ENV BIOL 3545 - Molecular Methods in Ecology and Evolution
North Terrace Campus - Semester 1 - 2024
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General Course Information
Course Details
Course Code ENV BIOL 3545 Course Molecular Methods in Ecology and Evolution Coordinating Unit Ecology and Evolutionary Biology Term Semester 1 Level Undergraduate Location/s North Terrace Campus Units 3 Contact Up to 6 hours per week Available for Study Abroad and Exchange Y Assumed Knowledge ENV BIOL 2501 Assessment Assignments, exams, practical work and field trip reports Course Staff
Course Coordinator: Associate Professor Kate Sanders
Course Timetable
The full timetable of all activities for this course can be accessed from .
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Learning Outcomes
Course Learning Outcomes
No information currently available.
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.
1-4 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.
2-4 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, 6 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 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.
3, 5 Attribute 6: Australian Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander cultural competency
Graduates have an understanding of, and respect for, Australian Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander values, culture and knowledge.
3 Attribute 7: Digital capabilities
Graduates are well prepared for living, learning and working in a digital society.
1, 4, 5, 6 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.
5, 6 -
Learning Resources
Required Resources
A desktop or laptop computer for which you have administration rights (we may require you to install some software - such as R-studio, Geneious, MEGA - to run analyses), with Microsoft Office (or equivalent) installed and a webbrowser to access MyUni.
Microsoft Office 365 is available free to all students - /technology/your-services/software/software-for-students?check_logged_in=1#microsoft-office-365
A lab coat, safety glasses and fully enclosed shoes for practical sessions.Recommended Resources
We recommend the following textbooks to support your learning in this course
Freeland JR (2020) Molecular Ecology, Third Edition
Rowe G, Sweet M, Beebee T (2017) An Introduction to Molecular Ecology
Herron JC and Freeman S (2015) Evolutionary Analysis, Fifth Edition
Futuyma DJ and Kirkpatrick M (2017) Evolution, Fourth Edition
Berry O, Holleley C, Jarman S (2022) Applied Environmental GenomicsOnline Learning
This course does not include face-to-face lectures.
The theoretical and background content for this course will be delivered via pre-recorded lecture material, presented as a series of short (10-20 min) recorded modules, pre-existing videos from external providers and recommended reading delivered in the MyUni weekly modules.
Students are expected to undertake this online learning in their own time and each week prior to the face-to-face workshops and practicals -
Learning & Teaching Activities
Learning & Teaching Modes
Online Lectorials and Reading - The theoretical and background content for this course will be delivered via pre-recorded lecture material, presented as a series of short (10-20 min) recorded modules and/or pre-existing videos from external providers delivered in the MyUni weekly modules.
Workshops - Course content will be discussed and re-enforced at weekly workshops during which a practical application of molecular methods will be introduced. During these face-to-face workshops students will be expected to draw on their knowledge of content (delivered in part A above) and discuss in small groups how the problem/research question could be solved/addressed using molecular approaches.
Practicals - Practical, hands-on skills in sample collection, wet-lab methods, bioinformatic data analysis and interpretation will be presented in weekly practicals. These will focus primarily on essential wet-lab skills, experimental design, controls and quality assurance needed to produce appropriate genetic data from a range of samples. Some short field trips may be included to demonstrate sample collection for eDNA work.Workload
The information below is provided as a guide to assist students in engaging appropriately with the course requirements.
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., workshops and practicals), as well as non-contact time (e.g., watching online content, reading, writing reports and revision for the exam).Learning Activities Summary
Weekly online lectures, workshops and practicals will broadly focus on:
1. The application of neutral molecular markers in evolutionary biology and ecology - phylogeny, phylogeography, population genetics, wildlife forensics and biosecurity, mating systems and behaviour
2. Adaptive responses to environmental change - contemporary evolution, phenotypic plasticity, and transcriptomics
3. Detection and monitoring using environmental and non-invasive DNA - eDNA for biodiversity assessment, palaeoecology, species interactions (including diet analysis) and non-invasive DNA methods
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Assessment
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 Assessment Type Assessment Weighting Learning Outcomes Workshop/Practical Reports Formative 60% 1-6 Exam Summative 40% 1-5 Assessment Detail
3 x 1500 word workshop/practical reports (20% each): Students will be required to write up 3 workshop/practical reports at approximately 3-4 week intervals. Writing and results presentation will follow standards for scientific and industry reporting.
Written exam (40%): A two hour exam will be held at the end of the semester.Submission
All assignments must be submitted by the due date and accompanied by a corresponding Cover sheet.
Extensions for Assessment Tasks
Extensions of deadlines for assessment tasks may be allowed for reasonable causes. Such situations would include compassionate and medical grounds of the severity that would justify the awarding of a replacement examination. Evidence for the grounds must be provided when an extension is requested. Students are required to apply for an extension to the Course Co-ordinator before the assessment task is due. Extensions will not be provided on the grounds of poor prioritising of time.
Late 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 .
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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.
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Student Support
- Academic Integrity for Students
- Academic Support with Maths
- Academic Support with writing and study skills
- Careers Services
- Library Services for Students
- LinkedIn Learning
- Student Life Counselling Support - Personal counselling for issues affecting study
- Students with a Disability - Alternative academic arrangements
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Policies & Guidelines
This section contains links to relevant assessment-related policies and guidelines - all university policies.
- Academic Credit Arrangements Policy
- Academic Integrity Policy
- Academic Progress by Coursework Students Policy
- Assessment for Coursework Programs Policy
- Copyright Compliance Policy
- Coursework Academic Programs Policy
- Intellectual Property Policy
- IT Acceptable Use and Security Policy
- Modified Arrangements for Coursework Assessment Policy
- Reasonable Adjustments to Learning, Teaching & Assessment for Students with a Disability Policy
- Student Experience of Learning and Teaching Policy
- Student Grievance Resolution Process
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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.
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