220-275 Processes in Forest Ecology

202-103 Biology for Land and Food Resources, 650-142 Genetics and the Evolution of Life

207-276 Field Studies and Dendrology

On completion of this unit, students should be:

• competent in categorising Australian vegetation on both a structural and a floristic basis;

• identifying the major components of the Australian flora using keys; and

• familiar with basic ecological concepts from the organisational levels of the organism through to the biosphere, particularly in relation to forests.

Content includes:

• concepts and components of forest ecosystems;

• measurement of ecosystem function;

• approaches to analysis and synthesis of ecosystem function;

• taxonomy, systematics and nomenclature of floral and faunal elements

• theories of forest community structure, dynamics and diversity;

• field sampling, data acquisition and numerical analysis of ecosystem data; and

• biodiversity and ecosystem function.

One three-hour examination (50%) and up to three practical assignments equivalent to 5000 words (totalling 50%).

• Attiwill, P and Wilson, B, ed., Ecology: An Australian Perspective. Oxford University Press, 2003.