Course Title: Conduct biological surveys

Part A: Course Overview

Program: C5161 Diploma of Conservation and Land Management

Course Title: Conduct biological surveys

Portfolio: SEH Portfolio Office

Nominal Hours: 200

Regardless of the mode of delivery, represent a guide to the relative teaching time and student effort required to successfully achieve a particular competency/module. This may include not only scheduled classes or workplace visits but also the amount of effort required to undertake, evaluate and complete all assessment requirements, including any non-classroom activities.

Course Code	Campus	Career	School	Learning Mode	Teaching Period(s)
EASC5032C	City Campus	TAFE	155T Vocational Health and Sciences	Face-to-Face	Term1 2011, Term1 2012

Course Contact: Nevil Schultz

Course Contact Phone: +61 3 9925 4221

Course Contact Email: nevil.schultz@rmit.edu.au

Course Description

To provide learners with the knowledge and skills to design a biological survey of a range of organisms in remnant native plant communities, in urban, in rural and in park settings. The course will then cover investigation of data collection, statistical relevance and interpretation of results. There will be opportunities to conduct planned surveys for vertebrates in particular biological communities. Results of these surveys will be reported into formal records.

Pre-requisite Courses and Assumed Knowledge and Capabilities

None

National Competency Codes and Titles

National Element Code & Title:	RTC5519A Conduct biological surveys
Elements:	1 Carry out preliminary design activities for the biological survey 3 Conduct the biological survey 4 Compile a biological survey report 2 Determine requirements of the biological survey

Learning Outcomes

1 . Carry out preliminary design activities for the biological survey Survey, scope, objectives and constraints are identified according to client requirements, biological components to be surveyed and enterprise policy.
1. All current data relevant to survey requirements is sourced, collated and evaluated according to enterprise policy.
Processes for data collection are developed, consistent with the survey scope, objectives and constraints.
A survey design that reflects client requirements and survey scope, objectives and constraints is developed and presented to the client for discussion and approval.
2 . Determine requirements of the biological survey.
Survey indicators are identified and constraints and opportunities for data collection identified and evaluated.
Data collection points are identified that are repeatable and
statistically representative for the biological survey.
OHS hazards associated with conducting a biological survey are identified, risks assessed and controls developed according to enterprise guidelines, costed and documented in the survey design. Tools, equipment and machinery required for the biological survey are identified, costed and availability confirmed with suppliers, contractors and appropriate personnel.
Scheduling of survey activities and surveyor access are determined according to the survey design.
Survey procedures and schedules are documented according to scientific conventions and the survey scope and objectives, and are presented to appropriate personnel and the client for briefing and acceptance.
3.. Conduct the biological survey.
Field visits are conducted to verify and consolidate previously collected data and to gather further information on species frequency, distribution, health and/or habitat values.
The biological survey is conducted according to the survey design and enterprise policy.
Survey activities are monitored for accuracy, compliance to the survey design and out-of-specification procedures or events. Staged data collection is undertaken according to survey design, survey-scheduling and surveyor access requirements. All monitoring and survey data is recorded promptly and accurately, according to the specifications of the survey design.
4 . Compile a biological survey report.
Analysis of collected data is undertaken according to industry policies and guidelines. Conclusions about the biological survey are drawn from relevant information and are based on appropriate evidence and reasoned arguments.
A biological survey report is produced which conforms to industry standards for presentation, structure and content, and is presented to the client for acceptance. The report describes biological survey findings according to the survey
scope and objectives, identifies areas requiring remedial action for improvement & details recommendations for action.

Overview of Assessment

Assessment will be in the form of graded assesment, whereby students will be given a grade in addition to a CA or NYC result.

Students will be assessed on teamwork, background preparation for surveys, implementation of survey methods and a written report, which forms the largest part of the graded assessment compononent