606-204 Plant Ecology

Credit Points

HECS Band

Coordinator

Prerequisites

Biology 606-141 and 600-142 (Before 1996: 600-101). Botany 606-201 is strongly recommended.

Semester

Contact

Subject Description

Topics covered include:

• Australian plant communities;

• plant population dynamics;

• plant productivity;

• plants and fire;

• plants and aridity;

• plant-animal interactions; and

• environmental issues such as greenhouse effect, salinity, dieback, logging and fires.

By successfully completing this subject, students should gain:

• knowledge of the ecology of Australian plants and plant communities;

• understanding of the ecosystem concept, and the structure and physiology of ecosystems;

• understanding of basic population and community ecology;

• understanding of local and global environmental issues; and

• ability to synthesise, interpret and discuss current scientific literature.

Assessment

One 3-hour written examination on lecture and tutorial topics at the end of the subject (90%) and an excursion report (maximum of 2000 words; 10%).