ENV BIOL 3520 - Research Methods in Marine Biology III

North Terrace Campus - Semester 1 - 2016

Using industry standards in the practice of marine biology this course provides education in the methods of collection, analysis and reporting of coastal, aquarium and institutional laboratory data, and their experimental design. Lectures outline the fundamental disagreements in approach to science and and quantitative sciences and the scientific and societal value of robust experimental methods. Some knowledge of basic statistics is required. Experimental design will be emphasised, and the elements of statistical tests, including linear modelling, will be considered in a variety of biological, planning and legal contexts. Practical work involves use of structured thinking to resolving spatial problems of sampling, computers and software, and will complement methods introduced in lectures. An understanding of the unique issues of problem solving marine sampling wave exposed and changing ocean environments are developed in a series of workshops. These workshops provide a sampling and statistical basis for students to consider the fundamental elements of developing their own sampling or experimental projects in an actual or simulated marine environment. This coverage of fundamental areas of sampling and statistical analysis, known to cause problems for marine biologists in their understanding and implementation of advice from statistician, bridges known gaps between biological training and industry needs.

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Course Details

Course Code	ENV BIOL 3520
Course	Research Methods in Marine Biology III
Coordinating Unit	School of Biological Sciences
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 3530, ENV BIOL 3510, ENV BIOL 3006
Assumed Knowledge	6 units of Level 2 ENV BIOL courses & STATS 1000 or STATS 1003 or equivalent
Restrictions	Available to B.Sc (Marine Biology students only
Assessment	Quizzes (in practicals), assignments, and final exam

Course Staff

Course Coordinator: Professor Sean Connell

Professor Sean Connell

Course Timetable

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

Lectures
Tuesdays 9 - 11 am, Lower Napier LG28

Labs
Wed OR Thursdays 9 am - 1 pm,
LOCATION TO BE ANNOUNCED

Workshops
Wed and Thurs 9 am - 1 pm in either Mawson G12 or Braggs, 340 IN WEEK 10, 11, 12

Course Learning Outcomes

1	Identify strategies for creativity in theoretical approaches to marine biological research
2	Demonstrate scientifically based sampling and experimental skills in ecology and environmental science
3	Define logical observations, models and hypotheses to shape environmental research questions, both orally and written
4	Demonstrate an understanding of different types of sampling, apply basic statistical techniques to real biological, environmental and ecological data and correctly interpret the outcomes
5	Develop rigorous sampling designs and apply them to real world marine biology problems
6	Demonstrate appropriate conventions in technical writing and graphical methods for presenting data in marine biology

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)
Deep discipline knowledge informed and infused by cutting edge research, scaffolded throughout their program of studies acquired from personal interaction with research active educators, from year 1 accredited or validated against national or international standards (for relevant programs)	2-6
Critical thinking and problem solving steeped in research methods and rigor based on empirical evidence and the scientific approach to knowledge development demonstrated through appropriate and relevant assessment	1,3,4,5
Teamwork and communication skills developed from, with, and via the SGDE honed through assessment and practice throughout the program of studies encouraged and valued in all aspects of learning	2-4
Career and leadership readiness technology savvy professional and, where relevant, fully accredited forward thinking and well informed tested and validated by work based experiences	2,5,6
Intercultural and ethical competency adept at operating in other cultures comfortable with different nationalities and social contexts able to determine and contribute to desirable social outcomes demonstrated by study abroad or with an understanding of indigenous knowledges	3-6
Self-awareness and emotional intelligence a capacity for self-reflection and a willingness to engage in self-appraisal open to objective and constructive feedback from supervisors and peers able to negotiate difficult social situations, defuse conflict and engage positively in purposeful debate	1,2,5,6

