Skip to Main Content

Content

Course Tabs

Overview

Course Prescription

Focuses on the strategies used by animals to cope with physical and biological challenges in the environment. Accordingly, we work at the level of the individual and the interface between physiological, biochemical or molecular approaches on the one hand, and ecology on the other. Considers the adaptive strategies employed by a range of species, with an emphasis on aquatic organisms, in response to physical factors such as temperature, oxygen and food availability. Energetics and nutrition are emphasised. The course aims to meet the needs of students with ecological interests wishing to recognise the experimental approach to solving problems in environmental biology. The practical work is project oriented rather than laboratory based.

Course Overview

Ecological (or environmental) Physiology focuses on physiological diversity in relation to the environments in which organisms live. This course covers how animals move and function in terms of locomotion and how locomotion is powered. It explores how animals acclimate, adapt or evolve to the physiological challenges of their environment. Considering the current anthropogenic changes we are observing, it is crucial that we understand and know how to measure the effects environmental change places on an organism’s physiological capacity to tolerate, or adapt. We cover function in extreme environments and settings such as high temperature and hypoxia (e.g. diving air-breathing animals, and animals at high altitude). We also cover how animals extract energy from food.  


This course explores four things that limit life; 1) oxygen (hypoxia and anoxia), 2) temperature, 3) energy flow as inputs (food-anabolism) and outputs (catabolism), and 4) water and ion regulation (pH desiccation and freezing). The adaptive and evolutionary strategies employed by a range of species in response to these, are considered. We discuss aquatic species (reflecting the research interests of participating staff), and terrestrial physiology (birds, mammals and insects). The course aims to meet the needs of people with ecological interests wishing to apply an experimental approach to solving problems in environmental biology. We attempt to achieve these aims through the use of research-based teaching with a range of laboratories from fish muscle structure, hydrodynamics and propulsion in fish, heart function in glass shrimps to digestive enzymes of gastropods. We offer insights into specialised research fields such as ecotoxicology. 


The practical work in this course involves laboratory work. While we do not to use any live vertebrates in the course, we do use live invertebrates (generally crustaceans and gastropods). For the crustacean work we test heart function non-invasively and we expose them to different factors such as different temperatures, CO2 or O2 levels. 


This course feeds into pathways of ecology, evolutionary biology, marine, freshwater and animal biology and to a lesser extent molecular biology. It will help prepare a student for work in physiological research, ecology, physiological conservation, ecotoxicology, education, marine biology, aquaculture, zoo management and fisheries. This course also feeds into an active postgraduate groups in Biological Sciences.

Key Topics

Introduction-What is Ecophysiology, Methods in Ecophysiology, Measuring metabolism and issues of body size, Energetic costs of locomotion, Swimming energetics (goes with lab 1), Muscle structure and extreme muscles, Hydration, water management, Acid base regulation, Blood-What is blood and principles of oxygen transport and blood, Upper limits of temperature

Hibernation and metabolic arrest, Diving Physiology, Hypoxia tolerance, Adaptations to altitude, Hormones, Stress, Introduction to the digestive tract (Gastropod Lab week)

Nutrients, enzymes and transporters, Retention time and digestion of birds, Assimilation efficiency in fishes, Fermentation and fibre digestion, Digestion in marsupials and hindgut fermenters, The rumen, Diet and digestion in primates, Herbivorous fishes

Course Contacts

Course Director: Tony Hickey (a.hickey@auckland.ac.nz)

Workload Expectations

This course is a standard 15 point course and students are expected to spend 10 hours per week involved in each 15 point course that they are enrolled in. 

For this course, you can expect ~30 hours of lectures (3 hours of lectures per week) and 4 x 3 hour (12hrs total) laboratories, which run fortnightly.  Of the remaining ~70 hours you should spend reading and thinking about the content, laboratory write-up/assignments, practice questions, and, test/exam preparation.  

Course Prerequisites, Corequisites and Restrictions

Prerequisite

Locations and Semesters Offered

LocationSemester
City

Teaching and Learning

Campus Experience

Attendance is required at scheduled activities including laboratories to complete components of the course.
We strongly recommend lecture attendance, but they will also be available as recordings. Other learning activities including tutorials will be available as recordings where possible.
The course will include live online events including group discussions/tutorials and tests for some sections.
The activities for the course are scheduled as a standard weekly timetable. 

Learning Resources

Taught courses use a learning and collaboration tool called Canvas to provide students with learning materials including reading lists and lecture recordings (where available). Please remember that the recording of any class on a personal device requires the permission of the instructor.

Additional Information on Learning Resources

While the primary literature (journal articles etc.) is used, a useful fundamental text is Animal Physiology, third edition , Richard W. Hill, Gordon A. Wyse, and Margaret Anderson, 2012, Sinauer Associates

Copyright

The content and delivery of content in this course are protected by copyright. Material belonging to others may have been used in this course and copied by and solely for the educational purposes of the University under license. You may copy the course content for the purposes of private study or research, but you may not upload onto any third-party site, make a further copy or sell, alter or further reproduce or distribute any part of the course content to another person.

