SLE341 - Ecological and Conservation Genetics
Unit details
| Year: | 2024 unit information |
|---|---|
| Enrolment modes: | Trimester 1: Burwood (Melbourne), Waurn Ponds (Geelong) |
| Credit point(s): | 1 |
| EFTSL value: | 0.125 |
| Unit Chair: | Trimester 1: Marina Telonis-Scott |
| Prerequisite: | SLE254 |
| Corequisite: | Nil |
| Incompatible with: | Nil |
| Typical study commitment: | Students will on average spend 150 hours over the teaching period undertaking the teaching, learning and assessment activities for this unit. This will include educator guided online learning activities within the unit site. |
| Educator-facilitated (scheduled) learning activities - on-campus unit enrolment: | 1 x 1 hour online lecture per week, 3 x 3 hour practical experience (laboratory) per trimester, 4 x 2 hour seminars per trimester, 1 x full day (7 hour) practical experience (field trip). |
Content
In this unit students will cover the theory and practice of collecting and applying genetic data to ecological, evolutionary and conservation questions. Students will learn how genetic data can be used to understand ecological and evolutionary processes that occur at the species, population and individual levels. Topics covered include population genetics, molecular approaches to behavioural ecology, molecular and adaptive variation, phylogeography, speciation and hybridization, conservation genetics, epigenetics and phenotypic plasticity. Drawing on examples from animals, plants and micro-organisms, students will apply their knowledge to specific problem based learning activities and will gain hands on experience in the statistical analysis of ecological genetic data.
| ULO | These are the Learning Outcomes (ULO) for this unit. At the completion of this unit, successful students can: | Deakin Graduate Learning Outcomes |
|---|---|---|
| ULO1 | Develop knowledge of how molecular data can be used as a tool to solve problems and answer questions in the fields of ecology, evolutionary biology and conservation biology. | GLO1: Discipline-specific knowledge and capabilities |
| ULO2 | Locate, analyse and interpret genetic information to explore hypotheses and approaches that are used for solving ecological, evolutionary and conservations problems. | GLO3: Digital literacy |
| ULO3 | Solve problems and answer questions based on genetic data to inform, manage, address and explore options for further experimentation. | GLO4: Critical thinking |
| ULO4 | Generate scientific work to communicate the results of genetic studies with evidence and justification from wider scientific literature. | GLO2: Communication |
Assessment
| Assessment Description | Student output | Grading and weighting (% total mark for unit) | Indicative due week |
|---|---|---|---|
| Assessment 1 Online quizzes | Three 30-minute online quizzes | 20% (5%, 5%, 10%) | Weeks 3, 5 and 9 |
| Assessment 2 Problem solving written reports | 700 word written critique, and 500 word commentary | 20% (10%, 10%) | Week 4 |
| Assessment 3 Scientific report | 3000 word scientific report | 30% | Week 7 |
| Assessment 4 Action and recovery plan assignment | 2000 word action and recovery plan for threatened, endangered or managed species | 30% | Week 11 |
The assessment due weeks provided may change. The Unit Chair will clarify the exact assessment requirements, including the due date, at the start of the teaching period.
Learning Resource
The texts and reading list for the unit can be found on the University Library via the link below: SLE341 Note: Select the relevant trimester reading list. Please note that a future teaching period's reading list may not be available until a month prior to the start of that teaching period so you may wish to use the relevant trimester's prior year reading list as a guide only.
Unit Fee Information
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