Ecology (BIOL2010)

Course overview

Symbiotic interactions; sensory ecology; population and community ecology; landscape ecology and ecosystem services; reproductive, behavioural and evolutionary ecology; explored through case studies of varied taxa. Develop evidence-based critical analysis and appraisal of conceptual controversies in ecology to illustrate ecological debate and the way in which ecological knowledge is advanced. BIOL2010 Ecology is a recommended second level course for all students pursuing a biology-focussed major.

Watch this video for an introduction to studying BIOL2010.

Watch this video for a look and feel of BIOL2010 learning activity and experiences.

We will examine the fundamentals in the field of ecology, building on skills and content covered in BIOL1050 and SCIE1000. We will discuss ecological theory and methodologies using historical and modern examples from studies of many organisms, including plants, animals, and microbes, and in both local and global contexts.ﾠ

The course has four core modules that you will complete on UQExtend and in weekly workshops:

• Module 1: symbiotic interactions and sensory ecology
• Module 2: population and community ecology
• Module 3: ecosystem and landscape ecology
• Module 4: reproductive, behaviourial and evolutionary ecology

In addition to UQExtend and aﾠsystematic series of workshops, you will participate in practical modules designed for you to explore ecological processes in a quantitative way, while allowing you to develop and test your hypotheses about these ecological processes. You will also participate in Journal Clubs throughout the semester to improve your scientific literacy skills by critically reading and appraising ecological literature. BIOL2010 is not organism or ecosystem specific and is appropriate for students interested in the study of plants, animals, and microbes in both marine and terrestrial systems.ﾠ

Majority of the student cohort in BIOL2010 are science students who have declared a biology-focussed major, but you'll learn with other students from environmental science, environmental management, biomedical science, biotechnology and wildlife science who are taking the course as elective study.ﾠ

Course requirements

Assumed background

Completion of STAT1201 Analysis of Scientific Data before enrolment in BIOL2010 will be useful. It is recommended for BIOL2010 students to also enrol in BIOL2006 Biostatistics & Experimental Design and/or BIOL2015 Field Ecology to complement BIOL2010.

Prerequisites

You'll need to complete the following courses before enrolling in this one:

BIOL1030 or BIOL1050

Companion or co-requisite courses

You'll need to complete the following courses at the same time:

BIOL2006 or BIOL2106

Incompatible

You can't enrol in this course if you've already completed the following:

AGRC2019 and BIOL2910 (advanced course)

Course contact

Course staff

Timetable

The timetable for this course is available on the UQ Public Timetable.

Additional timetable information

ﾠ

Aims and outcomes

The course will develop your knowledge and skills in:

• population, community, ecosystem and landscape ecology;
• sensory, reproductive, behavioural and evolutionary ecology;
• experimental and urban field-based ecological techniques; and
• varied forms of scientific communication including verbal and written communication

across varied taxa including but not limited to microorganisms, plants, fungi, and animals.

Learning outcomes

After successfully completing this course you should be able to:

Assessment

Assessment summary

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

Journal club style discussions

• Identity Verified
• In-person

Mode

Oral, Written

Category

Participation/ Student contribution, Quiz

Weight

30% 7.5% each

Due date

1) Journal Club 1: 13/03/2026

2) Journal Club 2: 20/03/2026

3) Journal Club 3: 1/05/2026

4) Journal Club 4: 15/05/2026

Other conditions

Student specific, Time limited, Secure.

See the conditions definitions

Learning outcomes

L01, L02, L04

Task description

Submission guidelines

Submitted during Journal Club.

Deferral or extension

You cannot defer or apply for an extension for this assessment.

This assessment may only be eligible for extension if exceptional circumstances arise on the day of the scheduled Journal Club. Please contact your course coordinator with supporting documentation of the exceptional circumstances that prevented you from attending for consideration of an alternate arrangement. Note that the alternate assessment will not be in the same format as the active participation during scheduled Journal Clubs.

Late submission

You will receive a mark of 0 if this assessment is submitted late.

This assessment is not typically eligible for late submission as it is assessed during Journal Clubs.

Collaborative Exam 1

• Team or group-based
• In-person

Mode

Written

Category

Examination

Weight

20%

Due date

1/04/2026 2:00 pm

Other conditions

Time limited.

See the conditions definitions

Learning outcomes

L01, L02, L03, L04, L05

Task description

Exam details

Submission guidelines

Deferral or extension

You may be able to defer this exam.

Practical Journal

• Identity Verified
• In-person

Mode

Product/ Artefact/ Multimedia, Written

Category

Notebook/ Logbook, Participation/ Student contribution

Weight

20%

Due date

22/05/2026 2:00 pm

Other conditions

Student specific, Time limited, Longitudinal.

