Overview
The origins and diversification of multicellular organisms, their form, function and adaptation to stress and a changing world. Themes and case studies include energy flow from molecules to ecosystems, organismal interactions including parasitism and disease dynamics, and the impacts of human activity.
Learning Outcomes
Learning Outcomes
On successful completion of this course, students will have learned to:
- Identify the roles of the major physiological systems in diverse animals and how they are regulated through electrical and chemical signals to achieve change or maintain homeostasis
- Describe the structure and function of nerves and muscles and explain how they contribute to physiological and behavioural processes.
- Apply knowledge of tissue and organ system functioning and integration to diagnose or predict common diseases and organismal dysfunctions.
- Discuss the mechanisms by which evolution shapes biological diversity, citing examples from the history of life captured in the fossil record, in extant diversity, or through direct observation of evolution in action.
- Compare the nature of interactions between organisms at the level of the population, the community and the ecosystem.
- Describe the main cycles governing the flow of nutrients and energy through communities and ecosystems and recognize the importance of ecological interactions and biodiversity in building a sustainable future.
Topics
Topics covered in this course include
- Animal Form and Function
- Ion, Water and Nutrient Balance – Water and electrolyte balance in animals and animal nutrition
- Gas Exchange and Circulation
- Nerves and Muscles
- Endocrine Signalling
- Reproduction
- Immune System
- Evolutionary Processes and Patterns
- Evolutionary Processes
- Speciation and the History of Life
- Animal Behaviour
- Population and Community Ecology
- Ecosystems
- Biodiversity and Conservation Biology
Terms
Evaluation
16% - Unit Quizzes (x4)
34% - Virtual Labs (x5)
8% - Dynamic Study Modules
16% - Study Sessions (x4)
26% - Proctored Final Exam
*Evaluation Subject to Change*
Exam Centre Location, Eligibility, and Fees
Students enrolled exclusively in online courses may choose one of two options to write this course's proctored assessments:
- You may choose to write the assessments online under supervision of an online proctoring service. A $100 fee will be charged to your SOLUS account. This fee is known as the Off Campus Exam Admin Fee and is applied in SOLUS at the earlier of: term tuition posting date, or the date at which exam writing method is changed to online. The fee is assessed once per ASO course with proctored assessments.
- You may choose to write the assessments in-person on ÷ÈÓ°Ö±²¥ campus in Kingston at no additional charge.
Students enrolled in at least one on-campus course are expected to write this course's proctored assessments on-campus during the scheduled exam time. They will not be permitted to write this course's proctored assessments online.
Students were prompted to indicate their preferred exam writing method when enrolling in the course in SOLUS. The exam writing method may be changed by contacting the ASO Exams Team at aso.exams@queensu.ca.
Information for students writing online assessments
Selected assessments in this course will be administered in onQ using online proctoring provided by a third-party, cloud-based service. This proctoring solution was chosen to support our efforts in maintaining academic integrity when online proctoring is required. ÷ÈÓ°Ö±²¥ has conducted an extensive privacy and security review of the service and has entered into a binding agreement with terms that address the appropriate collection, use and disclosure of personal information in accordance with Ontario's privacy legislation. To learn more about online proctoring, please see the information provided by the Office of the University Registrar.
If you registered to write online with the service, all information pertaining to the technical requirements and preparation for writing online will be posted in onQ well in advance of your exam.
The use of the service as described is unique to courses offered by the Faculty of Arts and Science Online. Other Faculties use online proctoring solutions in different ways under different regulations. Students should contact the appropriate Faculty examination team if they have questions.
Timing of Final Examinations
The exam period dates for each Term are listed on the Faculty of Arts and Science webpage under "Important Dates". Student exam schedules for the Fall Term are posted to SOLUS immediately prior to the Thanksgiving holiday; for the Winter Term they are posted on the Friday before Reading Week, and for the Summer Term they are individually noted on the Arts and Science Online syllabi. Students should not make any travel plans until after the examination schedule has been posted. Exams will not be moved or deferred to accommodate employment, travel/holiday plans or flight reservations. Students experiencing extenuating circumstances preventing them from writing their exams as scheduled should review the information about the Academic Consideration process.
Textbook and Materials
Please consult the for information on the textbook (Campbell Biology 3rd Edition) and Mastering.
Time Commitment
To complete the readings, assignments, and course activities, students can expect to spend on average, about 123 hours on the course.
Additional Information
NOTE Also offered at the Bader International Study Centre, Herstmonceux. Learning Hours may vary.