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ZOOL528 Insect-Plant Interactions

Credit Points 6
Offering
Responsible Campus Teaching Period Mode of Study
Armidale Trimester 2 Off Campus
Armidale Trimester 2 On Campus
Intensive School(s)
Start Finish Attendance Notes
11 August 2012 14 August 2012 Mandatory Off-campus students have to attend the Intensive School. On-campus students will attend practicals throughout the Semester
Supervised Exam There is no UNE Supervised Examination.
Pre-requisites candidature in a postgraduate award
Co-requisites None
Restrictions ZOOL328
Notes None
Combined Units ZOOL328 - Insect-Plant Interactions
Coordinator(s) Nigel Andrew (nandrew@une.edu.au)
Unit Description

Insect-Plant Interactions will explore how insects interact with their environment, and their successful adaptation to many terrestrial ecosystems. Lectures and readings will explore the influence of evolution, plant traits and environment on insect behaviour, development and diversity. Interactions covered will include herbivory, pollination, predation, parasitism and competition among others. Applied issues to be explored include insect roles in ecosystem services, pest management, conservation and assessing impacts of climate change. Student outcomes will include an advanced understanding of the role insects play in ecosystems, grant writing skills, as well as laboratory and field experience. ZOOL538 will cover material in greater depth than ZOOL328 with separate and more challenging assignments being completed.
Prescribed Material
Mandatory 		Text(s):

Note: Students are expected to purchase prescribed material

Insect-Plant Biology
ISBN: 9780198525950
Schoonhoven, L.M., Van Loon, J.J.A. and Dicke, M., Oxford University Press 2nd ed. 2005
Text refers to: Trimester 2 , On and Off Campus
Disclaimer Unit information may be subject to change prior to commencement of the teaching period.
Assessment
Title Exam Length Weight Mode No. Words
Chapter Summaries 30% 2250
Relates to Learning Outcomes (LO) and Graduate Attributes (GA)
LO: 1-5 GA: 2, 4, 6
Oral Presentation 15%
Assessment Notes
5 minute presentation plus powerpoint slide show.
Relates to Learning Outcomes (LO) and Graduate Attributes (GA)
LO: 1-5 GA: 2, 4, 6
Practical Report 25% 1875
Relates to Learning Outcomes (LO) and Graduate Attributes (GA)
LO: 1-5 GA: 2, 4, 6, 8
Research Proposal 30% 2250
Relates to Learning Outcomes (LO) and Graduate Attributes (GA)
LO: 1-5 GA: 2, 4, 6

Learning Outcomes (LO) Upon completion of this unit, students will be able to:
  1. communicate their theoretical and practical understanding of how insects interact with their environment;
  2. analyse the importance of evolution of both insects and plants in structuring current insect-plant relationships;
  3. implement appropriate methodologies for studying insect-plant relationships;
  4. critically analyse scientific research in this field;
  5. demonstrate professional research and report writing skills; and
  6. develop realistic large scale research proposals and budgets and identify strengths and weaknesses in particular strategies and formulate sound recommendations.

Graduate Attributes (GA)
Attribute Taught Assessed Practised
1 Knowledge of a Discipline
Insect-Plant Interactions embeds itself within the wider Zoology discipline, and shows how insects interact and relate to plants and to other invertebrate and vertebrate organisms. 		True True
2 Communication Skills
Written communication skills are taught, practiced and assessed in the written assignments, field trip/residential, online discussion, and oral presentation. 		True True True
3 Global Perspectives
Global perspective refers to an understanding of the global context of the discipline; the information provided in this unit is applicable, not just here in Australia, but world-wide. 		True True
4 Information Literacy
You will be assessed on your skills in obtaining appropriate information for the written assignments, using books, journals and on-line sources. 		True True True
5 Life-Long Learning
Students will develop a range of life-long learning skills such as how to seek out new information and critically analysing such information. Learning to work both independently and cooperatively with others is an important skill to develop. This unit will stimulate student's intellectual curiosity and creativity. Grant-writing skills will prepare students for preparing realistic goals, planning effective time use and budgeting for research activities. 		True True
6 Problem Solving
During the practical sessions students will be instructed in, and practice, the obtaining of relevant skills in approaching problems/tasks, deciding what sort of information is needed, getting that information, and then applying it appropriately. Problem solving skills will be assessed in the written assignments and online discussions. 		True True True
7 Social Responsibility
This graduate attribute is not directly addressed in this unit; however an understanding of the important role(s) of insects in sustainable development is relevant to this attribute. 		True
8 Team Work
Much of the field trip and online discussion will be undertaken in association with other students so that this graduate attribute is practiced throughout the unit. 		True True True
   

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