Course coordinator
Associate Professor Steve Johnston
Course overview
- Study period
- Semester 2, 2024 (22/07/2024 - 18/11/2024)
- Study level
- Postgraduate Coursework
- Location
- Gatton
- Attendance mode
- In Person
- Units
- 2
- Administrative campus
- Gatton
- Coordinating unit
- The Environment School
An investigation into the unique biology, natural history and management of Australian marsupials and monotremes.
Evidence of immunity to Q fever is mandatory for this course. Refer to UQ Student Immunisation Requirements for more information.
External mode of study is restricted and will require permission to enrol. To request permission email environment@enquire.uq.edu.au with the course information and include relevant supporting evidence.
Eligibility criteria: 1. Students must show evidence that travel time of greater than 90 minutes or 100km from Gatton Campus and is reflected in mySI-net: Acceptable Evidence advice that MySi-net record is up to date; 2. Students must show evidence that work commitments restrict their ability to attend regular practicals: Acceptable Evidence a letter from employer 3. Students with core course timetable clashes: Acceptable Evidence a copy of correspondence from Science My Timetable indicating clash is unable to be resolved. Clashes with elective courses will not be considered. 4. Students unable to provide this evidence will be assessed on a case-by-case basis.
Australia and New Guinea are ﾠhome to some of the most interesting and unusual mammalsﾠon the planet; they are in fact, the only countries where you can find all three extant subclasses of mammals, the monotremes, the marsupials and so called "placental" mammals. Over the next 13 weeks, you will explore a series of fascinating modules that will highlight and contrast the unique biology of ﾠmarsupials and monotremes. These modules will include marsupial and monotreme taxonomy, biogeography and evolution, marsupial and monotreme musculoskeletal anatomy and adaptations,ﾠmonotreme reproduction, marsupial reproduction, marsupialﾠand monotremeﾠchromosomes and genomes, theﾠdigestive systemsﾠand feeding strategiesﾠof marsupials and monotremes,ﾠmarsupial and monotreme thermoregulation and metabolism, marsupial and monotreme communication and social behaviour, major diseasesﾠof marsupialsﾠand monotremes, marsupial and monotreme applied genetics and genomics, selected conservation programsﾠof marsupials and monotremes and an indigenous perspective on these taxa. Eachﾠmoduleﾠwill be taught by a lecturerﾠorﾠindustry professionalﾠthat has an active involvementﾠor specialist interestﾠin each of these topics; consequently, you will be exposed to many local examples with highly topical and relevant content. The course lecture content will be delivered asﾠlive in person lectures, echo recorded and ZOOM recorded lectures, all of which will beﾠrecorded and uploaded to the course Blackboard site.ﾠA textbook entitled "Marsupials and Monotremes: Nature's Enigmatic Mammals"ﾠhas been specifically written by some of the lecturers ofﾠthisﾠcourse and is available online as a free e-book from the library and via hard copies at the UQ Gatton library. There will also be additional readings made available for each module. IMPORTANT -ﾠThis course also incorporates attendance at a compulsory 1 day in semester weekend practical on Gatton Campus. This course has mandatory immunisation requirements due to an increased risk of Vaccine Preventable Diseases (VPD) for students working with
animals or in agricultural environments. Students will be asked to provide evidence of immunity to Q fever via my.UQ My Requests as a condition of enrolment in this course.
Course requirements
Assumed background
Undergraduate level (1st and 2nd year) of animal anatomy and physiology and zoology.
Incompatible
You can't enrol in this course if you've already completed the following:
ANIM2043 and ANIM3049 (co-taught).
Restrictions
Restricted to students who meet mandatory immunisation requirements. External offering requires permission to enrol.
Course contact
Course staff
Lecturer
Associate Professor Steve Johnston
Associate Professor Diana Fisher
Adjunct Professor David Blyde
Dr Lyndal Hulse
Timetable
The timetable for this course is available on the UQ Public Timetable.
