Course Title: Conduct biological surveys
Part B: Course Detail
Teaching Period: Term1 2016
Course Code: MATH7059C
Course Title: Conduct biological surveys
School: 155T Vocational Health and Sciences
Campus: City Campus
Program: C5305 - Diploma of Conservation and Land Management
Course Contact: Namrita Kaul
Course Contact Phone: +61 3 9925 4309
Course Contact Email: namrita.kaul@rmit.edu.au
Name and Contact Details of All Other Relevant Staff
The Course Teacher is Sally Heeps
email: sally.heeps@rmit.edu.au
Please note that Sally is a sessional teacher and is only at RMIT on Tuesdays and Fridays. She may not be able to respond promptly to your emails.
Please contact Namrita Kaul if the matter is urgent
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.
Pre-requisites and Co-requisites
There are none
Course Description
This unit covers the processes involved with conducting biological surveys and defines the standard required to: identify the scope, objectives and constraints for a biological survey according to client requirements, the biological components to be surveyed and enterprise policy; assess the availability of current data and determine data collection and processing needs; identify biological indicators that are repeatable and statistically representative; document survey methods and indicators as a survey plan; schedule survey activities and establish access to the site; conduct a biological survey with data collection staged and recorded according to the survey plan; produce a biological survey report with detailed analysis and conclusion, including a description and assessment of the specified biological components.
National Codes, Titles, Elements and Performance Criteria
National Element Code & Title: |
AHCNAR502A Conduct biological surveys |
Element: |
1. Carry out preliminary design activities for the biological survey |
Performance Criteria: |
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Element: |
2.Determine requirements of the biological survey |
Performance Criteria: |
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Element: |
3. Conduct the biological survey |
Performance Criteria: |
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Element: |
4. Compile a biological survey report |
Performance Criteria: |
4.1. Analysis of collected data is undertaken according to industry policies and guidelines. |
Learning Outcomes
By the completion of this course students will have gained the following capabilities
- identify the scope, objectives and constraints for a biological survey according to client requirements, the biological components to be
surveyed and enterprise policy - assess the availability of current data and determine data collection and processing needs
- identify biological indicators that are repeatable and statistically representative
- document survey methods and indicators as a survey plan
- schedule survey activities and establish access to the site
- conduct a biological survey with data collection staged and recorded according to the survey plan
- produce a biological survey report with detailed analysis and conclusion, including a description and
assessment of the specified biological components.
Details of Learning Activities
Classroom instruction,
Practical work,
visits to conservation reserves;
working in groups and survey teams,
consultation with biological survey clients including Banyule City Council and non-government conservation organisations;
Planning and designing biological surveys;
biological report writing;
gathering historical data from DELWP databases;
data analysis;
legal requirements of biological surveys;
compiling Standard Operating Procedures;
the role and responsibilities of Animal Ethics Committees.
Teaching Schedule
1 | 9/02/16 | Introduction What is Biodiversity? Why survey? Biological classification |
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2 | 16/02/16 | Biological classification – Reptiles & Amphibians |
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18/02/16 Visit from Reptile Awareness Displays of Australia 11:00 onwards | |||
3 | 23/02/16 | Biological classification – Class work - Mammals, Birds, Reptiles & Amphibians Animal ID references Dichotomous keys Accessing habitat information |
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4 | 01/03/16 | Bird Identification Concept of Dichotomous keys Undertaking biodiversity surveys - Types of Surveys and Reasons for surveys Preparation for Bird Survey: |
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Thursday 03/03/16 |
Site assessment for Bird Survey | Field Trip | |
5 | 8/03/16 | Site assessment for Bird Survey Scope for Bird Survey Bird Identification Class work - Mammals, Birds, Reptiles & Amphibians Animal ID references Activity; Bird identification Dichotomous keys Accessing habitat information |
Assessment 1 due |
6 | 15/03/16 | Ecological Principles – Basic concepts and terminology. Communities and associations. Australian Ecosystems |
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7 | 22/03/16 | Ecological Principles – Basic concepts and terminology. Communities and associations. Australian Ecosystems |
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8 | 5/04/16 | Ecological Principles – Basic concepts and terminology. Communities and associations. Australian Ecosystems |
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Thursday 7/04/16 |
First Bird Survey | Field Trip | |
9 | 12/04/16 | Ecological Principles – Habitat and Energy flows in natural systems, Nutrient cycles | |
10 | 19/04/16 | Ecological Principles - Habitat and Energy flows in natural systems, Nutrient cycles | |
11 | 26/04/16 | Ecological Principles - Habitat and Energy flows in natural systems, Nutrient cycles | |
12 | 03/05/16 | No class | |
13 | 10/05/16 | Ecological Principles - Habitat and Energy flows in natural systems, Nutrient cycles | |
14 | 17/05/16 | Ecological Principles - Biotic and abiotic and limiting factors | |
15 | 24/05/16 | Writing report for Bird Survey | |
Thursday 26/05/16 |
Second Bird Survey | Field Trip | |
16 | 31/05/16 | Ecological Principles - Biotic and abiotic and limiting factors | |
Semester 2 schedule to be advised
Learning Resources
Prescribed Texts
References
Other Resources
Overview of Assessment
Assessment for this course may include assignments, practical assessment , project work, tests and reports
Assessment Tasks
Formative Task 1 Survey Scope and background collection – Bird Survey – Background information collation and Project proposal - Assignment 8/03/16 5%
Formative Task 2 Habitat, ecology and food webs assignment – Ecological communities within habitat assignment 17/05/16 15%
Formative Task 3 Notebook and recording sheets Log book and records 3a 12/07/16 3b 18/10/16 10%
Formative Task 4 Survey preparation – animal ethics and equipment – Quiz to identify types of survey equipment and aspects of animal ethics 26/07/16 10%
Summative Task 1 Birds of Newport Lakes – Final survey Report 2/08/16 20%
Formative Task 5 Survey Scope and background collection for Banyule Fauna survey (Background information collation and Project proposal) 23/08/16 5%
Formative Task 6 Management of Threatened species assignment 6/09/16 15%
Summative Task 2 Fauna of Banyule Report - results of wildlife survey 25/10/16 20%
Assessment Matrix
Other Information
Assessment information:
All assessment types must be passed. You can’t make up marks from one type of assessment to another (e.g. pass the tests but fail the assignment component).
Late work that is submitted without an application for an extension will not be corrected.
APPLICATION FOR EXTENSION OF TIME FOR SUBMISSION OF ASSESSABLE WORK- A student may apply for an extension of up to 7 days from the original due date. They must lodge the application form (available online http://www1.rmit.edu.au/students/assessment/extension) at least 24 hours before the due date. The application is lodged with the School Admin Office on Level 6, Bdg 51, or emailed to the Coordinator (amber.mitton@rmit.edu.au).
Students requiring extensions longer than 7 days must apply for Special Consideration (see the ‘Help me’ link in blackboard, via myRMIT studies or http://www1.rmit.edu.au/students/specialconsideration) For missed assessments such as exams - you (& your doctor if you are sick) must fill out a special consideration form. This form must be lodged online with supporting evidence (e.g. medical certificate), prior to, or within, 48 hours of the scheduled time of examination.
If you miss an assessment (such as a field trip) due to unavoidable circumstances, you need to follow the procedure of special consideration and apply within the allowed time frame.
Course Overview: Access Course Overview