Graduate School of The Environment
GSE856 Wildlife Survey
About this Unit
Semester 2, 2009
Offered: X2 - External/online delivery; Second Half-Year
Convenors: Dr Jim Shields and Adam Fawcett
Prerequisites/corequisites: GSE854 Biodiversity Survey and Habitat Assessment Techniques
Credit Points: 4
The unit teaches methods to design, conduct and interpret flora and fauna surveys with a focus on more specialised skills in the collection and presentation of survey data. Modelling and analysis at a level sophisticated enough to inform wildlife management decisions will be taught. Concepts include home range analysis and estimating population sizes.
The unit provides training in advanced wildlife survey techniques that are usually difficult to gain experience and training in. Students are given an opportunity to gain hands on experience in the use of these techniques and analysis of the survey data. The unit builds on skills and techniques studied in GSE854 and develops the application of these techniques in association with the techniques concentrated in this unit.
No changes have been made to the unit since it was offered in 2008.
Teaching Staff
Convenors:
Adam Fawcett
Mobile: 0427 929 554
Email: afawcett@science.mq.edu.au
Dr Jim Shields
Mobile: 0417 732 071
Email: jim.shields@bigpond.com
Classes
The unit has two components:
- A distance component using web-based delivery through the Macquarie University online teaching website Blackboard CE6. Students are expected to work at their own pace through the unit material with ongoing guidance and discussion from unit conveners and teaching assistants.
- A five-day field trip will be held at Manna Park, Merimbula on the NSW South Coast. This will provide hands on experience and further learning input to deliver the practical skills described in the learning objectives. The field trip will involve both field and lab based lectures and exercises to develop these skills. The date of the field trip is planned for Thursday 3 to Sunday 6 September 2009.
It is strongly recommended that all students attend the field trip although it is not compulsory. Details are provided in Blackboard at the start of the Semester or contact the Unit Conveners for more information.
Please note that should there be a clash with other units during the dates of the field trip (either field trips or compulsory course-work components) students will need to decide which unit they wish to be enrolled in for this semester to enable attendance.
Unit web page
Login to the unit through Blackboard CE6
Technology Used and Required
Students are required to have access to a computer and the internet to access the teaching website and lecture materials. Students will also be required to have access to a word processor, spreadsheet manager and database programs to be able to complete set assessment tasks.
For field work students will require access to some field equipment, a complete list of which will be supplied within the teaching website on activation.
Learning Outcomes
Through the successful completion of this unit the student will have the following learning outcomes that contribute to a Macquarie University graduate's capabilities (listed as headings):
1. Discipline Specific Knowledge and Skills
- Gain awareness of the range of more advanced and specialist methods available to quantify plant and animal communities or populations
- Gain in field and lab experience in the practise of a range of advanced and specialist survey techniques.
2. Critical, Analytical & Integrative Thinking
- Critically analyse and evaluate survey data and scientific reports, relevant to wildlife surveys
- Develop skills in data manipulation, analysis and interpretation
- Application of suitable analysis methods and programs to analyse the results of advanced wildlife surveys and integrate results into a suitable reporting format
3. Problem Solving and Research Capability
- Develop an understanding of the planning and implementation of field work necessary for projects utilising specialists wildlife survey techniques
- Investigate use and application of suitable analysis programs used for analysing survey data
4. Creative and Innovative
- Make full use of wildlife survey data through analysis and use of all data collected.
- Apply skills to improve results from wildlife survey during field components
5. Effective Communication
- display discussion and presentation skills
- plan and present written arguments in coherent, well structured and documented form
6. Engaged & Ethical Local and Global Citizens
- Be able to ensure that procedures are safe for personnel
- Ensure survey techniques are ethical with regard to flora and fauna at all times
7. Socially and Environmentally Active and Responsible
- Minimise impact of wildlife surveys undertaken on the people using sites, wildlife being surveyed and the environment surveys are undertaken in
8. Capable of Professional and Personal Judgement and Initiative
- Recognise the strengths and limitations with respect to personal skill level
- Develop the ability to seek expert help and advice as needed based on scenario and personal skill levels
- Reflect on how personal experiences influence your own capacity for critical analysis
- Present a convincing argument for the results of wildlife survey and data analysis
- Critique work undertaken by peers in a constructive and informative manner
9. Commitment to Continuous Learning
- demonstrate effective time management and work organisation skills
- demonstrate effective project management skills
- assess your own learning and performance in group work and class and your ability to work in cross disciplinary and multi cultural situations
Graduate Capabilities Developed
- Discipline Specific Knowledge and Skills
- Critical, Analytical & Integrative Thinking
- Problem Solving and Research Capability
- Creative and Innovative
- Effective Communication
- Engaged & Ethical Local and Global Citizens
- Socially and Environmentally Active and Responsible
- Capable of Professional and Personal Judgement and Initiative
- Commitment to Continuous Learning
Teaching and Learning Strategy
The unit is designed to give students an understanding and skills in advanced and specialist wildlife survey techniques. Teaching material is delivered online with topics divided into the semester weeks. Given the online nature of this lecture material, students are expected to participate in online discussions of addition material provided or source and discuss additional material as instructed. Content most closely related to field work will also be delivered as part of the field trip.
Topics covered include:
- Introduction: Review of fundamentals, principle and theory of advanced wildlife techniques.
