Course overview
- Study period
- Summer Semester, 2024 (06/01/2025 - 01/02/2025)
- Study level
- Postgraduate Coursework
- Location
- St Lucia
- Attendance mode
- In Person
- Units
- 2
- Administrative campus
- St Lucia
- Coordinating unit
- The Environment School
This is an intensive course delivered both at St Lucia campus and with a seven day field trip to Heron Island Research Station on the Great Barrier Reef. The course will give you an appreciation of the conservation issues and practices that affect marine habitats, with a particular emphasis on coral reefs. We will cover the main ecological principles relevant to marine conservation including marine landscape interpretation, dispersal, development and population connectivity, regulating processes, key biota, resource use, pollution and the diverse challenges of marine conservation and planning in Australasia. You will learn practical strategies for addressing conservation needs arising from human exploitation and climate change and will develop skills in the conduct of marine surveying, experimental design, coral health assessments, biodiversity measures and fish surveying.
This course examines conservation issues and practices in marine environments, particularly on coral reefs. This three-week intensive course provides a combination of lectures, workshops, and practical experience delivered at St Lucia and Heron Island Research Station on the Great Barrier Reef. The course will show how conservation theory can be adapted to marine environments while examining the conservation challenges specific to these ecosystems. The course will be biased toward coral reefs and will cover the basic biology, ecology and processes of reefs, along with the threats these vulnerable ecosystems face. Considerable time at Heron Island will be spent in the water, learning essential practical and laboratory techniques for surveying and assessing coral reef biodiversity and health. These will include fish, turtle and reef survey techniques, methodology for reef biota experimentation and methods of determining coral health. Group research projects will be conducted at Heron Island. On campus, students will build on knowledge gained at Heron Island to understand how conservation theory and planning apply to marine environments. Data collected during the field trip will be analysed in Brisbane and used as the basis for a poster presentation. The course will be highly interactive, with discussion sessions, group projects, and the presentation of results. A final exam will test the knowledge and skills acquired during the time on the reef and in the classrooms.
Participation in the field trip for CONS7024 is compulsory. Students who do not attend the field trip cannot pass the course.
Course requirements
Prerequisites
You'll need to complete the following courses before enrolling in this one:
CONS6009 and CONS7008
Restrictions
MConsBiol, MConsSc
Course contact
Course staff
Lecturer
Tutor
Timetable
The timetable for this course is available on the UQ Public Timetable.
Additional timetable information
Check your online timetable regularly.
Aims and outcomes
The Masters course in Marine Conservation aims to give students an in-depth understanding of marine ecosystems and their function. Focusing on coral reefs, the course will offer insights into the complexity of our oceans and the problems they face due to human impacts, such as coastal development, climate change and overfishing. By teaching core theoretical and practical aspects of marine ecology and conservation, the course will equip students with the knowledge and skills to recognise and tackle conservation issues, providing them with a solid foundation for their future careers. Specifically, on completion, students will be able to:
- Understand the ecology and function of marine and estuarine animals and plants by gaining theoretical knowledge and first-hand experience.
- Identify the threats to marine and estuarine ecosystems and understand the current conservation practices to mitigate them.
- Recognise the fundamental principles and practices of marine ecology, including experimental design, data analysis and interpretation, and data presentation.
- Gain real-world insights into conservation issues and the core concepts in marine management interventions to create a positive and lasting impact.
Learning outcomes
After successfully completing this course you should be able to:
LO1.
Acquire knowledge of a tropical marine ecosystems- coral reefs,
LO2.
Understand how physical and ecological factors interact with cultural norms to shape coral reef ecosystems.
LO3.
Recognise the role of anthropogenic influences as a selection force.
LO4.
Design experiments and use field, analytical and computational research methods to assess the state of coral reefs.
LO5.
Critically analyse and interpret ecological data to develop feasible alternative explanations.
LO6.
Efficiently and effectively communicate research outcomes to inform conservation management and relevant stakeholders.
