794-226 Ecology

794-109 Biological Studies.

The objective of this subject is to extend the participant's ability to:

• describe Australian plant communities;

• analyse the environmental and biotic factors that influence plant communities;

• define populations, communities and ecosystems;

• analyse trophic structure and nutrient cycling within plant communities;

• define ecological terms;

• use vegetation classification schemes;

• apply the concepts of range and limit to plant communities;

• use appropriate sampling and statistical techniques;

• analyse energy flow through plant communities; and

• apply the concept of homeostasis to the communities as a whole.

The content includes:

• introduction and definition of ecology;

• populations, communities;

• ecosystems, homeostasis;

• energy flow;

• food chains and trophic structures;

• limiting factors, nutrient cycles;

• Australian plant communities;

• habitat and niche;

• sampling technique;

• environmental factors;

• fire; and

• human impact on vegetation.

Two examinations of 50 and 100 minutes (40% and 60%).