| Effective Term: | 2027/05 |
| Institute / School : | Institute of Innovation, Science & Sustainability |
| Unit Title: | Australian Fauna |
| Unit ID: | SCENV2100 |
| Credit Points: | 15.00 |
| Prerequisite(s): | (SCENV1001 or SCENV1002 or SCENV1502) |
| Co-requisite(s): | Nil |
| Exclusion(s): | (SCENV2111) |
| ASCED: | 050901 |
| Other Change: | |
| Brief description of the Unit |
This unit introduces students to the vertebrate and invertebrate fauna of Australia. Students examine taxonomy, ecology, behaviour, life-history strategies, adaptations and evolutionary origins of Australian fauna. Through laboratory and field-based activities, students develop practical skills in identifying fauna, collecting ecological data and communicating scientific findings in formats used by industry and government agencies. |
| Grade Scheme: | Graded (HD, D, C, P, MF, F, XF) |
| Work Experience Indicator: |
| No work experience |
| Placement Component: | |
| Supplementary Assessment:Yes |
| Where supplementary assessment is available a student must have failed overall in the Unit but gained a final mark of 45 per cent or above, has completed all major assessment tasks (including all sub-components where a task has multiple parts) as specified in the Unit Description and is not eligible for any other form of supplementary assessment |
| Course Level: |
| Level of Unit in Course | AQF Level(s) of Course | | 5 | 6 | 7 | 8 | 9 | 10 | | Introductory | | | | | | | | Intermediate | | | | | | | | Advanced | | | | | | |
|
| Learning Outcomes: |
| Knowledge: |
| Skills: |
| Application of knowledge and skills: |
| Other outcomes: |
| O1. | Analyse and explain key concepts of Australian fauna, including taxonomy, zoogeography, evolutionary trends and adaptive mechanisms. |
|
| O2. | Apply scientific reasoning and appropriate methods to investigate Australian fauna, focusing on classification, ecology and life-history strategies. |
|
| O3. | Conduct field and laboratory investigations of Australian fauna using scientific methods and interpret ecological data to reach evidence-based conclusions. |
|
| O4. | Communicate scientific findings related to Australian fauna clearly and professionally using appropriate written, oral and visual formats. |
|
| O5. | Integrate scientific knowledge to explain how behavioural, physiological and reproductive adaptations influence ecological interactions and conservation in Australian fauna. |
|
| Unit Content: |
Students investigate the key vertebrate taxa of Australia, as well as a broad coverage of the invertebrate fauna. There is an emphasis on describing the distinct features, life history characteristics and ecology of the major taxa. Through practical exercises and field-based observation, students apply and demonstrate their developing knowledge and skills to identify, classify and investigate the ecology of Australian fauna. The knowldege gained is collated and evaluated to construct pieces of scientific output that are typically used by industry and government agencies.
•Origins, taxonomy, zoogeography and ecology of Australian fauna.
•Life history strategies, behaviour and adaptations of Australian fauna.
•Identification of key Australian fauna.
•Observation and survey of Australian fauna. |
| Graduate Attributes: |
| | Learning Outcomes Assessed | Assessment Tasks | Assessment Type | Weighting | Professional Standards |
| 1. |
1, 3 |
Laboratory and tutorial exercises |
Worksheets |
20-40 |
|
| 2. |
2, 3, 4, 5 |
Field based research project |
Written and oral report |
40-60 |
|
| 3. |
1, 2, 4 |
Australian fauna taxa profile |
Online science communication resource |
10-20 |
|
|