Additional timetable information
A one day weekend practical will be be run 7/9/2024.ﾠ
Aims and outcomes
This course aims to provide students with a fundamental and extended knowledge of marsupial and monotreme biology through a selected coverage of modules related to taxonomy, anatomy, physiology, behavioural ecology, conservation and management.
Learning outcomes
After successfully completing this course you should be able to:
LO1.
Understand current concepts in marsupial and monotreme taxonomy and identify species to the level of order and family.
LO2.
Comprehend the unique musculo-skeletal system of the marsupials and monotremes and how this contrasts with eutherian species.
LO3.
Comprehend the unique reproductive biology of the marsupials and monotremes and how this contrasts with eutherian species.
LO4.
Understand the unique aspects of marsupial and monotreme chromosomes and genetics.
LO5.
Compare and contrast the nutrition and digestive anatomy and physiology of marsupials, monotremes and eutherian species.
LO6.
Understand the methods of communication and social behaviours of marsupials and monotremes
LO7.
Develop an appreciation of the key diseases affecting monotreme and marsupials.
LO8.
Have a greater awareness of how marsupials and monotremes thermoregulate and analyse the potential effects of future climate change on their physiological niche.
LO9.
Gain a greater appreciation of the historical and current issues associated with marsupial and monotreme conservation and management.
LO10.
Understand the importance of applied genetics for marsupial conservation.
LO11.
Produce an annotated bibliography in order to conduct an update edit of a published book chapter.
LO12.
Participate in the dissection of a monotreme and marsupial to identify the digestive, reproductive and musculo-skeletal systems.
LO13.
Gain an informed understanding of the significance of monotremes and marsupials to indigenous community.
Assessment
Assessment summary
| Category | Assessment task | Weight | Due date |
|---|---|---|---|
| Paper/ Report/ Annotation | Annotated bibliography & book chapter edit update | 20% |
23/08/2024 1:00 pm |
| Examination | ANIM7043 Mid-semester Exam - Modules 1 to 6 | 24% |
10/09/2024 2:00 pm
Mid-semester Exam |
| Paper/ Report/ Annotation, Practical/ Demonstration | Dissection Report | 12% |
20/09/2024 1:00 pm |
| Creative Production/ Exhibition, Paper/ Report/ Annotation | Marsupial and Monotreme Research Proposal | 20% |
11/10/2024 1:00 pm |
| Examination | Final Exam - Modules 7 to 12 | 24% |
End of Semester Exam Period 2/11/2024 - 16/11/2024 |
Assessment details
Annotated bibliography & book chapter edit update
- Mode
- Written
- Category
- Paper/ Report/ Annotation
- Weight
- 20%
- Due date
23/08/2024 1:00 pm
Task description
The text “The Koala” in the Australian Natural History series provides a general overview of koala biology but was published in 1999. For this assignment, it will be your job to act as book editor to help update the reproductive biology section of chapter 5 “Behaviour, Sociality and Life Cycle” of the text by compiling an annotated bibliography of the current literature relevant to this chapter. You should find and select the 10 most relevant journal articles to annotate. Website information is not acceptable unless it is part of an online journal article. NOTE - only focus on the reproductive biology section.
Choose your journal articles carefully to present the most relevant and up to date information. As part of your editorial role, you will also need to indicate in the text of the book chapter, where you would insert this new information and whether any new figures or tables should be added for clarification. For this later exercise, it would be best to photocopy or “scan in” the relevant pages of the chapter and then by hand or using Adobe Acrobat or Acrobat Pro insert the reference. You will also need to provide any new text for your new information which can also be either handwritten or typed using Adobe Acrobat Pro Software. The location of the reference in the text can be indicated by [1], where [1] would refer to the number of the reference in your annotated reference list. I have provided on the ANIM3049/7043 blackboard website a PDF entitled “What is an Annotated Bibliography”. It is vital that you read this document carefully in terms of how the bibliography should be set out. This document also gives an example of an entry for an annotated bibliography; follow this example EXACTLY when submitting your assignment but please ensure that you use the APA system when referencing.