Assessment
Assessment summary
| Category | Assessment task | Weight | Due date |
|---|---|---|---|
| Essay/ Critique, Participation/ Student contribution, Reflection | Critical assessment of and discussion on the Reef 2050 plan | 15% |
22/01/2025 9:00 am |
| Computer Code, Poster | poster on research project | 35% |
23/01/2025 1:00 pm |
| Examination |
In-Semester Exam
|
50% |
24/01/2025 9:00 am |
Assessment details
Critical assessment of and discussion on the Reef 2050 plan
- Mode
- Oral, Written
- Category
- Essay/ Critique, Participation/ Student contribution, Reflection
- Weight
- 15%
- Due date
22/01/2025 9:00 am
- Learning outcomes
- L01, L02, L03, L06
Task description
Students will be given access to the Reef 2050 plan (https://www.dcceew.gov.au/parks-heritage/great-barrier-reef/protecting/reef-2050-plan) before the course starts and background information about many of the topics within the plan. A discussion session will be held for 2 hours, during which students will explain their thoughts and critically appraise the plan. Students must write a one-page statement of their thoughts on the plan. These should be bullet points outlining the positive and negative aspects of the plan, what is missing, and what they would suggest is added.
Use of Artificial Intelligence (AI)
This task has been designed to be challenging, authentic and complex and to evaluate students’ 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 misconduct under the Student Code of Conduct.
Submission guidelines
Assessment items for internal courses should be submitted in accordance with the submission requirements listed in Jac. 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.
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.
poster on research project
- Mode
- Oral, Product/ Artefact/ Multimedia
- Category
- Computer Code, Poster
- Weight
- 35%
- Due date
23/01/2025 1:00 pm
- Learning outcomes
- L01, L03, L04, L05, L06
Task description
Students will create a poster on one of the research activities conducted at Heron Island.
There will be a poster creation session with all the details provided and multiple statistics workshops using the data collected in previous years to acquire statistical skills before heading to Heron Island. Once on Heron Island, students will conduct workshops/activities and collect hands-on data to serve as the posters' foundation. Students will be assisted with data analysis in workshop sessions after the Heron Island field trip. Posters will be displayed in our poster session and assessed by peers and lecturers.
Artificial Intelligence use (AI)
This task has been designed to be challenging, authentic and complex and to evaluate students’ 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 misconduct under the Student Code of Conduct.
Submission guidelines
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
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.
In-Semester Exam
- Identity Verified
- Mode
- Written
- Category
- Examination
- Weight
- 50%
- Due date
24/01/2025 9:00 am
- Learning outcomes
- L01, L02, L03
Task description
This exam will have essay questions based on the understanding of concepts learned during the course. More information will be provided during teaching activities and/or on Blackboard.
Use of Artificial Intelligence (AI)
This assessment task is to be completed in-person. The use of Artificial Intelligence (AI) tools will not be permitted. Any attempted use of Generative AI may constitute student misconduct under the Student Code of Conduct.
Exam details
| Planning time | 10 minutes |
|---|---|
| Duration | 180 minutes |
| Calculator options | No calculators permitted |
| Open/closed book | Closed Book examination - no written materials permitted |
| Materials | An English dictionary for non-native speaking students |
| 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: The minimum percentage required for this grade is: 0% |
| 2 (Fail) |
Minimal evidence of achievement of course learning outcomes. Course grade description: The minimum percentage required for this grade is: 30% |
| 3 (Marginal Fail) |
Demonstrated evidence of developing achievement of course learning outcomes Course grade description: The minimum percentage required for this grade is: 45% |
| 4 (Pass) |
Demonstrated evidence of functional achievement of course learning outcomes. Course grade description: The minimum percentage required for this grade is: 50% |
| 5 (Credit) |
Demonstrated evidence of proficient achievement of course learning outcomes. Course grade description: The minimum percentage required for this grade is: 65% |
| 6 (Distinction) |
Demonstrated evidence of advanced achievement of course learning outcomes. Course grade description: The minimum percentage required for this grade is: 75% |
| 7 (High Distinction) |
Demonstrated evidence of exceptional achievement of course learning outcomes. Course grade description: The minimum percentage required for this grade is: 85% |
Additional course grading information
Participation in the field trip for CONS7024 is compulsory. Students who do not attend the field trip cannot pass the course.