- Turning Data to Results: Techniques for Scientific and Management Use
- Vegetation surveys. In depth presentation of a techniques for vegetation survey and analysis.
- Tracks and traces surveys, focusing on sand pads, bait mounds, tracking mammals and finding signs.
- Use of leg restraints traps - techniques and principles (including ethics)
- Hair and bone analysis
- Radio tracking
- Home range analysis
- Mist netting
- Specimen preparation
- Microbat sonar surveys – use of Anabat system and analysis
- Data analysis and reporting
Assessment Requirements
The assessment tasks are designed to allow you to demonstrate your understanding of the course content. The allocation of marks within each task reflects the relative importance of each task.
There are two components to assessment in this unit:
- Three (3) written assignments
- participation in online discussion, notably participation throughout the semester in several related discussion topics.
| Assignment | Max. Length | Marks | Due Date |
|---|---|---|---|
| Scientific Paper Critique (Essay/report) | 1500 words | 15% | 30 Aug 2009 |
| Specifications for Field Survey (Scientific report) | 3000 words | 35% | 27 Sep 2009 |
| Analysis of Data (Scientific report)
|
4000 words | 40% | 15 Nov 2009 |
| Participation in Discussions Forum | - | 10% | 15 Nov 2009 |
All assignments will be submitted using the Assignments tool in Blackboard CE6 Teaching Website. Cover sheets (as provided) must be included with each unit.
How Do I Request an Extension?
Students may request an extension for any of the set assessment tasks with the unit convener. As per university guidelines, a one week extension is available on request. Further requests for an extension will be assessed on a case-by-case basis in accordance with the Macquarie University handbook. Students will be required to supply suitable documentation to support their request.
Examination Conditions
No exams are for this unit with set assignments forming the assessment for this unit.
To successfully complete the unit, students are required to submit all assessment tasks and gain an overall pass mark from these assessment tasks.
Requirements to Complete this Unit Satisfactorily
Required and Recommended Texts/Materials
There is no set text for this unit. However, students will find the set text for GSE854 useful for this unit.
Specific reading materials for this unit are provided either via the Blackboard CE6 Teaching Website or through the Macquarie University Library website.
Academic Honesty
Macquarie University defines plagiarism in its rules: "Plagiarism involves using the work of another person and presenting it as one's own." Plagiarism is a serious breach of the University's rules and carries significant penalties. You must read the University's practices and procedures on plagiarism. These can be found in the Handbook of Postgraduate Studies or on the web at: http://www.student.mq.edu.au/plagiarism/
The policies and procedures explain what plagiarism is, how to avoid it, the procedures that will be taken in cases of suspected plagiarism, and the penalties if you are found guilty. Penalties may include a deduction of marks, failure in the unit, and / or referral to the University Discipline Committee.
The GSE recommends that students familiarise themselves with the information contained on the Georgetown University Honor Council website which discusses plagiarism in an easy to understand and comprehensive manner.
All assignments will be screened with "Turnitin" anti-plagiarism software
University Policy on Grading
Academic Senate has a set of guidelines on the distribution of grades across the range from Fail to High Distinction. Your final result will include one of these grades plus a standardised numerical grade (SNG).
On occasion your raw mark for a unit (i.e., the total of your marks for each assessment item) may not be the same as the SNG which you receive. Under the Senate guidelines, results may be scaled to ensure that there is a degree of comparability across the university, so that units with the same past performances of their students should achieve similar results.
It is important that you realise that the policy does not require that a minimum number of students are to be failed in any unit. In fact it does something like the opposite, in requiring examiners to explain their actions if more than 20% of students fail in a unit.
The process of scaling does not change the order of marks among students. A student who receives a higher raw mark than another will also receive a higher final scaled mark.
For an explanation of the policy see:
http://senate.mq.edu.au/rules/Guidelines2003.doc or
http://senate.mq.edu.au/rules/detailedguidelines.doc
Special Consideration Policy
The University is committed to equity and fairness in all aspects of its learning and teaching. In stating this commitment, the University recognises that there may be circumstances where a student is prevented by unavoidable disruption from performing in accordance with their ability.
The Special Consideration Policy is instituted to support students who experience serious and unavoidable disruption such that they do not reach their usual demonstrated performance level.
Student Support Services
Macquarie University provides a range of Academic Student Support Services. Details of these services can be accessed at http://www.student.mq.edu.au.
Advice for Students with Disabilities/Health Conditions
The Equity Support Unit (ESU) provides support and assistance to students with a disability / health condition in aiming to ensure that they do not experience disadvantage in reaching their academic potential. Service provision is determined on a case-by-case basis following an assessment of a student's needs and the provision of supporting documentation. Service provision is also dependent on the availability of resources.
To register with ESU, download an Advice of Disability / Health Condition form from http://www.reg.mq.edu.au/academic-index.html. This form must be completed annually, irrespective of whether a disability / health condition is temporary, long-term or permanent. Students wishing to request support services from the ESU should make an appointment to see a Disability Advisor immediately after enrolling at Macquarie University.
Phone: (02) 9850 6494/7497
Fax: (02) 9850 6063
TTY: (02) 9850 6493
Email: equity@mq.edu.au
In person: Level 2, Lincoln Building (C8A), Macquarie University
Website: http://www.sss.mq.edu.au/equity