
BIOEB506-20B (HAM)
Environmental Physiology
15 Points
Staff
Convenor(s)
Nicholas Ling
9374
R.2.09
nicholas.ling@waikato.ac.nz
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Lecturer(s)
Margaret Barbour
4102
E.2.19
margaret.barbour@waikato.ac.nz
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Mike Clearwater
4613
D.1.05
mike.clearwater@waikato.ac.nz
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Librarian(s)
You can contact staff by:
- Calling +64 7 838 4466 select option 1, then enter the extension.
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Extensions starting with 4, 5, 9 or 3 can also be direct dialled:
- For extensions starting with 4: dial +64 7 838 extension.
- For extensions starting with 5: dial +64 7 858 extension.
- For extensions starting with 9: dial +64 7 837 extension.
- For extensions starting with 3: dial +64 7 2620 + the last 3 digits of the extension e.g. 3123 = +64 7 262 0123.
Paper Description
An examination of selected topics in environmental physiology, how animals and plants interact with their environment and influence ecological processes in natural and managed ecosystems.
This paper introduces students to animal and plant environmental physiology, the discipline that examines how organisms are adapted to and respond to their environment. Understanding the physiological responses of animals and plants to environmental stress can help explain higher level ecological questions, including the controls on their distribution, abundance, and productivity, and the responses of populations, communities and ecosystems to environmental change. Selected topics drawn from the contemporary literature may include adaptation to temperature, water and oxygen stress in animals and plants, relationships between organism size and metabolic processes, and interactions between organism functioning and global change. Critical evaluation of selected readings from the scientific literature will provide a theoretical framework for the selected topics and an introduction to recent research in those fields.
Paper Structure
Each topic will comprise an introduction to the subject followed by an examination of selected readings from the scientific literature. Students are expected to attend ALL lecture sessions and participate in class discussions.
The lecturer leading each topic will provide instructions and assign readings on Moodle prior to the seminar. Assessments include completion of a written review of a topic selected by the participant and that is relevant to the course, an oral presentation that summarises the review findings, two data analysis exercises linked to particular seminar topics, and a mock peer review of a paper selected by each participant.
The prerequisites for this paper are BSc.
Learning Outcomes
Students who successfully complete the course should be able to:
Assessment
Assessment Components
The internal assessment/exam ratio (as stated in the University Calendar) is 100:0. There is no final exam.
Required and Recommended Readings
Required Readings
Online Support
This paper has a Moodle page (http://elearn.waikato.ac.nz) where you will be able to access pdfs of prescribed readings, lecture notes and assessment materials. There are also discussion forums where you can both ask and answer questions. Your essay assignments must be submitted through Moodle.
PLEASE NOTE: Moodle will be used for class notices etc and it is your responsibility to check the site regularly. Instructions provided on Moodle and in lectures are considered to be given to the class as a whole.
Workload
10 hours per week (2 hour seminar + 8 hours independent study).
Linkages to Other Papers
Restriction(s)
Restricted papers: BIOL571 or BIOL576