Ecology & Evolution of Marine Invertebrates (BIOL3211)

Course overview

Biology of marine invertebrates with a focus on tropical and subtropical Indo-Pacific taxa. We draw on different knowledge sources to explore structural, functional, and life history adaptations of invertebrate body plans to the marine environment to explain ecological and evolutionary patterns of diversity. 

BIOL3211 Ecology & Evolution of Marine Invertebratesﾠgives students the opportunity to obtain fundamental understanding of animal relationships and diversity through the comparison of morphological, physiological, developmental, ecological, and life history characteristics of marine invertebrates. This comparative approach allows for explanation of natural patterns of biodiversity. Students will also gain an appreciation of phylogenetic relationships of all the major animal phyla and many of the minor phyla, and experience opportunities to develop and refine skills relevant to working on Sea Country in partnership with Indigenous Peoples. Laboratory exercises will supplement classes and develop a range of practical and problem-solving skills. In addition,ﾠBIOL3211 students undertake a substantial curiosity-driven independent research project. Reports produced detailing the outcomes of projects are intended to be publicly displayed via a website.

BIOL3211 has a quota of 48 students (in total). All enquiries for permission to enrol to be addressed to environment@enquire.uq.edu.au. Preference is given to third-year students who have completed BIOL2204 and/or students working towards the Marine Biology major. Students in other majors will be considered on merit if there is space.

An overnight field trip is planned for this course in week 10 of Semester 1 on a weekend (May 10-11, 2025). The estimated cost of this trip is AU$150-250. Further details provided in class. 

Given the rapid rise of AI/MT tools available to students, please note the following with respect to assessment in BIOL3211. Assessment tasks in this course have been designed to be challenging, authentic, and complex. Whileﾠstudents may use AI technologies and/or MT technologies for some aspects of some tasks, successful completion of assessment in this course will require students to critically engage in specific contexts and tasks for which artificial intelligence will provide only limited support or guidance.

A failure to reference generative AI or MT use may constitute student misconduct under the Student Code of Conduct. To pass some assessment tasks in this course, students will be required to demonstrate detailed comprehension of their written submission independent of AI and MT tools.

Course requirements

Assumed background

This is an advanced undergraduate course and assumes prior knowledge in zoology, genetics, evolution, ecology andﾠmarine science equivalent toﾠBIOL1020 -ﾠGenes, Cells & Evolution, BIOL1030ﾠBiodiversity and the Environment, MARS2014/MARS2001ﾠMarine Science, and BIOL2204ﾠZoology.ﾠBefore enrolling in this course, you are required to have passed BIOL2204 or an equivalent course.

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Prerequisites

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

BIOL2204

Incompatible

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

ZOOL2028 or BIOL2011

Restrictions

Maximum quota of 48 students.

Course contact

Course staff

Timetable

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

Additional timetable information

An overnight field trip to Quandamooka/Moreton Bay is planned for May 10-11, 2025 (a weekend). The estimated cost of this trip is AU$150-250. Further details will be provided in class.

Aims and outcomes

The aim of BIOL3211 is to provide interested students with a fundamental understanding of animal diversity and evolution. This is achieved through the detailed analysis of a wide range of marine invertebrates and their phylogenetic relationships, life cycles and body plans, drawing from different knowledge sources. Students will gain a working ability to identify and characterise living marine invertebrates using a diverse suite of tools, and experience opportunities to develop and refine skills relevant to working with marine invertebrates on Sea Country in partnership with Indigenous Peoples. BIOL3211 also provides students with the opportunity to undertake a substantial independent research project. The research outcomes of these projects are intended to be published in the public domain.

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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

Take-home exam based on practical labs and in-class materials

Mode

Written

Category

Tutorial/ Problem Set

Weight

25%

Due date

3/04/2025 2:00 pm

Task description

Submission guidelines

Submit via Turnitin only. No hard copy or assignment cover sheet required.

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 further below for information relating to extension and deferral 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 (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).

Research Project report

Mode

Written

Category

Project

Weight

50%

Due date

30/05/2025 2:00 pm

Other conditions

Student specific.

See the conditions definitions

Task description

Submission guidelines

Online submission by Turnitin only by the due date. No hard copy or assignment cover sheets required.

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 further below for information relating to extension and deferral 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 (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).

