Course coordinator
Professor Peter Kopittke
Please contact by email to request a meeting.
Course overview
- Study period
- Semester 1, 2025 (24/02/2025 - 21/06/2025)
- Study level
- Undergraduate
- Location
- Gatton
- Attendance mode
- In Person
- Units
- 2
- Administrative campus
- Gatton
- Coordinating unit
- Agriculture and Food Sustainability School
The principles, concepts and application of population and community ecology with special reference to major Australian ecosystems in the context of their relevance to agricultural and environmental systems.
The course covers the principles and concepts of Australian ecology at an introductory level. It provides a broad description of natural systems and their environmental components as these relate to ecosystem ecology. It forms the basis of ecological knowledge for management of natural and agricultural systems.
The course is divided into three modules:ﾠModule 1ﾠ- Population and Community ecology;ﾠModule 2ﾠ- Ecosystem ecology; Module 3ﾠ- The physical environment.
Course requirements
Assumed background
This is an introductory course in ecology, and while no specific ecological knowledge is required, it is assumed that students have a basic knowledge of biology and elementary mathematics.
Incompatible
You can't enrol in this course if you've already completed the following:
BIOL2010, AGRC2019 and AGRC1031
Course contact
Course staff
Lecturer
Professor Peter Kopittke
Timetable
The timetable for this course is available on the UQ Public Timetable.
Additional timetable information
Students must sign up to one prac group via MyTimetable.
For the practical classes,ﾠyou are required to bring:
- A hat
- Water bottle
- Enclosed footwear (boots are best);ﾠ
- Sunscreen
- Long trousers (not shorts);ﾠ
- Long-sleeved shirt
- Insect repellent / umbrella as needed
Always ask permission before taking pictures.ﾠ
You are required to participate in all practical classes.
Aims and outcomes
To enable students to develop an understanding of ecological processes and their application to managing natural and agricultural systems.
Learning outcomes
After successfully completing this course you should be able to:
LO1.
Describe plant and animal responses to natural and agricultural systems, and how these responses are affected by human induced effects.
LO2.
Describe ecological processes as they apply to individuals, populations, species, habitats, landscapes and global level issues.
LO3.
Design a simple ecological study, collect and analyse appropriate field data and discuss the results and implications of the study in the context of relevant literature.
LO4.
Display scientific writing skills, including the production of professional standard reports.
LO5.
Demonstrate core practical skills in ecology.
Assessment
Assessment summary
| Category | Assessment task | Weight | Due date |
|---|---|---|---|
| Quiz |
Quiz 1
|
5% |
25/03/2025 - 28/03/2025
Open Tuesday 25 March at 2pm and will close Friday 28 March 4pm. |
| Practical/ Demonstration |
Prac Reports [Module 1: Distribution & Diversity + Module 2: Ecological site assessment]
|
40% (20% for each individual report) |
Module 1: Distribution & Diversity (20%) 6/03/2025 - 4/04/2025 Module 2: Ecological site assessment (20%) 3/04/2025 - 9/05/2025
Inspera will close at 4pm on the due date for each module. |
| Quiz |
Quiz 2
|
5% |
29/04/2025 - 2/05/2025
Open Tuesday 29 April at 2pm and will close Friday 02 May at 4pm. |
| Examination |
Final examination
|
50% |
End of Semester Exam Period 7/06/2025 - 21/06/2025 |
A hurdle is an assessment requirement that must be satisfied in order to receive a specific grade for the course. Check the assessment details for more information about hurdle requirements.
Assessment details
Quiz 1
- Online
- Mode
- Written
- Category
- Quiz
- Weight
- 5%
- Due date
25/03/2025 - 28/03/2025
Open Tuesday 25 March at 2pm and will close Friday 28 March 4pm.
Task description
Quiz 1 covers all content taught in Module 1, and will assist you with reviewing the course content of Module 1.
The two quizzes are each worth 5%, and together are worth 10% of your grade for AGRC1032. The types of questions you might receive in your quizzes include multiple choice, multiple response, gap match, inline choice, matching/pairing, and text entry questions. The links to the quizzes will become available in the Assessment folder on Blackboard at 2 pm AEST on the day the relevant quiz opens.
Clicking on the link in Blackboard will take you directly into Inspera, where you will see information about the relevant quiz and will be able to commence working on it when you are ready.
