121-458 Australian Quaternary Environments

This subject is run as a 10-day intensive field trip, usually to either Tasmania or Queensland. A quota of 30 students applies to this subject. Students should contact the SAGES Office for further details. All BSc students, except those enrolled in the BA/BSc combined course and the BASc course, can only receive 25 points science credit at the 300-level for this subject.

Students taking this subject should have already completed 37.5 points at second/third year including at least one of the following: 121433 China Field Class, 121310 Fluvial Geomorphology, 121033 Environmental Hydrology, 121030 Applied Ecology, 121231 Indigenous People and Resource Management, 121021 Environmental Politics and Management, 121018 Geomorphology, 121071 Coastal Geomorphology, 654204 Ecology: Individuals and Populations, 606204 Ecology: Communities and Ecosystems, 654308 Conservation Biology, 606202 Flora of Victoria, 606301 Applied Ecology (Theory), 606310 Field Botany, 625223 Field Geology, 625313 Advanced Field Geology, 625332 Climate: Mechanisms and Variability, 107001 Prehistoric Archaeology, 107232 Interpreting the Past, 202201 Plant Function, 202203 Soil and Water Resources, 220275 Processes in Forest Ecology, 220307 Fire Ecology and Management, 207202 Australian Flora or relevant subjects in consultation with the subject coordinator.

The Quaternary encompasses the past 2.5 million years of earth and human history. In this subject students will encounter topics such as climate changes, dating methods, glacial/interglacial cycles, sea level changes and associated biotic responses, palynology, the effects of hunter-gatherers on the environment, Quaternary geomorphology, and the development of modern landscapes. On completion of the subject students should be familiar with aspect of the Quaternary such as the major forces which have driven environmental change; the processes which operated to shape physical landscapes; the nature of anthropogenic impacts on landscapes. Students should acquire field and laboratory skills in palaeoenvironmental methods; in Quaternary geomorphological methods; and methods to analyse and reconstruct past environments.

• have gained skills in the oral presentation of information and ideas to a small audience;

• demonstrate advanced research and presentation skills;

• engage effectively with others in field situations;

• work independently;

• write concise reports or essays.

An assignment of 4000 words for 3rd year and 5000 words for 4th year 50% (due on the last day of semester) and a field report and exercises totalling 4000 words for 3rd year and 5000 words for 4th year 50% (due on the last day of semester). Students must attend at least 80% of scheduled practical classes to be eligible to pass this subject.