Also note and include – “the key” used in the example given in the PDF document. Please note it is not acceptable to simply include an exact word for word abstract of the journal article you have discovered as your annotation; if you do, this will quickly be detected by the turn-it-in software and treated as plagiarism. A PDF of the book chapter can also be downloaded from the BB website.
This assessment task evaluates student’s abilities, skills and knowledge without the aid of Artificial Intelligence (AI). Students are advised that the use of AI technologies to develop responses is strictly prohibited and may constitute student misconduct under the Student Code of Conduct.
Submission guidelines
You must submit your Assessment task, in Blackboard, via the Turnitin link by the submission deadline. You should also retain an electronic copy of every piece of assessment you submit.
Legal Declaration
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 acknowledgement 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.
Information on feedback will be provided on the Blackboard site for this course.
Deferral or extension
You cannot defer or apply for an extension for this assessment.
Late submission
A penalty of 10% of the maximum possible mark will be deducted per 24 hours from time submission is due for up to 7 days. After 7 days, you will receive a mark of 0.
10% of maximum mark per day
ANIM7043 Mid-semester Exam - Modules 1 to 6
- Mode
- Written
- Category
- Examination
- Weight
- 24%
- Due date
10/09/2024 2:00 pm
Mid-semester Exam
Task description
Short Essay Format - 1 question per module. Students will be required to answer 6 questions in total. Content from Module 1 to 6 will be covered.
Exam details
| Planning time | 10 minutes |
|---|---|
| Duration | 120 minutes |
| Calculator options | No calculators permitted |
| 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.
Dissection Report
- Mode
- Written
- Category
- Paper/ Report/ Annotation, Practical/ Demonstration
- Weight
- 12%
- Due date
20/09/2024 1:00 pm
Task description
For this assessment you are required to prepare an annotated figure based on the photographs you have taken of the
(1) Digestive system (2 marks)
(2) Male and female reproductive systems (2 marks)
(3) Hind limb bones and muscles (2 marks)
You should prepare your figures as a powerpoint file making sure you annotate the component parts of the anatomy you have identified. You are free to present as many figures as you deem suitable to illustrate anatomical functional clearly.
Important
· make sure you include a scale bar (cm) for each photograph
· do not upload your dissection photographs to social media
In your presentation, comment on how the structure and function of the marsupial digestive system, reproductive system and hand limb anatomy is adapted to the ecological niche of the species you have dissected (Maximum of 250 words). (6 marks) Include this paragraph on the final page of your powerpoint presentation.
If possible convert your completed powerpoint presentation into PDF document and submit via the ANIM3049/7043 website.
References
Dawson T et al. 1987, 17. Morphology and Physiology of the Metatheria” In: Fauna of Australia Vol. 1B - Mammalia (1989) Edit: D.W.Walton and B.J.Richardson, AGPS Canberra, Pp. 451 – 504.
Hopwood, PR & Butterfield, RM 1990, 'The locomotor apparatus of the crus and pes of the eastern grey kangaroo, Macropus giganteus', Australian Journal of Zoology, vol. 38, no. 4, pp. 397-413.
Hume I et al. 1987, 29. MACRPODIDAE” In: Fauna of Australia Vol. 1B - Mammalia (1989) Edit: D.W.Walton and B.J.Richardson, AGPS Canberra, Pp. 679 – 715.
This assessment task evaluates student’s abilities, skills and knowledge without the aid of Artificial Intelligence (AI). Students are advised that the use of AI technologies to develop responses is strictly prohibited and may constitute student misconduct under the Student Code of Conduct.
Submission guidelines
Prepare your report as a MSWORD or PowerPoint file and upload to the submission link one the ANIM3049/7043 Blackboard site.
Deferral or extension
You cannot defer or apply for an extension for this assessment.
Late submission
A penalty of 10% of the maximum possible mark will be deducted per 24 hours from time submission is due for up to 7 days. After 7 days, you will receive a mark of 0.
