Unit Outline PDF

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Description

Welcome to KPZ006 Backyard Biodiversity! This Unit Outline is your comprehensive guide to what the unit is about, and what you will need to do to participate in, and successfully complete the unit. Weight

12.5%

Teaching Period

12 Week Session February 1st, 2021 to April 25th, 2021

Unit Coordinators

Professor Menna Jones and Dr Emily Flies, School of Biological Sciences

Enquiries for the unit teaching team

Please contact UConnect for any queries related to applications, enrolments, scholarships, results or graduation: https://www.utas.edu.au/students/admin/uconnect To request an extension and other enquiries related to the unit but not specific to unit content, please contact [email protected] Use the relevant online discussion boards in the Backyard Biodiversity MyLO (UTAS online learning) site to ask the teaching team questions relating to the unit content or assignments. If you have an enquiry about your learning experience that is unsuitable for sharing on a discussion board, email the teaching team directly via Dr Emily Flies at [email protected].

Enquiries about Technical Support

Enrolment inquiries

Learning materials are provided online in video, visual and text formats on MyLO For enquiries about your UTAS password or if you require technical support to manage this online learning environment please contact the Service Desk by lodging a job at http://www.utas.edu.au/selfservice or by phone 03 6226 1818 or 1300 304 903 (local call charge within Tasmania) 8.00am to 6.00pm week days or 10:00am - 1:00pm Saturday, Sunday and Public Holidays (10:00-13:00 AEDT). For information about your enrolment please UConnect at: https://www.utas.edu.au/students/admin/u-connect or by telephone at 1300 826 663 (+61 3 6226 6111) during business hours. Page 1

Description Biodiversity is a critical component of sustainable living and is central to several of the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals. At a local scale, biodiversity is important for healthy and sustainable living, and due to the complexity of biodiversity issues in urban areas, requires well informed and strategic management. Focusing on the biodiversity present in urban areas, especially your own backyard, you will learn about the importance of biodiversity to human and ecosystem health and how biodiversity supports sustainable living. In this unit you will develop skills and knowledge in identification, quantification and management of both vertebrate and invertebrate biodiversity, and learn how to modify your environment to facilitate greater biodiversity.

Rationale Backyard Biodiversity is a foundation-level unit offered as part of the Certificate/Diploma of Sustainable Living. This unit provides a broad overview of the role of biodiversity in ecological functioning and sustainable living, and an introduction to the biodiversity you might encounter in your own backyard. In this unit we will cover conceptual and technical aspects of why and how to create a biodiverse backyard and help you plan the process and outcomes of any backyard adjustments that suit your location and interests. As part of this unit, you will learn how to identify which plant and animal species you have in your yard and how you can modify your backyard design to attract a greater variety of animals. This unit will equip you with the knowledge to make more informed decisions about your backyard design and give you a heightened appreciation of your natural environment.

Approaches to learning and teaching Backyard Biodiversity is designed to provide you with an introduction to a broad range of biological and ecological concepts that apply to landscapes around the world using examples from your own backyard. Most of your learning will take place within the University of Tasmania’s online learning environment called MyLO (‘my learning online’). This is where you will access the content within the Modules we provide. Each Module contains Chapters of content which you can click on to access, as well as other material relevant to Backyard Biodiversity. Aim to access MyLO at least once each week for the duration of this unit. Our MyLO site works optimally on a desktop or laptop computer (a PC or MAC), and you will need a relatively high-speed internet connection. Use your UTAS username and password to login to your UTAS webmail at least once a week as we will be using this to communicate with you.

Intended learning outcomes For every unit of study at University, including KPZ006 Backyard Biodiversity, there are learning outcomes that we intend for you to achieve. By successfully completing this unit, you will be able to: 1) Explain the value of biodiversity using the UN Sustainable Development Goals 2) Quantify the biodiversity and habitat present in your local environment 3) Create solutions for living in biodiverse environments 4) Develop the skills to manage the biodiversity of your local environment

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Study Schedule The following study schedule indicates the topics that will be covered in the six Modules. The unit is self-paced, but allow two weeks to complete each module. There is an online quiz due at the completion of each Module (ie. one quiz per fortnight), to keep you on track to completing the unit. There are also three assignments, further details of which are outlined in the Assessment section of this Unit Outline.

