BVB311 Conservation Biology

Unit Outline: Semester 1 2025, Gardens Point, Internal

Overview

The theory and practice of conservation biology is essential for maintaining viable populations of rare and threatened species and for maintaining essential ecosystem processes. In this unit, you will synthesise a diverse range of information including high quality scientific literature, apply field skills in biodiversity monitoring and prepare written reports that provide an incisive and decisive analysis of key conservation issues. Specific modules will train you to critically analyse the link, or lack of, between theory and application in current conservation management approaches. Scientific methods will be used to develop problem-recognition and problem-solving skills through fieldwork, data collection, analysis and reporting. This advanced unit is essential for anyone wanting to work in areas of wildlife management and conservation.

Learning Outcomes

On successful completion of this unit you will be able to:

1. Synthesise and critically analyse current concepts and practices relating to conservation biology.
2. Integrate theoretical biological and ecological knowledge and apply to conservation planning and management
3. Incisively and decisively analyse topical issues in conservation biology, incorporating scientific knowledge and perspectives from all stakeholders including First Nations people
4. Undertake ethically and culturally appropriate ecological surveys in teams to monitor and quantify biodiversity using professionally-relevant field and digital analysis skills
5. Use professional methods of communication.

Content

Learning Approaches

Teaching and learning strategies include formal interactive lectures, problem-solving practicals and fieldwork. Lectures will provide the theoretical background relating to conservation biology. Practicals will extend concepts covered in lectures and address issues associated with monitoring and quantification of population and ecosystem characteristics to maintain viable populations of rare and threatened species and maintain essential ecosystem processes. The field exercise will provide professional skills and experience in examining a real-world issue in conservation biology. You will develop analytical field and problem-solving skills whilst working independently and within groups. Critical analysis, problem solving, written communication and field investigation skills are embedded within the syllabus. You can expect to spend between 10-15 hours per week on average involved in preparing for and attending all scheduled classes, completing assessment tasks, and undertaking your own independent study to consolidate your learning. It is expected that during the field trip the hours required per week will be higher than in a regular teaching week.

Feedback on Learning and Assessment

Assessment will be comprised of formative assessment (to help you find out how your work is progressing) and summative assessment (to grade your work against expected outcomes).

Assessment

Overview

There are three assessment items: an essay examining a topical issue in conservation biology incorporating scientific knowledge and perspectives from all stakeholders including First Nations people, a professional poster presentation relating to the field trip, and a centrally timetabled written examination on the theoretical and applied concepts gained from the lectures and problem solving practical exercises. 

Unit Grading Scheme

7- point scale

Assessment Tasks

Assessment: Essay

You will select a current topical issue in conservation biology, and you will develop a scientifically informed understanding of this issue by incorporating perspectives from all stakeholders including First Nations people, and so interpret it from an informed ethical, cultural and societal perspective.

Formative feedback will be provided through whole of class discussion on essay topics. This feedback will assist you to identify what is at stake, relevant contrary points of view and enable you to form a defensible position on the issue.  

This assignment is eligible for the 48-hour late submission period and assignment extensions.

Assessment: Professional Poster Presentation

You will undertake a field trip where you will work in a group to undertake an ecological survey for a hypothetical development and associated environmental offset. You will learn ethically and culturally appropriate practices to monitor and quantify biodiversity. You will use professional practices, policies and regulatory frameworks to justify your decisions relating to the development. Your group will present your findings and recommendations in a professional digital poster format (single poster per group) that will comprise 20% of your mark for this assessment task. Your contribution to the group will be peer assessed by your group members and comprise 10% of your mark for this assessment task. 

This is an assignment and is eligible for the 48-hour late submission period and assignment extensions.

Assessment: Written Examination

A written examination based on lectures (theory) and practical content from the problem-solving practical exercises.  The exam will consist of short answer and short essay questions designed to assess your knowledge of the theoretical and applied concepts relating to conservation biology, planning and management.

Academic Integrity

Academic integrity is a commitment to undertaking academic work and assessment in a manner that is ethical, fair, honest, respectful and accountable.

The Academic Integrity Policy sets out the range of conduct that can be a failure to maintain the standards of academic integrity. This includes, cheating in exams, plagiarism, self-plagiarism, collusion and contract cheating. It also includes providing fraudulent or altered documentation in support of an academic concession application, for example an assignment extension or a deferred exam.

You are encouraged to make use of QUT’s learning support services, resources and tools to assure the academic integrity of your assessment. This includes the use of text matching software that may be available to assist with self-assessing your academic integrity as part of the assessment submission process.

Breaching QUT’s Academic Integrity Policy or engaging in conduct that may defeat or compromise the purpose of assessment can lead to a finding of student misconduct (Code of Conduct – Student) and result in the imposition of penalties under the Management of Student Misconduct Policy, ranging from a grade reduction to exclusion from QUT.

Requirements to Study

Costs

The field trip will be undertaken over several days. Accommodation and food costs of up to $350 may be incurred.

Resources

Risk Assessment Statement

The classroom based lectures and practicals in this unit are all extremely low risk activities. Risk assessments for field trips identify several low impact risks. You are required to complete field safety training prior to the start of any activity. Field work involves risks including travel hazards, slips and trips, animal bites and animal and plant stings. You are required to understand and obey all safety guidelines and you will be working in groups.