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
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.
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
Blackboard
Additional learning material might be posted to the Course's Blackboard site at learn.uq.edu.au
Please check the Announcement page of the 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.
Filter activity type by
Please select
| Learning period | Activity type | Topic |
|---|---|---|
Workshop |
Discussion about the Reef 2050 Plan A group session will discuss the Reef 2050 plan and highlight its strengths and shortcomings. Lecturer: Prof. Peter Mumby Learning outcomes: L01, L02, L03, L06 |
|
Week 6 (06 Jan - 12 Jan) |
Lecture |
Marine sensory pollution, threats to reefs and extinction risks Four lectures will introduce the threats to oceans and coral reefs and what traits make certain reef inhabitants more vulnerable than others. We will also discuss how rapid changes to reef environments, especially those caused by anthropogenic activity, affect different reef critters with a focus on their sensory systems. Lecturer: Dr Fabio Cortesi Learning outcomes: L01, L02, L03 |
Lecture |
Lectures and introductions to the Heron Island field trip, assignments, snorkel inductions, animal ID Three lectures/sessions including a Heron101 session, an introduction to the different workshops and assignments for the course and an animal ID session. Lecturer: Dr Fabio Cortesi Learning outcomes: L01, L02, L04 |
|
Workshop |
Data analysis and writing sessions I & II Introductory sessions will be held for data analysis and report writing for the data that will be collected on Heron Island. Lecturer: Dr Tania Kenyon Learning outcomes: L04, L05 |
|
Week 7 (13 Jan - 19 Jan) |
Fieldwork |
Field trip to Heron Island You will spend as much time as possible in the water exploring the reef and familiarising yourselves with the different habitats, reef inhabitants and processes. January is the perfect time to visit the area with the maximum number of birds nesting on the Island. Turtles will also be laying eggs on the shore, and hatchlings will likely emerge at night to journey to the water. We will collect several data sets during the week, and you will choose one of these to analyse and write up for your poster. These will include: A) We will compare fish biodiversity and abundance along transects in different reef regions. B) We will examine the health of corals using the citizen science Coral Watch approach. The exact question will be decided when we get to Heron Island. This will likely be either a tank-based experiment on the effects of algae on coral health or an examination of differences between the health of a species on the reef flat, which has been affected by a recent cold water bleaching event and a mass-bleaching event in 2024. C) We will do a surveying project to determine the best way to answer particular questions. For example, how many quadrats do we need, and how do we allocate them to zones? E) To assess species diversity and composition, we will examine the zooplankton fauna using self-made light traps deployed at night. F) We will observe turtle nesting habits, nesting, and hatching success and learn to distinguish different species based on their track marks. When doing these activities, you will learn vital techniques for monitoring and managing reef environments. You will be working with your existing (growing) knowledge of experimental design and analysis and asking some critical marine conservation questions. The following lectures will be given during this field trip by Dr Fabio Cortesi and Prof Peter Mumby: L1 Lecture Coral Biology/Coral Watch/Turtle Biology (FC) L2 Intro Sampling Design and Conservation (PM) L3 Intro Fish Diversity and ID (PM) L4 Resilience of Coral Reefs and Implications for Conservation (PM) L5 & 6 Marine Protected areas I & II (PM) L7 Reef Fisheries (PM) L8 Tutor talks about 'my pathway to marine biology' Learning outcomes: L01, L02, L03, L04, L06 |
Week 8 (20 Jan - 26 Jan) |
Workshop |
Data analysis and writing sessions III & IV Consultation time for data analysis and report writing using a dataset obtained during the Heron Island field trip. Lecturer: Dr Tania Kenyon Learning outcomes: L04 |
Team Based Learning |
Reef solutions an spending session Group work to determine investment strategies for reef solution projects. Lecturer: Dr Fabio Cortesi Learning outcomes: L04, L05 |
|
Workshop |
Poster Session: Heron Island Research Data A poster session will be held where each student presents the findings from one of the Heron Island workshops. Lecturers: Dr Fabio Cortesi & Prof. Peter Mumby Learning outcomes: L01, L03, L04, L05, L06 |
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: