ANTA103-19S2 (C) Semester Two 2019

Antarctica: Life in the Cold

15 points

Details:
Start Date: Monday, 15 July 2019
End Date: Sunday, 10 November 2019
Withdrawal Dates
Last Day to withdraw from this course:
  • Without financial penalty (full fee refund): Friday, 26 July 2019
  • Without academic penalty (including no fee refund): Friday, 27 September 2019

Description

This introductory course focuses on biology and explores how plants, microbes, animals and humans adapt to living in the extreme environments of the Antarctic, the sub-Antarctic and the Southern Ocean. Low temperatures and periods of total darkness are just some of the extremes to be endured. Discussion includes human psychology, and our interaction with the polar region lying at New Zealand's back door.

The goal of this course is to give students a broad understanding of the biological characteristics of and human interactions with Antarctica and the Southern Ocean. This is achieved by introducing students to topics within the disciplines of biology, psychology, arts, humanities, social science, and environmental management, with a theme of global change running through the course.

Learning Outcomes

  • Learning Outcomes:

  • To understand the biodiversity and functioning of terrestrial and marine ecosystems of Antarctica;
  • To begin to question how Antarctic biodiversity is responding to change;
  • To gain insight into the human interaction with and reaction to Antarctica;
  • To begin to develop personal ideas on the value of maintaining Antarctica as a natural reserve devoted to peace and science.

Restrictions

INCO103, ANTA101, ANTA113

Lecturers

Daniela Liggett , Patrick Shepherd , Dr Gary Steel (Lincoln University) , Paul Broady , Bill Davison and Dr Alan Hemmings (Adjunct Associate Professor, Gateway Antarctica)

Contact Person

Carey Treleaven

Assessment

Assessment Due Date Percentage 
Final Examination
Practical Assignments x 4


A two hour exam worth 50% and internal assesments worth 50%.  

Details of the actual internal assessments will be provided in the course outline. Topics for internal assessments may include:
- A quiz on Antarctic governance and psychology
- A discussion and group work on Antarctic tourism
- A test on Antarctic marine biology
- A quiz on Antarctic environmental management

Textbooks / Resources

Required Texts

Liggett, Daniela et al; Exploring the last continent :an introduction to Antarctica ; Springer, 2015 (Course Textbook).

Recommended Reading

Averbuck, A. & Brown, C; Antarctica ; 6th; Hawthorn, Australia: Lonely Planet, 2017.

McGonigal, David,1950- , McGonigal, David; Antarctica :secrets of the southern continent ; Firefly Books, 2008.

Riffenburgh, Beau; Encyclopedia of the Antarctic ; Routledge, 2007.

Trewby, Mary. , Natural History New Zealand Ltd; Antarctica :an encyclopedia from Abbott Ice Shelf to zooplankton ; David Bateman, 2002.

Course links

Library portal

Indicative Fees

Domestic fee $883.00

International fee $4,000.00

* All fees are inclusive of NZ GST or any equivalent overseas tax, and do not include any programme level discount or additional course-related expenses.

For further information see School of Earth and Environment .

All ANTA103 Occurrences

  • ANTA103-19S2 (C) Semester Two 2019