121-025 Biodiversity

Note

Credit Points

HECS Band

Coordinator

Prerequisites

25 points of first year subjects from: 121-010 Famine in the Modern World, 121-012 Environmental Change,121-013 Global Ecology and Biogeography, 600-141 Biology of Cells and Organisms, 600-142 Genetics & The Evolution of Life, 600-111 Biology of Australian Flora & Fauna or other appropriate subjects as approved by the subject coordinator.

Semester

Contact

Subject Description

This subject introduces students to genetic, species, ecosystem, and functional diversity; the scientific, economic, medical, moral and other arguments for maintenance of biodiversity; methods for estimating biodiversity; patterns of biodiversity in space and time; hypotheses to explain global, regional and local patterns of biodiversity; biodiversity loss; and national and international policy on biodiversity. On completion of this subject students should understand the reasons why maintenance of biodiversity is important; have knowledge of the global patterns of distribution of biodiversity; comprehend the major hypotheses proposed to explain global and local patterns of species diversity; be able to use a variety of quantitative methods to estimate levels of diversity; be aware of the processes leading to biodiversity loss, and of the Australian and international legislation, conventions and initiatives concerned with biodiversity conservation and exploitation.

Assessment

Written work from practical classes and seminars totalling 2500 words, and a 1.5-hour examination. Students must attend the fieldwork, and a minimum 80% of scheduled laboratory and seminar classes to be eligible to pass the subject.

Prescribed Texts

A subject reader will be available.