Study Schedule Module Topics

1

Module start date 1 Feb – 14 Feb

2

15 Feb – 28 Feb

Module 2: Assessing biodiversity Chapter One: Taxonomy: the Name Game Chapter Two: Techniques for detecting wildlife Chapter Three: Quantifying biodiversity Chapter Four: Habitat!

3

1 Mar – 14 Mar

Module 3: Identifying wildlife Chapter One: Identifying mammals Chapter Two: Identifying birds Chapter Three: Identifying reptiles and amphibians Chapter Four: It’s the little things in life that matter most. Part 1 Chapter Five: It’s the little things in life that matter most. Part 2

4

15 Mar – 28 Mar

Module 4: Creating habitat to attract wildlife Chapter One: Getting to know your plants Chapter Two: Plants that provide food for wildlife Chapter Three: Creating terrestrial habitat Chapter Four: Creating aquatic habitat Chapter Five: Making a backyard habitat management plan

5

29 Mar – 11 Apr

Module 5: Living with wildlife Chapter One: Protecting the plants in your yard Chapter Two: Protecting the animals (wildlife and pets) Chapter Three: Protecting ourselves: dealing with bushfire risk Chapter Four: Maintaining backyard habitat

6

12 Apr – 25 Apr

Module 6: Making it work Chapter One: A spotlight on urban biodiversity Chapter Two: Bushland biodiversity and ecological restoration Chapter Three: Designing for equity and accessibility Chapter Four: Co-benefits for sustainable living

Module

Module 1: Introduction to Biodiversity Chapter One: Welcome to Backyard Biodiversity 1 Chapter Two: Introduction to biodiversity Chapter Three: Ecosystems, resilience and ecosystem services Chapter Four: Biodiversity in Australia Chapter Five: Biodiversity and the Sustainable Development Goals

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Specific attendance/ performance requirements In this unit, your active engagement will be monitored in the following way: 1. Logging into the Unit in MyLO 2. Completion of the first Quiz for Module 1 by the end of week 3 If you do not demonstrate evidence of having engaged actively with this unit by completing these two activities by the beginning of Week 4, your enrolment may be cancelled, or you may be withdrawn from the unit.

Assessment This is a graded unit, so your final mark (score) will result in a grade of High Distinction (HD; 80% or higher), Distinction (DN; 70-79%), Credit (CR; 60-69%), Pass (PP; 50-59%) or Fail (NN; less than 50%). To do well in this unit, you will need to complete all assessment tasks which include: •

Task 1: Five [5] Module Quizzes;

•

Task 2: A Backyard Biodiversity Assessment;

•

Task 3: A Backyard Habitat Assessment

•

Task 4: A Backyard Biodiversity Management Plan

Marking rubrics (a chart of your performance against the assessment criteria) are provided for these assessments under ‘Assignment Resources’ in MyLO.

Assessment Task 1: Five [5] online interactive module quizzes Task description Five online interactive quizzes are scheduled fortnightly and are due by the end of weeks 2, 4, 6, 8, and 10. These due dates are to keep students on track; students will not be penalised for late completion, and you do not need to request an extension for late quiz completion. Each quiz is based on content from its preceding Module – ie. 1 quiz per Module for Modules 1-5. There is no quiz for Module 6. Links to ILOs 1, 2, 4 Assessment criteria Correct responses to quiz questions. A single attempt is allowed.

