121-030 Ecological Biogeography

Note

Availability

Credit Points

Coordinator

Prerequisites

Any one of the following: 121-213/313 Plants, People and Changing Environments, 121-270/370 Biodiversity; 606-204 Plant Ecology, 654-204/214 Animal Ecology, or equivalent as approved by subject coordinator.

Semester

Contact

Subject Description

By the end of the subject students should understand: The ecological significance of modern concepts of the species; succession and climax as they apply to plant communities; the theory and methods of palaeo-ecology and the impacts that climate and humans have had on biogeographic patterns over long periods of time; and the interactions between the plant, animal, and soil systems in context of ecosystem functioning and how these relate to the practice of ecosystem restoration. Students should also be able to identify how major environmental factors, operating at different spatial and temporal scales, influence the properties and pattern of communities and populations; and apply a range of field, laboratory, and computer methods for community and population description and analysis.

Assessment

A 2-hour examination, and weekly laboratory exercises equivalent to 2000 words, and a field report of 3000 words, and seminar work equivalent to 1000 words. Students must attend the field camp and a minimum 80% of laboratory and seminar classes to be eligible to pass the subject.