University of the Western Cape______
Department of Biodiversity and Conservation Biology (BCB)
Private Bag X17 Bellville 7535 South Africa
Telephone: +27 21 959 2301/3544 Fax +27 21 959 2312/1237
THIRD YEAR STUDENTS IN BIODIVERSITY AND CONSERVATION BIOLOGY, 2006
Welcome to the third year in Biodiversity and Conservation Biology. We hope you will you’re your work informative, challenging and enjoyable. We would like to provide you with some information at the start to make things clear to you. Each module includes three theory and two practical classes per week.
Module Sequence and Presenters:
Clash group / First term / Second term / Third term / Fourth termD / ZOO311
Marine biology
Prof M J Gibbons / ZOO331
Animal ecophysiology
Prof M D Hofmeyr / ZOO321
Species & genes
Prof A Channing / ZOO341
Population biology
Prof M J Gibbons
B / BOT331
Ecology & people
Dr R S Knight / BOT333
Plant development
Prof L M Raitt / BOT334
Marine systems
Dr G W Maneveldt / BOT332
Plant biogeography & economic botany
F M Weitz
C / BOT335
Community Ecology
Dr R S Knight / BOT336*
F ield Botany
Dr G W Maneveldt / BOT337
Alternative paths…
P M McLaren, L F Cyster, L M Raitt
C / ZOO351 Integrated animal biology, Dr L B Holtman
*Please note that module BOT336, co-ordinated by Dr Maneveldt, will probably start with an intensive week in the field prior to the second semester, and continue at a low level through the third term.
Timetabling and venues:
Please note that the main botany modules will be presented in Clash Group B and the venue will be the Herbarium.
DayPeriod
Monday 3, & afternoon practical
Tuesday 2
Wednesday 1
Thursdayafternoon practical.
The main zoology modules will be presented in Clash Group D: the venue will be Z124.
DayPeriod
Monday 1
Tuesday afternoon practical
Thursday2, & morning practical
Friday1
The botany electives will be presented in Clash Group C, again the venue will be the Herbarium.
DayPeriod
Monday 2
Tuesday 3
Thursday1
FridayFull day practical from period 2
Assignments etc:
It is expected of third year students that their assignments be presented in printed form. It is also very important that they be handed in on time. We will be using the South African Journal of Botany format for assignments in Biodiversity and Conservation Biology. This format must be followed. The Standardized Science Faculty rules about submission of Assignments, the South African Journal of Botany Instructions to Authors and a listing of the campus computer labs are attached at the end of this document. We hope to provide an updated listing of the labs during the first term.
Practical classes:
The practical classes will expose you to equipment and techniques integral to the theory. In general they provide hands-on experience, and also aim to develop certain skills. On occasion complementary aspects that extend the theory will be covered in the practicals. In some modules excursions are compulsory, and these may also take place over weekends or in the holidays. The practical component must be passed in order to pass the module.
Evaluation:
In each module the coursework mark contributes 60% and the examination 40% towards the final mark. The yearbook provides a breakdown of the coursework, and learning time, which differs due to the nature of the different modules. More detail will be provided at the start of each module.
All examinations will take place at the end of the semester. The supplementary examinations follow directly after the examinations and like the examinations cover the entire module.
.
A student shall not be allowed to write the examination in a module unless (s)he has obtained a continuous assessment mark/course work mark of at least 40% for that module. A student passes the module if the final mark is ≥50%, the final examination mark is ≥40% AND the practical mark is ≥50%.
A student qualifies to write a supplementary examination if (s)he obtains:
- a 50% or higher pass in the practical component of the course and
- a final mark of 45-49%, or
- a coursework mark of at least 50%, and at least 30% in the examination, or
- a final mark of 50% or more, but an examination mark of less than 40%.
Prescribed books:
BOT333 & BOT337
Hopkins WG & Huner NPA (2004) Introduction to plant physiology. 3rd ed. Wiley, New York, pp 1-560. ISBN 0-471-38915-3 (H&H)
OR
Salisbury FB & Ross CW (1992) Plant physiology. Wadsworth, Belmont, California, pp 1-682. ISBN 0-534-15162-0 (S&R)
OR
Taiz L & Zeiger E (1998) Plant physiology. 2nd ed. Sinauer Associates, Sunderland,
Massachusetts, pp 1-792. ISBN 0-87893-831-1 (T&Z)
BOT334
Nybakken, J W (2002?) Marine biology, an ecological approach, 5th ed., Benjamin Cummins, Town?, pp 1-???. ISBN 0321030761
ZOO321
Frankham, J, Ballou, J D & Brisco, D A (2004) A primer for conservation genetics, Cambridge University Press, Cambridge, pp 1-???, ISBN0-521-53827-0
Recommended books:
ZOO331
Schmidt-Nielsen, K. (1997) Animal Physiology: Adaptation and Environment. Cambridge University Press, 607pp.
ZOO341 (in order of preference)
Begon, M., Harper, J.L. and Townsend, C.R. (1990). Ecology: Individuals, Populations and Communities. Blackwell Scientific Publications, 945pp.
Begon, M. and Mortimer, M. (1986). Population Ecology: A Unified Study of Animals and Plants. Blackwell Scientific Publications, 220pp.
Ebert, T.A. (1999). Plant and Animal Populations: Methods in Demography. Academic Press, 312pp
Krebs, C.J. (1999). Ecological Methodology. Benjamin Cummings, 620pp. Sutherland, W.J. (2000). Ecological Census Techniques: A Handbook. CambridgeUniversity Press, 336pp
Standardised penalties for the Science Faculty.
It is important that these measures be communicated to the students at the beginning of each and every term. They must be adhered to by all Departments so as to have uniformity of treatment for all the students in the Faculty.
Late submission of assignments15% off per 24hrs
Plagiarism:50% off for undergraduates, 100% off for postgraduates with submission of disciplinary action against the student if intent can be proven. NB the lecturer must be able to demonstrate the plagiarism and adhere such proof to the script for recording purposes. This ruling will apply to assignments and tests alike.
“Sick tests “:Each programme will set One Day Only per term on which all sick tests and special occasion tests will be written. A doctor’s certificate stating that the student was unfit to write the test/exam on the set date will have to be supplied to the department
Special Occasions tests:As above. The student needs to supply documentary proof of the special circumstances that prevented the writing of and/or preparation for the test.
Special Exams:These are in addition to the supplementary exams and can only be set by the department in the exam period at the discretion of the Chairperson of the department. Outside the exams period the Student Affairs Committee needs to make a recommendation to the Senate Exams Committee
SOUTH AFRICAN JOURNAL OF BOTANY
Instructions to AuthorsBefore submitting a manuscript authors should peruse and consult a recent issue of the journal for format and style. To qualify for peer review, manuscripts must be written in clear English according to our instructions.
Authors must submit their manuscripts electronically, including all illustrations and tables, to the Editor-in-Chief (). If revision is required authors will be allowed 5 weeks in which to do this and return the mansucript to the relevant Refereeing Editor. All manuscripts not making this deadline will be treated as new submissions. Correspondence and proofs will be sent to the corresponding author at their e-mail and postal address.
Contributions are accepted on the understanding that the authors have the authority for publication. Submission of multi-authored manuscripts implies that all authors have approved submission of the article to this journal, have read it and approved of its publication. Manuscripts should not have been published before and must not be under consideration by another journal. The submission of a manuscript by the authors implies that they automatically agree to assign exclusive copyright to South African Journal of Botany and its Publishers (NISC).
Corresponding authors will receive an electronic copy of their manuscript for reprint use. Extra reprints may be available on request, at an additional charge, but can only be ordered at the proof stage. Reprints in CD-Rom format can be purchased from NISC at US$12.50 at the proof stage.
The journal does not place restriction on manuscript length but attention is drawn to the fact that page charges of US$20,00 per page are currently levied. Verbose manuscripts will be returned with a request for condensation. There is an extra charge for colour plates. Italics or underlining should be used only for scientific names, genes and where appropriate, other molecular biological terms.
SI units should be used throughout.
Manuscript format
All pages must be numbered consecutively. The double spaced typescript should be arranged using the following order:
1.Title page
(a)Title: which should be concise and informative. Names of taxa to be used without author citations.
(b)Author(s): *Indicates corresponding author.
(c)Address(es) of Author(s): (*Corresponding author, e-mail).
(d)Received Date: Will be included by the Editorial Office.
2.Abstract
(a)Abstract: This must be a concise statement of the scope of the work and the principal findings. It must not exceed 5% of the manuscript.