Percent weighting Due date

Feedback and marks are provided in the MyLO Quiz tool automatically on completion of quiz. The results will be displayed under Grades. Each quiz is worth 6%, resulting in a total of 30% when combined The quizzes are due on the following dates: Module 1 quiz: Sunday February 14th 11:59pm (end, week 2) Module 2 quiz: Sunday February 28th 11:59pm (end, week 4) Module 3 quiz: Sunday March 14th 11:59pm (end, week 6) Module 4 quiz: Sunday March 28th 11:59pm (end, week 8) Module 5 quiz: Sunday April 11th 11:59pm (end, week 10)

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Assessment Task 2: Backyard biodiversity assessment Task description For this assessment task you will apply what you have learnt in Modules 2 and 3 to quantify the biodiversity present in your backyard for a given taxon (e.g. mammals, birds). This will inform your management plan (AT4). On three separate occasions, you will spend 10 minutes assessing the biodiversity of animals that visit your yard. To quantify the biodiversity, you will choose one of these three methods: mammal scat identification, bird surveillance, or camera trap. Structure your assessment using the template provided in the Assessment Task 2 folder. Upload to the Assessment Task 2 dropbox your completed assessment and one photograph from one of your sessions to support your findings. AT link to ILOs

2, 4

Assessment criteria and ILO relationships

Assessment criteria

Measures ILO:

Appropriate presentation of biodiversity data

2, 4

Outline and justification of methodology

2, 4

Accurate quantification of biodiversity Provided evidence to support your findings (one photo)

Per cent weighting Due date

2 2

Feedback will be provided within MyLO in the Assignments tool. Your result will be displayed under Grades in MyLO. 20% End of week 6 (March 14th 2021, 11:59pm)

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Assessment Task 3: Backyard habitat assessment Task description For this assessment task you will apply what you have learnt in Modules 2-4 to conduct a habitat assessment of your property. Please use the template provided to structure this assignment. You will assess the habitat needs of one wildlife species that you detected in your yard in AT2. Discuss the biological needs (food sources, shelter, breeding sites, water) of that species and identify 1) how they are being met by the habitat on your property, and 2) how they are not being met (think of why that species might have to leave your yard). This information will inform your management plan (AT4). Structure your assessment using the template provided in the Assessment Task 3 folder Upload to the Assessment Task 3 dropbox your completed habitat assessment and one habitat photograph to support your findings. Links to ILOs Assessment criteria and ILO relationships

Per cent weighting Due date

2, 3, 4 Assessment criteria

Measures ILO:

Description of the biological needs of the species

3, 4

Identified the range of habitat types around your backyard/property that might attract/support that species/taxon

2, 4

Identified any biological needs that are not being met

4

Provided evidence to support your findings (one photo)

2

Feedback will be provided within MyLO in the Assignments tool. Your result will be displayed under Grades in MyLO 20% End of week 8 (March 28th 2021, 11:59pm)

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Assessment Task 4: Backyard biodiversity management plan Task description For this assessment task you will apply what you have learned in Modules 1-5 to design a biodiversity management plan for your own backyard. You will need to consider the species and habitat present (AT2 and 3), what is missing, how to attract the missing species, and what challenges your intervention could pose for humans and animals. Please use the template provided to structure this assignment.

Links to ILOs Assessment criteria and relationship to ILO’s

Per cent weighting Due date

-

Part 1: Justify the need for backyard biodiversity in the context of supporting the UN Sustainable Development Goals (approximately 500700 words)

-

Part 2: Expand on your findings in AT2 and 3: identify a minimum of three species that are missing from your location/yard (i.e. present in your state/region but not in your yard). Propose reasons for their absence using their biological needs and the habitat present in your yard.

-

Part 3: Design a modification to your backyard environment that could attract the missing species you identified in Part 2. Describe any potential risks to humans or animals and the ways your design minimises risks and maximises benefits.

-

Part 4: On a single sheet on paper, draw an annotated diagram of your backyard and the new theoretical habitat modification(s). This diagram should include the approximate dimensions of the space, current structures/components with labels, and where the proposed modifications fit within that layout.

