Required skills

Required skill include

communicating scientific and technical concepts and terminology accurately to supervisors peers and clients

maintaining the viability of specimens

identifying and classifying species

taking representative samples for analysis

relating field and laboratory data for the generation of meaningful results

working safely for the protection of self and coworkers

disposing of wastes carefully for the protection of those who may handle and process wastes and to minimise contamination of the environment

Required knowledge

Required knowledge includes

growth requirements of organisms that are subjects of laboratory or greenhouse culture or propagation

general anatomy of plants and animals that is useful as classification data

processes that are essential for preservation of plant and animal material for use as reference material

relationships between field and laboratory data that are useful in giving commentary on the integrity or distress in biological environments

rationale for selection of techniques used to monitor the experimental environment and the effects of variables on organisms in the experimental environment

uses of environmental impact statements that incorporate the results of field and laboratory analyses

enterprise andor legal traceability requirements

relevant health safety and environment requirements

The Evidence Guide provides advice on assessment and must be read in conjunction with the performance criteria required skills and knowledge range statement and the Assessment Guidelines for the Training Package

Overview of assessment

Critical aspects for assessment and evidence required to demonstrate competency in this unit

Assessors should ensure that candidates can

relate field and laboratory data for the generation of meaningful results

identify and classify animal and plantspecies for scientific and experimental purposes

maintain the viability of species during experimentation

monitor the physiology and interactions of plants and animals and their environments

take representative samples for analysis

work safely for the protection of self and coworkers

communicate appropriately with customers and be aware of cultural and social contexts

not contaminate sterile environments or specimens

dispose of wastes carefully for the protection of those who may handle and process wastes and to minimise contamination of the environment

Context of and specific resources for assessment

This unit of competency is to be assessed in the workplace or simulated workplace environment

This unit of competency may be assessed with

MSLA Analyse data and report results

MSL925001A Analyse data and report results

MSLA Undertake environmental fieldbased monitoring

MSL974007A Undertake environmental field-based monitoring.

Resources may include

equipment and resources for investigating the physiology of plants and animals in the laboratory

enterprise procedures sampling plans test methods and equipment manuals

computers and programs for simulated experiments or data analysis

Method of assessment

The following assessment methods are suggested

review of dataresults obtained by the candidate over time to ensure accuracy consistency and timeliness of results

inspection of records and workplace documentation completed by the candidate

observation of the candidate processing specimens andor conducting analyses

review of computer and literature research of data to support an experiment

questioning about procedures that form part of experiments in progress

review of case studies prepared by the candidate such as

relating field and laboratory data in an environmental impact statement

preservation of plant species and placement in a herbarium

plant propagation in a variety of controlled environments

maintenance of cultures of protozoans or invertebrates

In all cases practical assessment should be supported by questions to assess underpinning knowledge and those aspects of competency which are difficult to assess directly

Where applicable reasonable adjustment must be made to work environments and training situations to accommodate ethnicity age gender demographics and disability

Access must be provided to appropriate learning andor assessment support when required

The language literacy and numeracy demands of assessment should not be greater than those required to undertake the unit of competency in a work like environment

This competency in practice

Industry representatives have provided the case studies below to illustrate the practical application of this unit of competency and to show its relevance in a workplace setting

Environmental

A technical officer has been asked to preserve plant specimens and compile a report of classified species using material and data collected during a recent visit to a decommissioned open cut mine site and its adjacent areas The supervising ecologist has been asked to advise the mine owner about replacement planting to restore the mine site in sympathy with its locality The technical officer records descriptions of features of each specimen They use this data to classify the species by referring to the field report atlases and specimens in the reference herbarium They then prepare each specimen for drying and preservation in readiness for labelling and cataloguing To compile the report the technical officer prepares a map of the area to be regenerated The map details the topographic features and illustrates possible species which could be planted To assist the landscape contractors the technical officer advises where the required species can be purchased and the type of soils required for growth

Environmental

A technical officer who worked for a large aluminium smelter was asked to examine some grapevine leaves that a local farmer argued were affected by fluoride emissions from the plant Initially the leaves were subjected to a detailed microscopic examination using standard procedures developed by the company covering the effect of gaseous pollutants such as ozone and fluoride on major natural andor agricultural plants The preliminary findings suggested that the leaves were affected by a fungi rather than fluoride However given the sensitive nature of the issue they checked with the supervisor and arranged to send the affected leaves to a nearby university for a second opinion This additional study also concluded that the impact on the leaves was not due to fluoride

Codes of practice

Standards, codes, procedures and/or enterprise requirements

Items of equipment, reagents, specimens and systems for botanical and zoological techniques

Communication

Hazards

Safe work practices

Disposal of biohazardous wastes

Occupational health and safety (OHS) and environmental management requirements