Learning Resources

Required Resources

Calculator

Recommended Resources

PLEASE CONSULT YOUR WORKSHOP TEACHER

Online Learning

MyUni
Learning & Teaching Activities

Learning & Teaching Modes

This course demonstrates theory and practice through the direct exposure of logic, experimental design and experience of the natural environment. Class activities are supported through field-based observation. Theory and practical aspects will be built from 1 x 2-hour lectures per week, by 1 x 4 hour field experiences per week that implement practical aspects of the theory taught in lectures. Scientific method, derivation of hypotheses from theory, designing experiments to test hypotheses, collecting data,
analysis and synthesis, and presentation of results will then be practiced during scheduled course times and culminate in small group projects on the 4 day field camp (mid-semester break) in which students apply all of these skills and orally present each iteration of their intellectual development (4 x 1 hr during the field camp) with feedback to analyse and write a scientific paper. Each component is approached systematically so that at the end of the course all components are brought together through individual reports, group reports and presentations.

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

Students learn about how to approach some of the key challenges that face the discipline of marine biology. The difficultly
and solutions to understanding marine phenomena and solving their practical and theoretical problems across multiple spatial and temporal scales are explained in lectures. Small group learning provides students practical situations to grapple with the logical approach to formulating theory form which hypotheses are derived. This small group leaning connects students to the reality of understanding how to design rigorous observational and experimental research programs, their costs and benefits of simple through complex programs, their relative practical and logistical difficulty and strengths and weakness in providing solutions to managers, government and the general public.

Topics include but are not limited to:
experimental design, how to test for species interactions, how to test for abiotic stressors, experimental designs for categorical data, experimental designs for continuous data, pulse and press experiments.

Lecture topics include:

Physical forcing in marine environments;

Spatial scales and seascapes;

Positive and negative biological interactions in the ocean;

Top-down and bottom-up ecology and its marine management;

Local stressors in the ocean – nutrient pollution and sedimentation;

Global stressors in the ocean – climate change, temperature and acidification;

Early life-histories;

Habitats – mangroves, saltmarsh and estuaries;

seagrass and nursery habitats;

coral reefs;

Fisheries biology; and Marine Protected Areas for Fisheries and biodiversity management

Application of scientific techniques and approaches:

The practical component of this course will be completed on the compulsory mid-semester field camp at the University’s field station at Coobowie on the lower Yorke Peninsula. This field camp brings together all aspects of the course; from identification of a problem for scientific solution, development of theory, derivation of hypotheses, experimental design and analysis, interpretation and refinement of the theory.

Small group learning and exposure to alternate marine environments with contrasting spatial patterning provides a diversity of challenges within in which students will learn the need to be open to new ways of applying method and the limits of scientific inference.

Small Group Discovery Experience

The practical component of this course will be completed on the compulsory mid-semester field camp at the University’s
field station at Coobowie on the lower Yorke Peninsula. This field camp brings together all aspects of the course; from identification of a problem for scientific solution, development of theory, derivation of hypotheses, experimental design and analysis,
interpretation and refinement of the theory.

Small group learning and exposure to alternate marine environments with contrasting spatial patterning provides a diversity of challenges within in which students will learn the need to be open to new ways of applying method and the limits of scientific inference.

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
Quizzes	Formative and Summative	Weeks 3,5,7,9	30%	1,4
Assignments	Formative and Summative	Weeks 5 & 10	40%	1-6
Final Exam	Summative	Exam Period	30%	1, 3-6

Assessment Detail

1.     Lab Quizzes 30%

There will be four lab quizzes in practical sessions that will be worth 5% (x2) and 10% (x2) each. Quizzes will be short-answer written quizzes of 20 minutes in duration. Written feedback will be provided in the following practical.

2.    Assignments (40%)

There will be two assignments worth 15% and 25% respectively. Each assignment will consist of several problem-based questions that will require some computing work for data analysis and short answer type responses (half to one page).

The 15% assignment is on generic ecology skills (approximately 2 pages, 1500 words) and the 25% assignment is targeted at marine skills (approximately 3-4 pages, 2500 words)

3.   Final Exam (30%)
A two hour exam at the end of semester exam period that will draw on material from both lectures and practicals. It will require simple calculations, but will not involve computing.

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 .

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鈥檚 disciplinary procedures.

The 成人大片 is committed to regular reviews of the courses and programs it offers to students. The 成人大片 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

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