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

    Conservation Biology
  • Unit Code

    SCM3201
  • Year

    2025
  • Enrolment Period

    1
  • Version

    4
  • Credit Points

    15
  • Full Year Unit

    N
  • Mode of Delivery

    On Campus
  • Unit Coordinator

    Dr Robert Allyn DAVIS

Description

This unit critically analyses the scientific basis of conservation practice and applies key biological theories to the special problems encountered in conservation. It deals primarily with the concept of biodiversity, and the application of population, evolutionary and landscape ecologies in conservation management.

Prerequisite Rule

Students must pass SCI2118

Learning Outcomes

On completion of this unit students should be able to:

  1. Apply relevant theories to solve complex problems in conservation biology.
  2. Communicate conservation biology to a broad audience.
  3. Incorporate own practice and knowledge with industry requirements.
  4. Integrate diverse perspectives to the conservation of biodiversity.

Unit Content

  1. Choosing strategies and priorities for conservation; In-situ and ex-situ strategies for species management. Landscape ecology, species-area relationships and island biogeography in reserve design. Translocation; captive breeding and recovery plans.
  2. Concepts and patterns of biodiversity; species definitions; structure and components of populations, methods for measuring diversity and the role of genetics in conservation
  3. Cultural rights and community-based conservation. Ecosystem health.
  4. Rare species; the nature of threatening processes; exotic and invasive species; climate change; ecosystem fragmentation; identifying threatened species and habitats; extinction and assessing extinction probability.
  5. The roles of science in conservation; the philosophy of science as it applies to conservation biology; the reasons for conservation and conservation biology; conservation of biological processes.

Learning Experience

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

JoondalupMount LawleySouth West (Bunbury)
Semester 113 x 2 hour lectureNot Offered13 x 2 hour lecture
Semester 113 x 2 hour tutorialNot Offered13 x 2 hour tutorial

For more information see the Semester Timetable

Additional Learning Experience Information

This unit uses technology enhanced learning with a mix of lectures and tutorials. The former includes workshops, case studies, lectures, student presentations, class discussions, guest speakers and other relevant activities. The tutorial sessions involve data collection and analysis, self-directed readings, critical analysis, on-line discussions and modelling exercises using specialised software. Students are expected to come to class prepared by completing reading and weekly activities so as to contribute to class interaction. Resources for this unit are all available via LMS. The lecturer's role in this unit is primarily to guide and facilitate learning.

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
AssignmentProject and class presentation30%
Laboratory WorkLaboratory/field portfolio30%
ExaminationEnd of semester examination40%

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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