121-174 Ecology for Engineers

Note

Students who have taken 121-172 Environmental Management or 121-172 Global Ecology and Biogeography cannot receive credit for this subject due to overlap in subject content.

Coordinator

Semester

Contact

Subject Description

Global patterns of species diversity; biogeographic realms; the distribution and nature of the world's major biomes. Introduction to world soils. Human impacts on landscapes; deforestation, desertification, acidification, wetland conversion, fragmentation, extinctions, invasions. Preservation and restoration. Biodiversity. Students who complete this subject should: have a sound understanding of the principles of ecology; be able to collect and analyse data about the organisation and functioning of plant and/or animal communities; have a general understanding of the nature of soils and the processes by which they are formed.

Assessment

Weekly practical exercises, assignment up to 2000 words, a final two-hour examination. Weighting of assessment items will be announced at the beginning of semester.