A Prospectus for BIOL228 Organismal Biology Basic Information

A prospectus for BIOL228 Organismal Biology Basic information

• BIOL228 and 229 succeed 208 (Animal Structure and Function) and 210 (Plant Structure and Function)

• Both new units to be offered in S1 2017

• Prereqs are 114 and 115

• 208's enrolment in S1 2016 was > 150 Handbook description

"This unit explores the biological diversity of plants and animals. Relationships between structure and function are emphasised. The unit also discusses how organisms have adapted to speciﬁc environments. There is a strong emphasis on evolutionary processes and how these have generated biological diversity. A comparative approach is taken, with adaptation discussed in the context of evolutionary trees and the fossil record. The unit is suitable for students interested in organismal biology, science education, and research." Handbook description

1. Explain the theory of evolution and why it can be regarded as the central unifying concept in biology

2. Compare and contrast form and function of key biological units at sub-cellular to ecosystem scales

3. Describe key features of the Australian biota and the processes that have given rise to these 4. Evaluate historical developments in biology, as well as current and contemporary research directions and challenges Unit-speciﬁc learning outcomes

1. Deﬁne the rules of naming species and naming groups of species at different taxonomic levels

2. Given examples of individual organisms that belong to the major animal and plant groups

3. Identify the key anatomical traits used to diagnose the major groups 4. Explain how these traits are linked to the success of different organisms in solving problems posed by diverse environments

5. Prepare experimental findings in the format of a scientific publication and read and critically appraise papers from the scientific literature Assessments

• Weekly online quizzes (30%)

• 1000 word written assignment based on primary literature (25%)

• 500 word practical report based on analysis of collected data (15%)

• Final exam (30%) Organismal Biology textbook

1 Plant taxonomy 10 Sponges 18 Deuterostomes 2 Bacteria, Archaea, viruses 11 Cnidarians 19 Chordates 3 Protista 12/13 Minor lophotrochozoans 20 Fishes 4 Fungi 14 Molluscs 21 Amphibians 5 Bryophytes 15 Annelids 22 "Reptiles" 6 Ferns 16 Minor ecdysozoans 23 Birds 7 Gymnosperms 17 Arthropods 24 Mammals 8/9 Angiosperms

Compilation coordinated with McGraw Hill Education Sources: 1 – 9 Bidlack et al. (2013), Stern's Introductory Plant Biology 10 – 24 Hickman et al. (2015), Animal Diversity Organismal Biology lectures

1 Introduction 10 Molluscs 19 Cartilaginous ﬁshes 2 Evolution 11 Minor deuterostomes 20 Bony ﬁshes 3 Microbes 12 Marine arthropods 21 Amphibians 4 Plant evolution 13 Ferns 22 "Reptiles" 5 Cyanobacteria 14 Gymnosperms 23 Birds 6 Algae 15 Angiosperms I 24 Mammals 7 Mosses and liverworts 16 Angiosperms II 25 Human evolution 8 Porifera and Cnidaria 17 Angiosperms III 26 Summary 9 Minor "worm" phyla 18 Terrestrial arthropods Nine lectures to be given by Brian Atwell

Three new plant pracs to be organised by Brian Atwell

One entirely new prac (butterﬂy systematics)

Salvageable in part from BIOL381: • One plant prac (leaf morphology) • One invert prac (body plans) • One vertebrate prac (skull allometry)

Salvageable in part from BIOL208: • One invert prac (arthropod diversity) • One vertebrate prac (skulls and dentition) Lecture extract: Onychophora What is the phylum Onychophora?

• Also called velvet worms • Belongs to the Ecdysozoa, and within that Panarthropoda • Resemblance to worms and centipedes superﬁcial • Small radiation (2 families; 180 species + many undescribed) • Fossil record goes back to the Cambrian (Hallucinigenia) • Primarily tropical and Gondwanan distribution Australia and New Zealand are centers of onychophoran diversity!

Reid (1996) Allwood et al. (2009) How Onychophora ﬁts into the early panarthropod fossil record

Smith and Ortega-Hernández (2014) Molecular data also place Onychophora within Panarthropoda

Rota-Stabelli et al. (2011) Onychophoran biology

• Segmented, but it's hard to tell • Simple eyes and antennae • Specialised slime gland • Appendages (lobopods) are unjointed and clawed • Moulted, hydrostatic skeleton with spiracles, tracheae • Often spectaculary coloured • Viviparous Onychophoran anatomy