600-111 Biology of Australian Flora and Fauna

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Objectives:

By the completion of this subject students should have:

• knowledge of the evolutionary history of the Australian biota, and the influence of past changes in geology, climate and soil;

• an appreciation of the great diversity and genetic resources of the Australian biota;

• knowledge of the structure and physiology of native plants and animals in relation to surviving in Australian environments;

• an understanding of the impact of humans on Australian ecosystems and issues of conservation biology;

• skills to improve their self-study and analysis and evaluation of biological information.

Content:

History of Australia from the Cretaceous to the present, influence of Australian Aborigines and Europeans. Australian environments, climatic zones, major biomes, gradients. Terrestrial biota: diversity, endemism and biology of Australian plants, relictual rainforests, sclerophylly, adaptation to fire, low nutrients and aridity; diversity, endemism and biology of unique habitats, algae, invertebrates, reefs, mangrove communities, inland waterbodies. Ecology, conservation, amd management of Australian ecosystems.

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