See the conditions definitions

Learning outcomes

L01, L02, L03, L04, L05

Task description

Submission guidelines

The full Practical Journal will be submitted in class.

Deferral or extension

You cannot defer or apply for an extension for this assessment.

This assessment may only be eligible for extension if exceptional circumstances arise that prevent you from attending the Practicals to work on your weekly submission. Please contact your course coordinator with supporting documentation of the exceptional circumstances that prevented you from attending for consideration of an alternate arrangement. Note that the alternate assessment will be created case-by-case to ensure that expected outcomes and competencies are met.

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.

You are required to submit assessable items on time. If you fail to meet the submission deadline for any assessment item, then 10% of the maximum possible mark for the assessment item (the assessment ‘marked from’ value) will be deducted as a late penalty for every day (or part day) late after the due date.

For example, if you submit your assignment 1 hour late, you will be penalised 10%; if your assignment is 24.5 hours late, you will be penalised 20% (because it is late by one 24-hour period plus part of another 24-hour period).

Collaborative Exam 2

• Hurdle
• Team or group-based
• In-person

Mode

Written

Category

Examination

Weight

30%

Due date

End of Semester Exam Period

6/06/2026 - 20/06/2026

Other conditions

Time limited.

See the conditions definitions

Learning outcomes

L01, L02, L03, L04, L05

Task description

Hurdle requirements

Exam details

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.

Additional course grading information

Assessment Hurdle

In order to pass this course, you must meet the following requirements (if you do not meet these requirements, the maximum grade you will receive will be a 3):

You must obtain 50% or more on the Collaborative Exam 2

Supplementary assessment

Supplementary assessment is available for this course.

Should you fail a course with a grade of 3, you may be eligible for supplementary assessment.

Refer to the link above 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

Kindly include your UQ Student Number and the Course Code BIOL2010 in all correspondence.

Assessment Submissionﾠ

It is the responsibility of the student to ensure the on time, correct and complete submission of all assessment items. Please ensure you receive and save the submission confirmation for allﾠsubmittedﾠitems, you may be asked to produce this as evidence of your submission.ﾠ

Turnitinﾠ

All written assessment must beﾠsubmittedﾠvia theﾠappropriateﾠTurnitinﾠsubmission portal, which can be found within the Blackboard site. Youﾠare responsible forﾠensuring that your submission is complete. It is wise to re-enter the Turnitin portal and confirm that your submission is there and that it has not been altered during the submission process.ﾠ

Byﾠsubmittingﾠwork through Turnitin you areﾠdeemedﾠto have accepted the following declaration “I certify that this assignment is my own work and has not been submitted, either previously or concurrently, in whole or in part, to this University or any other educational institution, for marking or assessment”.ﾠ

In the case of a Blackboard outage, please contact the Course Coordinator as soon as possible to confirm the outage with ITS.ﾠ

Assessment/Attendanceﾠ

Please notify your Course Coordinator as soon as you become aware of any issue that may affect your ability to meet the assessment/attendance requirements of the course. The my.UQ website and the course profile for your course also provide information about your course requirements, the rules associated with your courses and services offered by the University.

A note for repeating students in this courseﾠ

Any student who enrols in a course must not be given exemption or partial credit from their previous attempt(s) for any individual piece of assessment. Instead, the student must successfully complete all of the learning activities and assessment items within the study period of enrolment (PPL Assessment - Procedures).ﾠ

Applications for Extensions to Assessment Due Dates

Read the information contained in the following links carefully before submitting an application for extension to assessment due date.

For guidance on applying for an extension, information is available here: https://my.uq.edu.au/information-and-services/manage-my-program/exams-and-assessment/applying-assessment-extension

For the policy relating to extensions, information is available here (Part D): https://policies.uq.edu.au/document/view-current.php?id=184

• Please note the University's requirements for medical certificates here: https://my.uq.edu.au/information-and-services/manage-my-program/uq-policies-and-rules/requirements-medical-certificates

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

Library resources are available on the UQ Library website.

Additional learning resources information

The library has manyﾠbooks on ecology and there are many relevant journals; most journals can be acccessed electronically through the university library website. Recent issues fromﾠthe following journals will hone your skills, knowledge, and interests in ecology: Austral Ecology, Ecology, Oecologia, Oikos, Ecological Entomology, Functional Ecology, Journal of Applied Ecology, Journal of Ecology, Journal of Animal Ecology, Conservation Biology, Trends in Ecology and Evolution.ﾠ

Learning activities

The learning activities for this course are outlined below. Learn more about the learning outcomes that apply to this course.

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 for Students Policy and Procedure
• AI for Assessment Guide

Learn more about UQ policies on my.UQ and the Policy and Procedure Library.