You will be able to access and complete each quiz at any time during the period when it is open, but you will only have a maximum of 1 hour to complete each quiz from the time at which you start it (e.g., if you start a quiz at 2:30 pm on a Monday then your time will run out at 3:30 pm that same day; if you start a quiz at 3:45 pm on the day that it closes then you will only have a maximum of 15 minutes to complete the quiz until it closes at 4 pm). Once you start the quiz then you must complete it in one sitting, so do not start the quiz until you have an uninterrupted period of at least 1 hour available. Inspera will show you a countdown timer.
You will be able to make changes to your quiz answers until your time runs out, but you will only be able to submit each quiz once. For example, if you have submitted the quiz after 20 minutes then you can then no longer make any changes after that even though you had time left on your timer before you submitted it. Inspera will automatically save the work you complete in it as you progress through a quiz. If you forget to click the "submit now" button or run out of time, your saved work will be automatically submitted at the quiz end time.
Late submission is not possible for quizzes.
Artificial Intelligence (AI) and Machine Translation (MT) are emerging tools that may support students in completing this assessment task. Students may appropriately use AI and/or MT in completing this assessment task. Students must clearly reference any use of AI or MT in each instance.
A failure to reference generative AI or MT use may constitute student misconduct under the Student Code of Conduct.
Submission guidelines
The task is completed and submitted in Inspera within Blackboard.
Deferral or extension
You may be able to apply for an extension.
The maximum extension allowed is 28 days. Extensions are given in multiples of 24 hours.
Late submission
Late submission is not possible for quizzes
Prac Reports [Module 1: Distribution & Diversity + Module 2: Ecological site assessment]
- Online
- Mode
- Activity/ Performance
- Category
- Practical/ Demonstration
- Weight
- 40% (20% for each individual report)
- Due date
Module 1: Distribution & Diversity (20%) 6/03/2025 - 4/04/2025
Module 2: Ecological site assessment (20%) 3/04/2025 - 9/05/2025
Inspera will close at 4pm on the due date for each module.
Task description
This is a sequential assessment item.
The two prac reports cover both practical sessions from Module 1 (Distribution & Diversity, worth 20% of the overall course grade) plus both practical sessions from Module 2 (Ecological site assessment, worth 20% of the overall course grade), which take place at the Environmental Park at Gatton. During the practicals, students collect data, and the two prac reports assess their ability to synthesise and understand their data.
A prac manual is provided on Blackboard which provides detailed instructions for completing the hands-on exercises. The information required for the report is provided in Inspera which provides step-by-step instructions for completing the report, including the associated word limits. The Marking Scheme is available in this ECP and on Blackboard.
Both practical reports are completed on Blackboard using Inspera. You can enter and leave Inspera without submitting as many times as you wish during the assessment window, and Inspera will save your work as you progress through the assessment. You can only submit this assessment once, by clicking the "submit now" button. You must click the "submit now" button to submit your work, by the due date and time. If you do not press "submit now", your work will not be submitted and will not be marked.
This assessment task evaluates students' abilities, skills and knowledge without the aid of generative Artificial Intelligence (AI) or Machine Translation (MT). Students are advised that the use of AI or MT technologies to develop responses is strictly prohibited and may constitute student misconduct under the Student Code of Conduct.
If you are unable to submit your assessment by the deadline then you need to apply for a formal extension BEFORE the due date.
If you have an approved extension or are submitting late without an extension, you need to continue to work on the same assessment that you access from the link above, and then submit it when you are ready to do so.
Submission guidelines
Submission is through Inspera.
Legal Declaration:ﾠ
By submitting your work via this website, you formally declare that (1) it is your own original work, and no part of the work has been copied from any other source or person except where due acknowledgment is made; (2) no part of the work has been previously submitted for assessment in this or any other institution; and (3) you have read the UQ Academic Integrity and Plagiarism Policy (http://ppl.app.uq.edu.au/content/3.60.04-student-integrity-and-misconduct) and understand its implications.ﾠ
Deferral or extension
You may be able to apply for an extension.
The maximum extension allowed is 28 days. Extensions are given in multiples of 24 hours.
Submission of an Extension of Assessment Due Date (EADD) should be completed online through your My Requests tab via https://portal.my.uq.edu.au/#/dashboard before the due date of the assessment item.
Late submission
A penalty of 33% of the maximum possible mark allocated for the assessment item will be deducted per day for up to 3 calendar days, at which point any submission will not receive any marks unless an extension has been approved. Each 24-hour block is recorded from the time the submission is due.
Quiz 2
- Online
- Mode
- Written
- Category
- Quiz
- Weight
- 5%
- Due date
29/04/2025 - 2/05/2025
Open Tuesday 29 April at 2pm and will close Friday 02 May at 4pm.
- Learning outcomes
- L01
Task description
Quiz 2 covers all content taught in Module 2, and will assist you with reviewing the course content of Module 2.
The two quizzes are each worth 5%, and together are worth 10% of your grade for AGRC1032. The types of questions you might receive in your quizzes include multiple choice, multiple response, gap match, inline choice, matching/pairing, and text entry questions. The links to the quizzes will become available in the Assessment folder on Blackboard at 2 pm AEST on the day the relevant quiz opens.
Clicking on the link in Blackboard will take you directly into Inspera, where you will see information about the relevant quiz and will be able to commence working on it when you are ready.
You will be able to access and complete each quiz at any time during the period when it is open, but you will only have a maximum of 1 hour to complete each quiz from the time at which you start it (e.g., if you start a quiz at 2:30 pm on a Monday then your time will run out at 3:30 pm that same day; if you start a quiz at 3:45 pm on the day that it closes then you will only have a maximum of 15 minutes to complete the quiz until it closes at 4 pm). Once you start the quiz then you must complete it in one sitting, so do not start the quiz until you have an uninterrupted period of at least 1 hour available. Inspera will show you a countdown timer.
You will be able to make changes to your quiz answers until your time runs out, but you will only be able to submit each quiz once. For example, if you have submitted the quiz after 20 minutes then you can then no longer make any changes after that even though you had time left on your timer before you submitted it. Inspera will automatically save the work you complete in it as you progress through a quiz. If you forget to click the "submit now" button or run out of time, your saved work will be automatically submitted at the quiz end time.
Late submission is not possible for quizzes.
Artificial Intelligence (AI) and Machine Translation (MT) are emerging tools that may support students in completing this assessment task. Students may appropriately use AI and/or MT in completing this assessment task. Students must clearly reference any use of AI or MT in each instance.
A failure to reference generative AI or MT use may constitute student misconduct under the Student Code of Conduct.
Submission guidelines
The task is completed and submitted in Inspera within Blackboard.
Deferral or extension
You may be able to apply for an extension.
The maximum extension allowed is 28 days. Extensions are given in multiples of 24 hours.
Late submission
Late submission is not possible for quizzes
Final examination
- Hurdle
- Identity Verified
- In-person
- Mode
- Written
- Category
- Examination
- Weight
- 50%
- Due date
End of Semester Exam Period
7/06/2025 - 21/06/2025
Task description
This examination is Closed Book (no materials permitted).
The exam will cover all content in this course, i.e. lectures and practicals.
Important note: You will need a scientific calculator in the exam.
The exam will be an on-campus exam. Have your UQ student ID card available for all your exams. Students enrolled in In Person delivery must attend the exam in-person.
This assessment task is to be completed in-person. The use of generative Artificial Intelligence (AI) or Machine Translation (MT) tools will not be permitted. Any attempted use of AI or MT may constitute student misconduct under the Student Code of Conduct.
Hurdle requirements
Students are required to achieve a pass in the final exam in order to pass the course. If a student obtains an overall percentage greater than the cut-offs set to achieve a 4 or higher for the course based on marks from a combination of progressive assessment and the final exam and the student does NOT score a passing mark for the Final Exam, they are unable to achieve a grade higher than a 3 (failing grade) for the course.Exam details
| Planning time | 10 minutes |
|---|---|
| Duration | 120 minutes |
| Calculator options | (In person) Casio FX82 series only or UQ approved and labelled calculator |
| Open/closed book | Closed Book examination - no written materials permitted |
| Exam platform | Paper based |
| Invigilation | Invigilated in person |
Submission guidelines
Deferral or extension
You may be able to defer this exam.
Course grading
Full criteria for each grade is available in the Assessment Procedure.
| Grade | Description |
|---|---|
| 1 (Low Fail) |
Absence of evidence of achievement of course learning outcomes. Course grade description: 0 - 34% |
| 2 (Fail) |
Minimal evidence of achievement of course learning outcomes. Course grade description: 35 - 46% |
| 3 (Marginal Fail) |
Demonstrated evidence of developing achievement of course learning outcomes Course grade description: 47% - 49% OR failure to meet course hurdle requirement. |
| 4 (Pass) |
Demonstrated evidence of functional achievement of course learning outcomes. Course grade description: 50% - 64% |
| 5 (Credit) |
Demonstrated evidence of proficient achievement of course learning outcomes. Course grade description: 65% - 74% |
| 6 (Distinction) |
Demonstrated evidence of advanced achievement of course learning outcomes. Course grade description: 75% - 84% |
| 7 (High Distinction) |
Demonstrated evidence of exceptional achievement of course learning outcomes. Course grade description: 85% - 100% |
Additional course grading information
Course Grading Rules and Assessment Hurdles:
Students are required to achieve a pass in the final exam in order to pass the course.ﾠIf a student obtains an overall percentage greater than the cut-offs set to achieve a 4 or higher for the course based on marks from a combination of progressive assessment and the final exam and the student does NOT score a passing mark for the FinalﾠExam, they are unable to achieve a grade higher than a 3 (failing grade) for the course.
Supplementary assessment
Supplementary assessment is available for this course.
Additional assessment information
Practical Attendance Requirements and Exemption/Extension process
Student are required to attend a minimum of 75% of the practicals.ﾠStudents unable attend a practical must submit an extension request and provide relevant acceptable supporting documents.
Communication
You must use your UQ student email address for all correspondence. This is to verify the identity of the student given that we often deal with sensitive information.
Please note the following when writing assignments
You must not re-use past work from previous assessments in your assignments.
Inspera Assessments
UQ is using a new assessment tool, Inspera. Inspera provides additional functionality to complement the existing suite of digital learning tools at UQ with a greater range of question types, accessibility provisions, and non-English languages. Inspera Assessment will used in AGRC1032. Inspera Assessments will include a digital assessment and students in this course will complete and submit this using their own device. Further details, including an introduction to Inspera functionality, practice opportunities, and where to go for support, will be provided in the Blackboard site for this course in Week 1 of the semester.
Results
Unless specifically indicated by the lecturer involved,ﾠevery attempt will be made to haveﾠthe results for progressive assessment tasks available within 3 weeks of submission. For items of assessment submitted in the last 2 weeks of the semester, the results will be available before the day of your end of semester examination in the course, unless otherwise indicated by the Course Coordinator. Results and feedback availability will be advised to you by email or announced via the course Blackboard site.ﾠ
Re-mark Applications - refer to the University's Re-mark Policy to check your eligibility.
Remark applications will not be considered without first having contacted your Course Co-ordinator.
Information for students can be found at : https://my.uq.edu.au/information-and-services/manage-my-program/exams-and-assessment/querying-result
Deferred and Supplementary assessment (including Deferred Examinations)
- Deferred and Supplementary information can be located on the my.UQ website
Learning resources
You'll need the following resources to successfully complete the course. We've indicated below if you need a personal copy of the reading materials or your own item.
Library resources
Find the required and recommended resources for this course on the UQ Library website.
Other course materials
Recommended
| Item | Description | Further Requirement |
|---|---|---|
| Smith TM and Smith RL, Elements of ecology, 9th Edition, Pearson Education | https://search.library.uq.edu.au/permalink/f/12kerkf/61UQ_ALMA21106623070003131 | |
| Campbell Biology (12th Edition), Australia and New Zealand Version | https://search.library.uq.edu.au/permalink/f/18av8c1/61UQ_ALMA51300593870003131 |
Additional learning resources information
Calculator
Important note: You will require a scientific calculator to complete the calculations in this course. With the exception of the Casio FX-82 series, all calculators used in an exam must have an ‘Approved’ label attached.
‘Approved calculators’ list – http://www.uq.edu.au/student-centre/docs/exams/approved-calculators
To find out moreﾠvisit: http://www.uq.edu.au/myadvisor/exam-calculators
Learning activities
The learning activities for this course are outlined below. Learn more about the learning outcomes that apply to this course.
Filter activity type by
Please select
| Learning period | Activity type | Topic |
|---|---|---|
Multiple weeks From Week 1 To Week 13 |
Lecture |
Lectures Covering the three modules of the whole course |
Multiple weeks From Week 1 To Week 8 |
Practical |
Practical activities Practicals held fortnightly - covering the first two modules (two practicals per module). Two practical reports are to be submitted Learning outcomes: L03, L04, L05 |
Practical |
Online Quizzes One quiz each for Module 1 and 2 |
Policies and procedures
University policies and procedures apply to all aspects of student life. As a UQ student, you must comply with University-wide and program-specific requirements, including the:
- Student Code of Conduct Policy
- Student Integrity and Misconduct Policy and Procedure
- Assessment Procedure
- Examinations Procedure
- Reasonable Adjustments - Students Policy and Procedure
Learn more about UQ policies on my.UQ and the Policy and Procedure Library.