SLE307 - Behavioural Ecology

Unit details

Year

2025 unit information

Enrolment modes:Trimester 1: Burwood (Melbourne)
Credit point(s):1
EFTSL value:0.125
Unit Chair:Trimester 1: John Arnould
Prerequisite:

SLE204

Corequisite:Nil
Incompatible with: Nil
Educator-facilitated (scheduled) learning activities - on-campus unit enrolment:

1 x 3 hour lecture per week, 1 x 3 hour practical experience (workshop) per week.

Typical study commitment:

Students will on average spend 150 hours over the teaching period undertaking the teaching, learning and assessment activities for this unit.

This will include educator guided online learning activities within the unit site.

Content

This unit is designed to enable students to: gain an understanding of the basic principles of behavioural ecology and how the environment influences animal behaviour; further develop skills in analysing, interpreting and critically evaluating scientific data; gain experience in writing scientific reports and making an oral presentation.

Learning Outcomes

ULO These are the Unit Learning Outcomes (ULOs) for this unit. At the completion of this unit, successful students can:

Alignment to Deakin Graduate Learning Outcomes (GLOs)

ULO1 Understand the environmental influences on animal behaviour and decision making.

GLO1: Discipline-specific knowledge and capabilities
ULO2

Understand the physiological basis of animal behaviour.

GLO1: Discipline-specific knowledge and capabilities
ULO3

Critically evaluate scientific data relevant to the subject.

GLO1: Discipline-specific knowledge and capabilities
GLO2: Communication
GLO3: Digital literacy
GLO4: Critical thinking
GLO5: Problem solving

Assessment

Assessment Description Student output Grading and weighting
(% total mark for unit)
Indicative due week

Assessment 1
Group research project

4 stages:

  • Literature search and hypothesis generation
  • Study design
  • Data collection and analysis
  • Write-up

40% (3 x 5%, 25%)

Week 2

Week 3

Week 9
Week 11

Assessment 2
Oral presentation

10-minute oral presentation 10% Scheduled over trimester
End-of-Unit Assessment Timed online test 50% End-of-Unit Assessment Period

The assessment due weeks provided may change. The Unit Chair will clarify the exact assessment requirements, including the due date, at the start of the teaching period.

Learning resource

The texts and reading list for SLE307 can be found via the University Library.

Note: Select the relevant trimester reading list. Please note that a future teaching period's reading list may not be available until a month prior to the start of that teaching period so you may wish to use the relevant trimester's prior year reading list as a guide only.

Unit Fee Information

Fees and charges vary depending on the type of fee place you hold, your course, your commencement year, the units you choose to study and their study discipline, and your study load.

Tuition fees increase at the beginning of each calendar year and all fees quoted are in Australian dollars ($AUD). Tuition fees do not include textbooks, computer equipment or software, other equipment or costs such as mandatory checks, travel and stationery.

Estimate your fees

For further information regarding tuition fees, other fees and charges, invoice due dates, withdrawal dates, payment methods visit our Current Students website.