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An integrated course embracing the principles of ecology, behaviour, genetics, evolution and conservation biology.
BIOL112 is an integrated course embracing the principles of genetics, evolution, behaviour, ecology, and conservation biology. During the course, you will gain a sound background in each of these topics and learn basic practical skills in each of these fields.The course provides essential background material that all biologists need and is one of the three ‘core’ biology courses (BIOL111, BIOL112, BIOL113) required to obtain a BSc in Biology. Whenever possible, we will highlight connections among topics taught in these and other biology courses. There are several lecturers in BIOL112 and each is likely to have a unique teaching and lecturing style. The lecture content, however, will follow a natural progression and will also integrate well with the material taught in the laboratories.Goal of the Course:To introduce essential background material required to obtain a degree in biology including principles of genetics, evolution, behaviour, ecology and conservation biology, and to develop basic practical skills in each of these disciplines.
An appreciation of evolution as the core theme of biologyKnowledge of basic principles of evolution, including the mechanisms of evolutionKnowledge of basic principles of genetics, including the origin, maintenance, and loss of genetic variationKnowledge of basic principles of ecology, including determinants of the distribution and abundance of organisms, species interactions and food web ecology, and the determinants of community structureKnowledge of basic principles of behaviour, including proximate and ultimate causationAn understanding of conservation biology as a multidisciplinary pursuitAttainment of basic skills in the collection and interpretation of biological data, both in the field and in the laboratory
Laboratories are an integral part of the course. They are organised in streams that Tuesday – Friday from 2.10pm – 5.00pm, with a Monday lab if numbers warrant. These are held in Room 230 in the Rutherford Building (Chemistry). You should have received information on which laboratory stream you have been assigned to in your on-line enrolment. If you do not have a laboratory stream or need to change a laboratory stream because of a clash, contact Reijel Gardiner as soon as possible. Three hours are scheduled for each laboratory but please note that they are variable in length and sometimes require transport to/from a field location.Information regarding the laboratories including the schedule for the laboratory component of the course are provided in the laboratory manual. The cost of the laboratory manual is approximately $12 and should be purchased from the Student Notes Centre (Course Mart, Level 1, Central Library beginning Monday 12 July, 8.30am – 5.00pm.) before laboratories begin. You must read each week’s laboratory before coming to class. Laboratories will begin with a mandatory course preparation tutorial during the second week of semester (ie week of Mon 19 July).Some laboratory practical work will be completed in groups. However, all written assessments are to be completed individually. Copying of others’ laboratory work is plagiarism and will be treated as such under the university discipline regulations.Missed a laboratory session?If you miss a laboratory session, arrangements must be made to make up the work at a later date. You have two options (the first of which is strongly preferred):(1) Attend a lab stream later in the week after informing your laboratory instructor.(2) Consult with your laboratory instructor to obtain data (and advice) regarding the missed lab.
Tammy Steeves
David Norton , Hazel Chapman , Robert Jackson and Angus McIntosh
Jennifer Gillette
Reijel Gardiner and Jenny Ladley
Campbell, Neil A. , Reece, Jane B; Biology ; 8th ed; Pearson Benjamin Cummings, 2008 (This is the same text used for the three core biology courses (BIOL111, BIOL112, and BIOL113) so we believe it is well worth purchasing. However, should you choose not to buy it, multiple copies are on reserve in the Central Library).
Taylor, Martha R. , Campbell, Neil A., Reece, Jane B; Student study guide for Biology [by] Campbell, Reece ; 8th ed; Pearson/Benjamin Cummings, 2008.
Library portalCourse Outline
If a laboratory is missed, arrangements should be made to make up the work at a later date. This could involve:(a) Attending another lab. stream later in the week after informing you laboratory supervisor (this is by far the best course of action).(b) Consulting with the lab. supervisor to obtain data for the missed lab.(c) Coming to another lab. stream the following week to work on the missed work while there are demonstrators around to give advice.At the end of the year we expect data, graphs and questions to be completed for all labs.If a laboratory assessment due date is missed due to illness, injury, personal bereavement or other critical personal circumstances, and the work can be made up by obtaining an extension, a written explanation from an appropriate person (e.g., medical doctor, counsellor, minister, priest) should be given to the lab. supervisor to obtain an extension. If those critical circumstances mean you cannot make up the work, missed the test or final exam, or you consider you have been impaired, you should apply for aegrotat consideration for the piece of assessment.
Domestic fee $689.00
International fee $3,415.00
* 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 Biological Sciences .