Welcome to the fields of botany and zoology. This course offers a comprehensive introduction to the biodiversity of plants, animals and fungi. Students are given a solid grounding in the vast diversity of multicellular organisms and their evolutionary lineages. Biol1009 is an essential prerequisite for students wishing to pursue plant and/or animal sciences. It is also an excellent, engaging, "free standing" course for those studying in other areas of science, or in non-science degrees. The lecture component focuses on the fundamentals of plant and animal structure and the evolution of complexity, and also addresses current research issues such as responses of plant species and populations to climate change. Each practical class is designed to provide our students with an opportunity for hands-on learning about key features of structure and function in a range of animal and plant taxa.

On satisfying the requirements of this course, students will:

1. Gain skills necessary to recognise taxonomically distinct lineages of living organisms.
2. Be able to identify relationships between structure and function.
3. Be able to describe the evolutionary history of various living animals and plants.

• Mid-semester examination on first two modules (35%; LO 1, 2, 3)
• Final exam on last two modules (35%; LO 1, 2, 3)
• Practical assessments (30%; LO 1, 2, 3)

3 lectures per week and up to 6 three hour practical sessions.

BIOL1005, BIOL1006

Please note that there is no prescribed text for this course, but for those who are doing more than one first year course in Biology you will find Campbell, Reece and Meyers Biology 9th Edition Australian Version useful. PLEASE NOTE: the text available at the ANU Co-Op Bookshop contains an access code for Mastering Biology software that will give you access to supplementary support.