10% of maximum mark per day
Marsupial and Monotreme Research Proposal
- Mode
- Oral, Product/ Artefact/ Multimedia
- Category
- Creative Production/ Exhibition, Paper/ Report/ Annotation
- Weight
- 20%
- Due date
11/10/2024 1:00 pm
Task description
ANIM7043 students will develop and present a research proposal relevant to project associated with monotreme or marsupial biology. The topic must be approved by the course coordinator. The project will be delivered by means of 15 min pre-recorded powerpoint presentation that is uploaded to the BB website. This assessment task evaluates student’s abilities, skills and knowledge without the aid of Artificial Intelligence (AI). Students are advised that the use of AI technologies to develop responses is strictly prohibited and may constitute student misconduct under the Student Code of Conduct.
Submission guidelines
You must submit your Assessment task, in Blackboard, via the Turnitin link by the submission deadline. You should also retain an electronic copy of every piece of assessment you submit. Legal Declaration 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 acknowledgement 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. Information on feedback will be provided on the Blackboard site for this course.
Deferral or extension
You cannot defer or apply for an extension for this assessment.
Late submission
A penalty of 10% of the maximum possible mark will be deducted per 24 hours from time submission is due for up to 7 days. After 7 days, you will receive a mark of 0.
10% of maximum mark per day
Final Exam - Modules 7 to 12
- Mode
- Written
- Category
- Examination
- Weight
- 24%
- Due date
End of Semester Exam Period
2/11/2024 - 16/11/2024
Task description
Short Essay Format - 1 question per module. Students will be required to answer 6 questions in total. This exam will be on-campus. This exam covers lecture content from module 7 to 12.
Exam details
| Planning time | 10 minutes |
|---|---|
| Duration | 120 minutes |
| Calculator options | No calculators permitted |
| 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: <p>0 - 34%</p> |
| 2 (Fail) |
Minimal evidence of achievement of course learning outcomes. Course grade description: <p>35 - 46%</p> |
| 3 (Marginal Fail) |
Demonstrated evidence of developing achievement of course learning outcomes Course grade description: <p>A cumulative score of�47% - 49% for all assessment items; OR A cumulative score of 50% or greater for all assessment items AND less than passing marks in the�Mid-Semester�and End of Semester exams (combined).</p> |
| 4 (Pass) |
Demonstrated evidence of functional achievement of course learning outcomes. Course grade description: <p>A cumulative score of�50% - 64% for all assessment items AND passing marks in the�Mid-Semester�and End of Semester exams (combined).</p> |
| 5 (Credit) |
Demonstrated evidence of proficient achievement of course learning outcomes. Course grade description: <p>A cumulative score of�65% - 74% for all assessment items AND passing marks�in the�Mid-Semester�and End of Semester exams (combined).</p> |
| 6 (Distinction) |
Demonstrated evidence of advanced achievement of course learning outcomes. Course grade description: <p>A cumulative score of�75% - 84% for all assessment items AND passing marks�in the�Mid-Semester�and End of Semester exams (combined).</p> |
| 7 (High Distinction) |
Demonstrated evidence of exceptional achievement of course learning outcomes. Course grade description: <p>A cumulative score of�85% - 100% for all assessment items AND passing marks in the Mid-Semester�and End of Semester exams (combined).</p> |
Additional course grading information
Course Grading Rules and Assessment Hurdles: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 in the combined available marks of the mid-semester exam andﾠfinal exam, they are unable to achieve a grade higher than a 3 (failing grade) for the course.ﾠ
Supplementary assessment
Supplementary assessment is available for this course.
Courses graded 1-7
Should you fail a course with a grade of 3, you may be eligible for supplementary assessment. Refer to my.UQ for information on supplementary assessment and how to apply.
Supplementary assessment provides an additional opportunity to demonstrate you have achieved all the required learning outcomes for a course.
If you apply and are granted supplementary assessment, the type of supplementary assessment set will consider which learning outcome(s) have not been met.
Supplementary assessment can take any form (such as a written report, oral presentation, examination or other appropriate assessment) and may test specific learning outcomes tailored to the individual student, or all learning outcomes.
To receive a passing grade of 3S4, you must obtain a mark of 50% or more on the supplementary assessment.
