones. Looking at comparing the diversity of morphologies in relation to high stressful inter-tidal environment to the morphology in low inter-tidal benign environment. Each student will produce their own video which will be 5-10 minutes in length and instructions will be provided in the appropriate practicals or tutorials.

Essay (total of 15% of course grades)

A 1000 word essay forms part of the assessment. Further details on the essay topic, which will be marine-related, and guidelines for writing essays including information on the format and style will be provided in the lecture in week 3. The essay should be submitted electronically through TURNITIN.
Requirements for the essay should be guided by Margaret Cargill & Patrick O'Connor (2009) Writing Scientific Research Articles: Strategy and Steps. Wiley-Blackwell.

Exam (total of 40% of course grades)

The final assessment component involves a two-hour exam (40% weight) drawing on lectures, the textbook and practical work. Further details on the format of the exam and types of questions will be provided in the final lecture.

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.
Fraud Awareness

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.

The University of Adelaide is committed to regular reviews of the courses and programs it offers to students. The University of Adelaide therefore reserves the right to discontinue or vary programs and courses without notice. Please read the important information contained in the disclaimer.

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