BIOS 1003 Biodiversity (WSTC)

This is an archived copy of the 2022-2023 catalog. To access the most recent version of the catalog, please visit https://hbook.westernsydney.edu.au.

Credit Points 10

Legacy Code 700095

Coordinator Anne Bertoldo Opens in new window

Description How many species walk, fly, swim or slither, crawl, hop, wriggle or just float, hitchhike or move so slowly that they appear not to move at all? No one knows and new species appear almost every day. This subject focuses on this spectacular diversity of living things and the process of evolution. Students explore and classify biodiversity and how organisms function, acquire and assimilate resources and co-ordinate growth and reproduction. Organisms interact with one another and their environment forming a complex set of interactions in ecosystems. It is these interactions that have driven evolution. Ultimately human survival depends on the sustainable use of this biodiversity and ecosystems.

School Science

Discipline Ecology and Evolution

Student Contribution Band HECS Band 2 10cp

Check your HECS Band contribution amount via the Fees page.

Level Undergraduate Level 1 subject

Equivalent Subjects BIOS 1002 - Biodiversity LGYB 0458 - Biodiversity (UWSC) BIOS 1001 - Biodiversity

Restrictions Students must be enrolled at Western Sydney University, The College. Students enrolled in Extended Diplomas must pass 40 credit points from the preparatory subjects listed in the program structure prior to enrolling in this University level subject. Students enrolled in the combined Diploma/Bachelor programs listed below must pass all College Preparatory subjects listed in the program structure before progressing to the Year 2 subjects.

Assumed Knowledge

Basic knowledge of biology and chemistry.

Learning Outcomes

On successful completion of this subject, students should be able to:

Describe the characteristics of major biological groups and demonstrate how this information can be used to classify an unknown organism.
Explain and provide examples that demonstrate how evolution has given rise to biodiversity.
Describe and explain the role of cells, tissues and organs in the structure and function of organisms.
Explain how organisms acquire the resources necessary to function.
Describe the scientific method and demonstrate how it can be used to test explanations of observations by formulating testable hypotheses and designing experiments.
Conduct basic investigations of organisms using microscopy, experimentation and perform data analysis and interpret results.
Apply and transfer chemical principles to other contexts such as the origin of life, and how organisms acquire the necessary resources to sustain life.
Evaluate data and evidence from scientific literature.

Subject Content

1. The characteristics of living things and the nature of Biodiversity
2. Science as a way of knowing
3. Classification, taxonomy and species
4. Evolutionary theory
5. A survey of the major groups of living things from bacteria, viruses, protists and fungi to plants and animals
6. Evolutionary development of structure and function
7. The role of living organisms in ecosystems
8. The Biodiversity crisis
9. Basic light microscopy observing plants, animals and microbes
10. Sorting, organising and classifying organisms
11. Formulation of scientific hypothesises, designing experiments and data analysis

Assessment

The following table summarises the standard assessment tasks for this subject. Please note this is a guide only. Assessment tasks are regularly updated, where there is a difference your Learning Guide takes precedence.

Type	Length	Percent	Threshold	Individual/Group Task
Practical	3 hours x 5	25	N	Individual
Case Study	45 minutes	10	N	Individual
Intra-session Exam	90 minutes	25	N	Individual
Final Exam	2 hours	40	N	Individual

Online Block mode

Type	Length	Percent	Threshold	Individual/Group Task
Log/Workbook	3 hours per week x 5 (15 hours total)	40	N	Individual
Case Study	2 hours per week x 5 (10 hours total)	30	N	Individual
Participation	200 words per week x 6 (1,200 words total)	30	N	Individual