Upload your management plan plus a 1-page annotated (or digital) design drawing to the appropriate MyLO Dropbox. 1, 3, 4 Assessment criteria Measures ILO: Justified biodiversity conservation in the 1 context of the UN Sustainable Development Goals Identified three species that are missing from your chosen location/yard

2, 4

Explained the link between the biological needs and habitat availability for your chosen species

4

Described a backyard habitat modification that could attract each of the missing species

3

Outlined the risks and benefits of your habitat modification design

3, 4

Drawn an annotated diagram of your backyard indicating current and new habitat solutions for the identified species

3

30% End of week 12 (April 25th 2021, 11:59pm)

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Feedback and Communication Feedback in this unit will be provided to you in multiple ways, including:    

brief immediate feedback when you complete the interactive online learning activities, a mark and feedback for each of the online quizzes ( Assessment Task 1), a mark and assessor’s comments for the Backyard Biodiversity Assessment, Backyard Habitat Assessment, and Backyard Biodiversity Management Plan (Assessment Tasks 2, 3, and 4), a final grade for the unit recorded on MyLO (Grades).

Communication from the Unit Coordinator will primarily occur through the Announcements in MyLO. Announcements typically occur weekly or fortnightly, but will also be made whenever the need arises. So please keep an eye on the Announcements pages under the Unit Home tab in the Backyard Biodiversity MyLO site. Students may also receive emails from the Unit Coordinator or Contact Team regarding general unit or course information, or individual assessment matters. Please check your UTAS emails regularly, or if you prefer these emails come to a different (non-UTAS ) email address, please update your preferred email address in your MyLO profile to ensure you receive communications. Please see the information on page 1 about who you can contact for different matters. If in doubt, UConnect (https://www.utas.edu.au/students/admin/u-connect) is a good centralised contact point, and they can redirect you to the appropriate person if required. Dr Emily Flies is a secondary contact: [email protected].

Schedule of events Schedule of events within the unit. Note, this is a 12 week unit. Weeks 13 and 14 are shown to indicate completion of marking and provision of feedback, however the delivery of the unit will finish at the end of week 12. Weeks Schedule of assignments and feedback

1

AT1: Module 1 quiz AT1: Module 2 quiz

2

3

4

5

6

7

8

9

10

11

12

13

14

X X

AT1: Module 3 quiz

X X

AT1: Module 4 quiz AT1: Module 5 quiz AT2: Backyard biodiversity assessment AT3: Backyard habitat assessment AT4: Backyard biodiversity management plan Colours indicate when content is covered

X X

FB X

FB X

FB

X = deadline, FB = feedback for AT2-4 (quiz feedback is immediate)

Academic Integrity Academic misconduct includes cheating, plagiarism, allowing another student to copy work for an assignment or any other conduct by which a student: 

Seeks to gain, for themselves or for any other person, any academic advantage or advancement to which they or that other person are not entitled; or



Improperly disadvantages any other student.

 Students engaging in any form of academic misconduct may be dealt with under the Ordinance of Student Discipline, Page 8

and this can include imposition of penalties that range from a deduction/cancellation of marks to exclusion from a unit or the University. More information is available from the Academic Integrity for Students webpage. Academic Integrity Training Module As part of the University’s educative approach to academic integrity, there is a short Academic Integrity Training Module that all students are required to complete. Completion of the module allows you to demonstrate your understanding of what constitutes academic misconduct. The Academic Integrity Training Module is available for all students through MyLO. All commencing students (pre-degree through to higher degree by research) are required to complete the Academic Integrity module. If you do not complete this module your final unit results will be withheld. You should aim to complete the module within the first few weeks of commencing study at the University.

Penalties There will be no penalties applied in this unit for late submissions of quizzes, or exceeding word limits on assignments. However, penalties will be applied to late submission for the three assignments (AT2, AT3, AT4) if a formal extension is not in place. Assessments received after the due date with no formal extension in place will be penalised at 5% per day for up to 10 working days. Formal extensions can be requested through [email protected]. A word on the word count – although we do not apply penalties for being significantly under or over the word limit, these word limits are set to give you an idea of the approximate amount of detail you should be giving. If you find you are significantly exceeding the word count, it is likely you are giving too much detail. It is also to help you to practice writing succinctly. O...