Animal Ecophysiology (BIOL3205)

Course overview

Why do humpback whales sing and fight? How do some frogs survive in the desert? Why do freshwater turtles breathe through their bottom? Why can crocodiles grow so large? Is the platypus headed for extinction? This, and many other interesting questions, are asked and answered in the field of animal ecophysiology. This course integrates physiological, ecological, molecular, and quantitative techniques from the laboratory and field. Underpinning our learning activities is a focus on how animals have evolved strategies in response to extreme environments (e.g., marine and desert) as well as changing environmental conditions. In this way, you will be able to demonstrate cause and effect of human-induced environmental disturbance on organisms, and how animal ecophysiology contributes to the conservation and management of species. Case studies in this course feature diverse animals: invertebrates, fish, frogs, turtles, crocodiles, birds, terrestrial mammals, and cetaceans.

Course requirements

Assumed background

BIOL2204 and BIOL1040 - Zoology.ﾠﾠ It is assumed you will have background knowledge of basic physiological processes and systems at the tissue, organ and whole animal levelﾠ (e.g. BIOL1040)

Prerequisites

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

BIOL2204

Recommended prerequisites

We recommend completing the following courses before enrolling in this one:

BIOL2006 or BIOL2106

Incompatible

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

ZOOL3005

Course contact

Course staff

Timetable

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

Additional timetable information

Check your timetable regularly for changes particularly at the beginning of semester.

Aims and outcomes

This course will explore how animals function and perform in various environments by examining topical issues in ecophysiology - at the interface between physiology and ecology.

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

Data analysis & interpretation of humpback whale practicals

• Online

Mode

Written

Category

Paper/ Report/ Annotation

Weight

10%

Due date

29/08/2025 4:00 pm

Other conditions

Student specific.

See the conditions definitions

Learning outcomes

L01, L02

Task description

Submission guidelines

Clicking on an assessment link will take you directly into Inspera, where you will see information about the relevant assessment and will be able to commence it when you are ready. You can enter and leave the assignment as many time as you like during the time it is available to you. Inspera will automatically save your work as you progress through the assignment.

You will not be able to access the assignment after the closing time/submission deadline unless we have programmed an approved extension deadline for you in Inspera. If you will be applying for an extension, please still click on the assessment link so that you will be added into the assignment in Inspera; we will then easily be able to give you an individual submission deadline according to your extension details.

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.

See the Additional assessment information section below for information relating to extension applications.

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). 

In-semester exam

• In-person
• Online

Mode

Written

Category

Examination

Weight

25%

Due date

12/09/2025

This will be carried out during lecture time.

Other conditions

Student specific.

See the conditions definitions

Learning outcomes

L03, L04

Task description

Exam details

Submission guidelines

The exam will only be available in Inspera Assessment for the duration of your exam. You will not be permitted to click START until the official start time of the exam.

You will submit your exam by clicking ‘Submit Now’. Once you have clicked ‘Submit Now’ you will not be able to access the exam. So do not click submit until you are sure you do not want to make any further changes.

When the exam window has closed, you will be directed to the Summary page where you must click ‘Submit Now’. If you do not click ‘Submit Now’, you will not be able to exit Inspera Exam Portal. You will not be able to access the exam after the exam window has closed.

Deferral or extension

You may be able to defer this exam.

Late submission

Exams submitted after the end of the submission time will incur a late penalty.

Practical Report Series

• Online

Mode

Written

Category

Paper/ Report/ Annotation

Weight

20%

Due date

Stream 1 students - 24/10/2025 4:00 pm

Stream 2 students - 31/10/2025 4:00 pm

Other conditions

Student specific.

See the conditions definitions

Learning outcomes

L01, L02

Task description

Submission guidelines

Students in Stream 1 and students in Stream 2 are given separate submission due dates; one final submission due date per Stream for all three practical reports. However, if you wish to have feedback on practicals 3 and 4 before the final due date, then you can submit them before the final submission date and request a mark.

You can enter and leave these assignments as many times as you like during the time they are available to you though you can only submit each one once. Inspera will automatically save your work as you progress through the assignments. Each practical will be allocated a separate assignment so you can submit this before the final due date.

You will not be able to access the assignment after the closing time/submission deadline unless we have programmed an approved extension deadline for you in Inspera. If you will be applying for an extension, please still click on the assessment link so that you will be added into the assignment in Inspera; we will then easily be able to give you an individual submission deadline according to your extension details.

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.

See the Additional assessment information section below for information relating to extension applications.

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). 

End of Semester Exam

• Hurdle
• Identity Verified
• In-person
• Online

Mode

Written

Category

Examination

Weight

45%

Due date

End of Semester Exam Period

8/11/2025 - 22/11/2025

Other conditions

Student specific.

See the conditions definitions

Learning outcomes

L03, L04

Task description

Hurdle requirements

Exam details

Submission guidelines

The exam will only be available in Inspera Assessment for the duration of your exam. You will not be permitted to click START until directed to do so by your Exam Invigilator.

You will submit your exam by clicking ‘Submit Now’. Once you have clicked ‘Submit Now’ you will not be able to access the exam. So do not click submit until you are sure you do not want to make any further changes.

When the exam window has closed, you will be directed to the Summary page where you must click ‘Submit Now’. If you do not click ‘Submit Now’, you will not be able to exit Safe Exam Browser. You will not be able to access the exam after the exam window has closed.

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, students 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 in the End of Semester Exam.

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 UQ website 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 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

UQ is presently rolling out a new assessment tool, Inspera Assessment.

Inspera Assessment 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 be used in BIOL3205. The assessment item(s) could include non-invigilated/invigilated on-campus assessment/exam/quiz and students will complete these 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 2ﾠof the semester.

If you don't have a suitable device for your assessment, please go to the Library site for information on Short-Term Laptop loans.

SUBMISSION OF ASSESSMENTS

Unlike 1st and 2nd year courses,you can only submit your assignment ONCE through Inspera.

Please make sure you submit only the final version through Inspera

All appropriate assignments must be submitted through Inspera. Submission of assessment items by email are not accepted.

Failure to submit both a electronic copy on time will result in the late penalty (10% of maximum marks per day) being applied.

PLAGIARISM will not be tolerated: You should be aware that the University employs purpose-built software to detect plagiarism. It is very important that you understand clearly the practical meaning of plagiarism.

DEFINITION OF PLAGIARISM: Plagiarism is the act of misrepresenting as one's own original work the ideas, interpretations, words or creative works of another. These include published and unpublished documents, designs, music, sounds, images, photographs, computer codes and ideas gained through working in a group. These ideas, interpretations, words or works may be found in print and/or electronic media.

EXAMPLES OF PLAGIARISM:

1. Direct copying of paragraphs, sentences, a single sentence or significant parts of a sentence;

2. Direct copying of paragraphs, sentences, a single sentence or significant parts of a sentence with an end reference but without quotation marks around the copied text;

3. Copying ideas, concepts, research results, computer codes, statistical tables, designs, images, sounds or text or any combination of these;

4. Paraphrasing, summarising or simply rearranging another person's words, ideas, etc without changing the basic structure and/or meaning of the text;

5. Offering an idea or interpretation that is not one's own without identifying whose idea or interpretation it is;

6. A 'cut and paste' of statements from multiple sources;

7. Presenting as independent, work done in collaboration with others;

8. Copying or adapting another student's original work into a submitted assessment item.

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

Additional learning resources information

You will be provided with information for each practical on blackboard. Please make sure you read any provided background information before coming to the practical session.

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

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

You'll also need to be aware of the following policies and procedures while completing this course:

• Laboratory Occupational Health and Safety