Inspera End of Semester exam

• Hurdle
• In-person
• Online

Mode

Written

Category

Examination

Weight

25%

Due date

End of Semester Exam Period

7/06/2025 - 21/06/2025

Task description

Hurdle requirements

Exam details

Submission guidelines

Deferral or extension

You may be able to defer this exam.

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

Course grading

Full criteria for each grade is available in the Assessment Procedure.

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 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 to Assessment Due Dates

Extension requests are submitted online via my.UQ – applying for an extension. Extension requests received in any other way will not be approved. Additional details associated with extension requests, including acceptable and unacceptable reasons, may be found at my.UQ.

Please note:

• Requests for an extension to an assessment due date must be submitted through your my.UQ portal and you must provide documentation of your circumstances, as soon as it becomes evident that an extension is needed. Your application must be submitted on or before the assessment item's due date and time.
• Applications for extension can take time to be processed so you should continue to work on your assessment item while awaiting a decision. We recommend that you submit any completed work by the due date, and this will be marked if your application is not approved. Should your application be approved, then you will be able to resubmit by the agreed revised due date.
• If an extension is approved, you will be notified via your my.UQ portal and the new date and time for submission provided. It is important that you check the revised date as it may differ from the date that you requested.
• If the basis of the application is a medical condition, applications should be accompanied by a medical certificate dated prior to the assignment due date. 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 written statement (Word document) outlining why you cannot provide the documentation. You must then upload the documentation to the portal within 24 hours.
• If an extension is being sought on the basis of exceptional circumstances, it must be accompanied by supporting documentation (eg. Statutory declaration).
• For extensions based on a SAP you may be granted a maximum of 7 days (if no earlier maximum timeframe applies). See the Extension or Deferral availability section of each assessment for timeframes. Your SAP is all that is required as documentation to support your application. However, additional extension requests for the assessment item will require the submission of additional supporting documentation e.g., a medical certificate. All extension requests must be received by the assessment due date and time.
• An extension for an assessment item due within the teaching period in which the course is offered, must not exceed four weeks in total. If you are incapacitated for a period exceeding four weeks of the teaching period, you are advised to apply for Removal of Course.
• If you have been ill or unable to attend class for more than 4 weeks, you are advised to carefully consider whether you are capable of successfully completing your courses this semester. You might be eligible to withdraw without academic penalty - seek advice from the Faculty that administers your program.
• Students may be asked to submit evidence of work completed to date. Lack of adequate progress on your assessment item may result in an extension being denied.
• There are no provisions for exemption from an assessment item within UQ rules. If you are unable to submit an assessment piece then, under special circumstances, you may be granted an exemption, but may be required to submit alternative assessment to ensure all learning outcomes are met.

Applications to defer an exam

In certain circumstances you can apply to take a deferred examination for in-semester and end-of-semester exams. You'll need to demonstrate through supporting documentation how unavoidable circumstances prevented you from sitting your exam. If you can’t, you can apply for a one-off discretionary deferred exam.

Deferred Exam requests are submitted online via mySi-net. Requests received in any other way will not be approved. Additional details associated with deferred examinations, including acceptable and unacceptable reasons may be found at my.UQ.

Please note:

• Applications can be submitted no later than 5 calendar days after the date of the original exam.
• There are no provisions to defer a deferred exam. You need to be available to sit your deferred examination.
• Your deferred examination request(s) must have a status of "submitted" in mySI-net to be assessed.
• All applications for deferred in-semester examinations are assessed by the relevant school. Applications for deferred end-of-semester examinations are assessed by the Academic Services Division.
• You’ll receive an email to your student email account when the status of your application is updated.
• If you have a medical condition, mental health condition or disability and require alternative arrangements for your deferred exam you’ll need to complete the online alternative exam arrangements through my.UQ. This is in addition to your deferred examinations request. You need to submit this request on the same day as your request for a deferred exam or supplementary assessment. Contact Student Services if you need assistance completing your alternative exam arrangements request.

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.

Additional learning resources information

Primary research papers and review articles will be used and cited during the semester. References will be provided in classes and practicals or cited in handouts.

Please check the Announcements section of Blackboard site regularly for information updates.

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 - 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:

• Occupational Health and Safety in the Laboratory Guideline