School: Science

This unit information may be updated and amended immediately prior to semester. To ensure you have the correct outline, please check it again at the beginning of semester.

  • Unit Title

    Field Approaches in Marine Biology
  • Unit Code

    SCI2130
  • Year

    2025
  • Enrolment Period

    1
  • Version

    1
  • Credit Points

    15
  • Full Year Unit

    N
  • Mode of Delivery

    On Campus
  • Unit Coordinator

    Dr Anna LAFRATTA

Description

This unit examines the range of practical and theoretical considerations in successfully undertaking field studies in coastal and marine systems. The unit focuses on contemporary methods used to examine key biological and ecological questions in these systems. Particular focus is placed on preparing students to be able to work safely in the field, through appropriate planning, risk management, understanding occupational, health and safety issues and responsibilities, and the development of the practical skills required for marine field projects.

Non Standard Timetable Requirements

A teaching laboratory will be required in the week preceding semester, in addition to the lecture room and laboratory requirements during semester.

Learning Outcomes

On completion of this unit students should be able to:

  1. Apply the navigation rules and safety issues associated with boating.
  2. Demonstrate the ability to critique and plan a marine field trip involving boating and diving activities.
  3. Evaluate a range of fundamental approaches and specialist techniques used in field based marine biology.
  4. Evaluate the physiological issues of SCUBA diving.
  5. Evaluate the safety, limitations and practicalities of SCUBA diving and the use of small boats for scientific investigations.
  6. Review the occupational, health and safety issues and procedures associated with fieldwork in the marine environment.

Unit Content

  1. Boating procedures. Protocols and procedures in boating in relation to scientific activities.
  2. Diving physiology. Human physiology in the context of SCUBA diving.
  3. Diving procedures in scientific studies. Protocols and procedures of SCUBA diving in relation to scientific activities.
  4. Navigation in chartered waters. Rules and issues regarding boat navigation in chartered waters.
  5. Occupational, health and safety issues in the marine environment. Specific OHS issues associated with marine sampling. Dangers associated with boating and diving, as well as those associated with handling dangerous marine animals. Risk assessment for marine based field work.
  6. Planning fieldwork. Use and development of risk management and diving plans. Equipment maintenance, safety equipment, equipment lists, boat and diving gear checklists, interpretation of weather data, requirements for notification of trip to coastal authorities, and licensing requirements.
  7. Sampling approaches and issues in the marine environment. Sampling approaches, methods associated with sampling fauna (fish and invertebrates) and flora. Limitations and advantages of alternate equipment for sampling fauna and flora.

Learning Experience

Students will attend on campus classes as well as engage in learning activities through ECU's LMS

JoondalupMount LawleySouth West (Bunbury)
Semester 14 x 6 hour labNot OfferedNot Offered
Semester 113 x 2 hour lectureNot OfferedNot Offered

For more information see the Semester Timetable

Additional Learning Experience Information

Lectures, tutorials, laboratory work and a field trip. A 4-day field trip will be held in the week preceding the start of semester.

Assessment

GS1 GRADING SCHEMA 1 Used for standard coursework units

Students please note: The marks and grades received by students on assessments may be subject to further moderation. All marks and grades are to be considered provisional until endorsed by the relevant School Progression Panel.

ON CAMPUS
TypeDescriptionValue
AssignmentLaboratory reports/tests30%
AssignmentField report40%
ExaminationEnd of semester exam30%

Disability Standards for Education (Commonwealth 2005)

For the purposes of considering a request for Reasonable Adjustments under the Disability Standards for Education (Commonwealth 2005), inherent requirements for this subject are articulated in the Unit Description, Learning Outcomes and Assessment Requirements of this entry. The University is dedicated to provide support to those with special requirements. Further details on the support for students with disabilities or medical conditions can be found at the Access and Inclusion website.

Assessment

Students please note: The marks and grades received by students on assessments may be subject to further moderation. Informal vivas may be conducted as part of an assessment task, where staff require further information to confirm the learning outcomes have been met. All marks and grades are to be considered provisional until endorsed by the relevant School Progression Panel.

Academic Integrity

Integrity is a core value at Edith Cowan University, and it is expected that ECU students complete their assessment tasks honestly and with acknowledgement of other people's work as well as any generative artificial intelligence tools that may have been used. This means that assessment tasks must be completed individually (unless it is an authorised group assessment task) and any sources used must be referenced.

Breaches of academic integrity can include:

Plagiarism

Copying the words, ideas or creative works of other people or generative artificial intelligence tools, without referencing in accordance with stated University requirements. Students need to seek approval from the Unit Coordinator within the first week of study if they intend to use some of their previous work in an assessment task (self-plagiarism).

Unauthorised collaboration (collusion)

Working with other students and submitting the same or substantially similar work or portions of work when an individual submission was required. This includes students knowingly providing others with copies of their own work to use in the same or similar assessment task(s).

Contract cheating

Organising a friend, a family member, another student or an external person or organisation (e.g. through an online website) to complete or substantially edit or refine part or all of an assessment task(s) on their behalf.

Cheating in an exam

Using or having access to unauthorised materials in an exam or test.

Serious outcomes may be imposed if a student is found to have committed one of these breaches, up to and including expulsion from the University for repeated or serious acts.

ECU's policies and more information about academic integrity can be found on the student academic integrity website.

All commencing ECU students are required to complete the Academic Integrity Module.

Assessment Extension

In some circumstances, Students may apply to their Unit Coordinator to extend the due date of their Assessment Task(s) in accordance with ECU's Assessment, Examination and Moderation Procedures - for more information visit https://askus2.ecu.edu.au/s/article/000001386.

Special Consideration

Students may apply for Special Consideration in respect of a final unit grade, where their achievement was affected by Exceptional Circumstances as set out in the Assessment, Examination and Moderation Procedures - for more information visit https://askus2.ecu.edu.au/s/article/000003318.

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