Additional assessment information
Applications for Extensions
Information on applying for an extension can be found here - my.UQ Applying for an extension
Extension applications must be received by the assessment due date and time.
If you are unable to provide documentation to support your application by the due date and time you must still submit your application on time and attach a Word document outlining why you cannot provide the documentation and upload the documentation to the portal within 24 hours.
Please note: While your extension request is being considered, you should work towards completing and submitting your assessment as soon as possible.
If you have been ill or unable to attend class for more than 4 weeks in a semester, we advise you to carefully consider whether you are capable of successfully completing your courses. You might need to consider applying for removal of course. We strongly recommend you seek advice from the Faculty that administers your program.
Extensions with Student Access Plans (SAP)
For extensions up to 7 days, your SAP is all that is required as documentation to support your application. However, extension requests longer than 7 days (for any one assessment item) will require the submission of additional supporting documentation e.g., a medical certificate. A maximum of two applications may be submitted for any one assessment item, unless exceptional circumstances can be demonstrated. All extension requests must be received by the assessment due date and time.
TurnItIn
Assignments that are required to be submitted through TurnItIn, must only be uploaded to the assessment specific Turnitin link on the relevant course Blackboard site.ﾠ If you submit any version of your assessment item to any alternative Turnitin link, this is considered cheating and you will be held liable for this action.ﾠ
Marking rubrics will be available on the ANIM2043 Blackboard Page
Results
Unless specifically indicated by the lecturer involved, every attempt will be made to have the 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 for progressive assessment will be announced via the course Blackboard site.
Re-mark Applications – refer to theﾠUniversity's Re-mark Policyﾠto check your eligibility
Before applying for a remark, students should consider the following:
- You have consulted the course coordinator for feedback
- Your academic grounds for remark have been discussed and are valid
- Wanting a higher grade is not grounds for a remark. A remark can decrease your grade.
Remark applicationsﾠwill notﾠbe considered without first having contacted your course Co-ordinator.ﾠ
Deferred and Supplementary assessment (including Deferred Mid-Semester 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.
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 |
|---|---|---|
Week 1 (22 Jul - 28 Jul) |
Lecture |
Introducing Monotremes and Marsupials A/Prof Diana Fisher |
Week 2 (29 Jul - 04 Aug) |
Lecture |
Chromosomes, Sex Determination and Genomics Dr Deanne Whitworth. |
Week 3 (05 Aug - 11 Aug) |
Lecture |
Marsupial and Monotreme Musculoskeletal System A/Prof Stephen Johnston |
Week 4 (12 Aug - 18 Aug) |
Lecture |
Monotreme Reproduction A/Prof Stephen Johnston |
Week 5 (19 Aug - 25 Aug) |
Lecture |
Marsupial Reproduction I A/Prof Steve Johnston |
Week 6 (26 Aug - 01 Sep) |
Lecture |
Marsupial Reproduction II A/Prof Stephen Johnston |
Week 7 (02 Sep - 08 Sep) |
Lecture |
Marsupial and Monotreme Digestive Anatomy and Physiology. Dr Michaela Blyton |
Practical |
Dissection - 1 day weekend practical class A/Prof Stephen Johnston Dissection practical (8106 Vet Anatomy Teaching Lab) - Saturday 7/09/2024 |
|
Week 8 (09 Sep - 15 Sep) |
Lecture |
Marsupial Behaviour A/Prof Diana Fisher |
Week 9 (16 Sep - 22 Sep) |
Lecture |
Marsupial and Monotreme Disease Adj Prof David Blyde |
Week 10 (30 Sep - 06 Oct) |
Lecture |
Marsupial and Monotreme Applied Conservation Genetics Dr Lydnal Hulse |
Week 11 (07 Oct - 13 Oct) |
Lecture |
Marsupial and Monotreme Thermoregulation and Metabolism Prof John Gaughan |
Week 13 (21 Oct - 27 Oct) |
Lecture |
An indigenous perspective on monotremes and marsupials Adj A/Prof Al Mucci and Guest |
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.