Learning Continuity

In the event of an unexpected disruption, we undertake to maintain the continuity and standard of teaching and learning in all your courses throughout the year. If there are unexpected disruptions the University has contingency plans to ensure that access to your course continues and course assessment continues to meet the principles of the University’s assessment policy. Some adjustments may need to be made in emergencies. You will be kept fully informed by your course co-ordinator/director, and if disruption occurs you should refer to the university website for information about how to proceed.

Other Information

Online tutorials will be run when required for laboratories and to accompany lectures if requested (e.g. via Zoom). 

Academic Integrity

The University of Auckland will not tolerate cheating, or assisting others to cheat, and views cheating in coursework as a serious academic offence. The work that a student submits for grading must be the student's own work, reflecting their learning. Where work from other sources is used, it must be properly acknowledged and referenced. This requirement also applies to sources on the internet. A student's assessed work may be reviewed for potential plagiarism or other forms of academic misconduct, using computerised detection mechanisms.

Similarly, research students must meet the University’s expectations of good research practice. This requires:

  • Honesty - in all aspects of research work
  • Accountability - in the conduct of research
  • Professional courtesy and fairness – in working with others
  • Good stewardship – on behalf of others
  • Transparency – of research process and presentation of results
  • Clarity - communication to be understandable, explainable and accessible

For more information on the University’s expectations of academic integrity, please see the Academic Conduct section of the University policy hub.

Disclaimer

Elements of this outline may be subject to change. The latest information about taught courses is made available to enrolled students in Canvas.

Students may be asked to submit assessments digitally. The University reserves the right to conduct scheduled tests and examinations online or through the use of computers or other electronic devices. Where tests or examinations are conducted online remote invigilation arrangements may be used. In exceptional circumstances changes to elements of this course may be necessary at short notice. Students enrolled in this course will be informed of any such changes and the reasons for them, as soon as possible, through Canvas.


Assessment and Learning Outcomes

Additional Information on Assessment

 Students must pass the practical laboratories and the theory (exam and in course tests) independently to pass the course overall.

The mark allocation usually consists of 16.25% per lab assignment (65% of final mark), 15% in course tests ( x 2) and 20% final exam. Therefore, there is a significant weighting on assignments.

Special Requirements

Attendance at laboratories is essential. Students are required to supply and wear a lab coat and safety glasses while in the teaching lab.

Course Learning Outcomes

CLO #OutcomeProgramme Capability Link
1
2
3
4
5

Assessments

Assessment TypeAssessment PercentageAssessment Classification

Assessment to CLO Mapping

Assessment Type12345

Student Feedback, Support and Charter

Student Feedback

Feedback on taught courses is gathered from students at the end of each semester through a tool called SET or Qualtrics. The lecturers and course co-ordinators will consider all feedback and respond with summaries and actions. Your feedback helps teachers to improve the course and its delivery for future students. In addition, class Representatives in each class can take feedback to the department and faculty staff-student consultative committees.

Additional Information on Student Feedback

Content will be changed next year

Class representatives

Class representatives are students tasked with representing student issues to departments, faculties, and the wider university. If you have a complaint about this course, please contact your class rep who will know how to raise it in the right channels. See your departmental noticeboard for contact details for your class reps.

Tuākana

Tuākana is a multi-faceted programme for Māori and Pacific students providing topic specific tutorials, one-on-one sessions, test and exam preparation and more. Explore your options at Tuakana Learning Communities.

Inclusive Learning

All students are asked to discuss any impairment related requirements privately, face to face and/or in written form with the course coordinator, lecturer or tutor. Student Disability Services also provides support for students with a wide range of impairments, both visible and invisible, to succeed and excel at the University. For more information and contact details, please visit the Student Disability Services’ website.

Wellbeing

We all go through tough times during the semester, or see our friends struggling. There is lots of help out there - please see the Support Services page for information on support services in the University and the wider community.

Special Circumstances

If your ability to complete assessed work is affected by illness or other personal circumstances outside of your control, contact a member of teaching staff as soon as possible before the assessment is due. If your personal circumstances significantly affect your performance, or preparation, for an exam or eligible written test, refer to the University’s aegrotat or compassionate consideration page. This should be done as soon as possible and no later than seven days after the affected test or exam date.

Student Charter and Responsibilities

The Student Charter assumes and acknowledges that students are active participants in the learning process and that they have responsibilities to the institution and the international community of scholars. The University expects that students will act at all times in a way that demonstrates respect for the rights of other students and staff so that the learning environment is both safe and productive. For further information visit Student Charter.

Student Academic Complaints and Disputes

Students with concerns about teaching including how a course is delivered, the resources provided, or supervision arrangements, have the right to express their concerns and seek resolution. The university encourages informal resolution where possible, as this is quicker and less stressful. For information on the informal and formal complaints processes, please refer to the Student Academic Complaints Statute in the Student Policies and Guidelines section of the Policy Hub.