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Year:

EVOL501 Biological Systematics

Updated: 21 December 2012
Credit Points 6
Offering
Responsible Campus Teaching Period Mode of Study
Armidale Trimester 1 Off Campus
Intensive School(s)
Start Finish Attendance Notes
17 April 2013 20 April 2013 Mandatory Intensive school at UNE, Armidale
Supervised Exam There is no UNE Supervised Examination.
Pre-requisites candidature in a postgraduate award
Co-requisites None
Restrictions EVOL301 or BIOL301 or BIOL301A or BIOL501 or SYST301
Notes None
Combined Units EVOL301 - Biological Systematics
Coordinator(s) Jeremy Bruhl (jbruhl@une.edu.au)
Unit Description

Develop understanding and practical skills in species taxonomy and phylogenetic systematics relevant for all botanists, zoologists, evolutionary biologists and teachers of science. Topics developed jointly by Australian Museum, Botanic Gardens Trust Sydney and UNE staff, include analysis of species limits and phylogenetic relationships, character evolution, and applications of phylogeny reconstruction including conservation prioritisation.

Materials No text required
Disclaimer Unit information may be subject to change prior to commencement of the teaching period.
Assessment
Title Exam Length Weight Mode No. Words
Mesquite Starter Tutorial 15%
Assessment Notes
Assessed online
Relates to Learning Outcomes (LO) and Graduate Attributes (GA)
LO: 2 GA: 1, 2, 4, 6
Report 30%
Assessment Notes
No word limit is set, but you must aim for brevity and clarity.
Relates to Learning Outcomes (LO) and Graduate Attributes (GA)
LO: 1-6 GA: 1-6
Report 2 15%
Assessment Notes
No word limit is set, but you must aim for brevity and clarity.
Relates to Learning Outcomes (LO) and Graduate Attributes (GA)
LO: 1, 5, 6 GA: 1-6
Take Home Exam 40%
Assessment Notes
No word limit is set, but you must aim for brevity and clarity.
Relates to Learning Outcomes (LO) and Graduate Attributes (GA)
LO: 1, 3, 5, 6 GA: 1-6

Learning Outcomes (LO) Upon completion of this unit, students will be able to:
  1. understand the key concepts of systematics and have practical systematics skills and experience in dealing with organismal diversity;
  2. use critical skills in defining, scoring and analysing character data and using Mesquite;
  3. understand the appropriate use of and different approaches to phylogenetic analysis and classification;
  4. conduct phylogenetic analyses using computer programs;
  5. demonstrate advanced skills in appraisal and communication of scientific literature; and
  6. demonstrate advanced skills necessary to critically review, appreciate, appraise and communicate scientific literature of relevance to biosystematics.

Graduate Attributes (GA)
Attribute Taught Assessed Practised
1 Knowledge of a Discipline
Knowledge of evolutionary biology will be taught through topic notes, practised through online activities, and at Intensive School, and assessed in assessment tasks.
True True True
2 Communication Skills
Communication Skills will be taught at the Intensive School, and assessed and practised through ssessment tasks.
True True True
3 Global Perspectives
Global Perspectives is taught through principles and practices of the discipline, and practised and assessed through assessment tasks.
True True True
4 Information Literacy
Information Literacy is practised and assessed through assessment tasks which require relevant and current literature to be located and used.
True True
5 Life-Long Learning
The learning skills required for life-long learning are embedded in practical activities through the unit, and assessed through assessment tasks that require demonstration of these learning skills.
True True
6 Problem Solving
Problem Solving is embedded in practical activities through the unit, and assessed through assessment tasks that require demonstration of this skill.
True True
7 Social Responsibility
Social Responsibility is practised through Intensive School practicals.
True
8 Team Work
Team work is practised through Intensive School practicals.
True
   

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