(b)Abbreviations: International standardised abbreviations should be used. Other abbreviations used must be listed alphabetically.
3.Introduction
This should argue the case for the study, giving the reader a brief outline of the subject in general. A detailed review of the literature is usually inappropriate. Text references should have the form: Scott and Little (1999) or Smith et al. (1998) for more than TWO authors. All text references must be cited chronologically. / 4.Material and Methods
Give full scientific name(s) of plant(s) used, as well as cultivar (cv.) or variety (var.) where applicable. All growth conditions should be properly described. Sufficient detail of the techniques used should be provided to allow easy repetition.
5.Results
Do not include material appropriate to the Discussion. Refer to figures and tables as Figure/Figures and Table/Tables.
6.Discussion
This should highlight the significance of the results and place them in the context of other work. Do not be over-speculative, reiterate the results, or exceed 20% of the manuscript length. If desired the Results and Discussion sections may be amalgamated.
7.Acknowledgements
8.References
List alphabetically, according to first author. Use full journal title e.g.:
Fahn A (1979) Secretory Tissues in Plants. Academic Press, London, pp 24-50. ISBN 0-3161-091-8 - (Book)
Gilroy S, Trewavas A (1990) Signal sensing and signal transduction across the plasma membrane. In: Larsson C, Moller IM (eds) The Plant Plasma Membrane. Springer-Verlag, Berlin, pp 203-232. ISBN 0-4448-0890-6 - (Chapter in a book)
Viljoen PJC, Cross LA (1961) Ethylene and fruit ripening. Plant Physiology 135: 513-516 - (Journal article)
9.Tables
Each table should be typed on a separate sheet and numbered with Arabic numerals. It should have a title or explanatory caption at the top. Data may not be presented in both tabular and graphical form. Tables must be planned to fit the page vertically with a printed width of either 80 or 170mm.
10.Figures
ONE copy of high quality originals must be provided electronically, or at later request, as hard copy. They must be numbered with Arabic numerals. Figures that are grouped together must be numbered using lowercase chronological letters. Figures should be planned to appear with a maximum final width of either 80 or 170mm. Lettering must be provided by the author(s), freehand lettering is not acceptable. Letters, numbers and symbols must appear clearly, but not oversized. A suitable final size for lettering is 1-2mm after reduction of the figure. Lettering must be in an unserifted font, e.g. Arial. It is recommended that one uniformed size be used throughout the manuscript. Complicated symbols or patterns must be avoided. Graphs and histograms should be two-dimensional and scale marks (turning inwards) provided. All lines (including boxes) should be clear, but not too thick and heavy.
Illustrations, including all graphs and chemical formulae, must be submitted in electronic formats, e.g. TIFF, GIFF, JPEG or EPS.
Each figure should be clearly identified with figure number and author(s) name(s). There will be an extra charge for colour figures.
11.Word Processing Programmes
The following word processing programmes can be used e.g.: Microsoft Word, WordPerfect and Rich Text Format.
Provided by Kurt Stevens of the TLTU
. Please note that some of the labs are managed by departments.
This will affect access times.
UWC COMPUTER LABORATORIES
Existing labs
Labs
/ Access / Availabilities / Comments / LocationThintana Teaching / Formal lectures / 8h30-21h00 / Departmental request / Main hall
Thintana
Walk-in / General Access / 8h30-21h00 / Any student / Main hall
Writing Centre / Booking Access / 8h30-21h00 / Any student / Old Arts Building
Law / General Access & specialised / 8h30-21h00 / Law students
Times vary / Law
LIS / General Access / 8h30-21h00 / Library students / LIS Department
BoE / Formal lectures / 8h30-21h00 / Departmental request / EMS Building
B20 / Special request / 8h30-21h00 / Times vary / B-Bloc
New labs
Labs
/ Access / Availabilities / Comments / LocationLibrary L13 / Postgraduate students / 24 Hours / Any P/G student / Library
EMS 4th floor / Postgraduate students / 24 Hours / Any P/G student / EMS
Dos Santos / Postgraduate students / 24 Hours / Dos Santos
Student only / Dos Residence
SVE4 / Postgraduate students / 24 Hours / Any P/G student / Main Residence
Cassinga / Undergraduate students only / 24 Hours / Undergraduate students only / Main Residence
Student Centre / Any student / 24 Hours / Any student / Main Campus