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Biology Teaching and Learning Centre · ANU Joint Colleges of Science
This course gives students hands-on experience of researching the behaviour of free-living animals. Students will work in groups to develop questions and the methods of answering them. They will collect the data during a field trip to Darwin, Northern Territory. The projects will be written up in the form of a scientific paper. The course emphasises the design and effective reporting of scientific research, and will expose students to all of the stages of carrying out and reporting original research. Research topics have included: - Anti-predator behaviour in kangaroos, parrots and emus - Foraging behaviour of antlions and bees - Habitat segregation in birds - Sex differences in plumage and vigilance - Social structure of fairy-wrens - Social foraging in seagulls - Sex differences in foraging in oystercatchers - Song and alarm calls in birds - Schooling behaviour of fish Note: Graduate students attend joint classes with undergraduates but will have modified assessment.
Individual written introduction to a research problem
Learning outcomes 1, 2, 5
Participation in the group's research effort
Learning outcomes 3, 4
Group presentation at class 'Conference'
Learning outcomes 4, 5
Individual research paper based on the whole project
Learning outcomes 1, 2, 5, 6
Literature review of a broader or related area in which project carried out
Learning outcomes 1, 5
The expected workload will consist of approximately 130 hours over an intensive three week period in the mid-term break including: - Face-to-face component which may consist of approximately 60 hours of workshops/fieldwork/tutorial sessions throughout the session. - Approximately 70 hours of group work/data analysis/self-study which will include preparation for the fieldtrip, presentations, groupwork reports and other assessment tasks. Students are expected to actively participate and contribute towards discussions. Other Information This course will be held intensively (three weeks) in the Winter Session during late June to mid July in Darwin. The field trip costs will be approximately $550 (ex Darwin) to cover accommodation and local transports only. More details will be published in the class summary. The field trip costs are in addition to the tuition fees and can paid through Scienceshop. Enrolment is limited to 12 students only and selection will be based on merit. Please fill in an expression of interest form . Applications will be opened early in December and closed at the end of March. Students will be notified of the outcome in mid-April. For more information, please email rsb.studentadmin@anu.edu.au
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