| Semester 2, 2022 Online | |
| Units : | 1 |
| Faculty or Section : | Faculty of Health, Engineering and Sciences |
| School or Department : | School of Agriculture and Environmental Science |
| Grading basis : | Graded |
| Course fee schedule : | /current-students/administration/fees/fee-schedules |
Staffing
Examiner:
Requisites
Enrolment is not permitted in REN8202 if REN2200 has been previously completed.
Overview
Sustainable management of the earth's natural resources and the conservation of organisms, habitats and ecosystems require knowledge of biodiversity, ecological systems and processes, conservation principles and the effects of human activities. This course provides knowledge of the fundamentals of ecological theory and practice, and an overview of human impacts on ecological systems and processes.
Ecology and conservation are closely related scientific disciplines that explore the very nature of life in terms of the distribution and abundance of organisms and interactions between organisms and their environment (ecology), and the diversity, scarcity and conservation of species, communities and ecosystems (conservation). This course provides a comprehensive survey of general ecological concepts and principles relevant to the sustainable management of the environment and knowledge on how ecological systems and processes have been impacted upon by human activities. The concept of biodiversity, mechanisms behind speciation and patterns in biodiversity, key threatening processes, and current issues in the conservation of biodiversity are examined. The course also examines concepts of pattern and processes in human-modified landscapes (including land transformation, habitat fragmentation, patch dynamics, conservation corridors and connectivity), implications for conservation and ecologically sustainable development.
Course learning outcomes
On completion of this course students should be able to:
- describe ecology as a quantitative science and explain the scientific method and philosophical approach within which it operates;
- review the principles and current theories of ecology and apply these to the study of the distribution and abundance of organisms and species interactions;
- evaluate the nature and dynamics of ecological populations, communities and ecosystems and the impacts of human activities on ecological systems and processes;
- critically assess the concept of ecosystem health in the context of human influences on the environment;
- integrate knowledge of ecology and conservation into environmental and resource management;
- critically analyse ecological information and data to provide informed decision-making in relation to resource management.
Topics
| Description | Weighting(%) | |
|---|---|---|
| 1. | The Nature of Ecology, Biodiversity and Conservation Science | 15.00 |
| 2. | Species, Populations and Biotic Interactions | 20.00 |
| 3. | Communities and Ecosystems | 20.00 |
| 4. | Biodiversity & Conservation | 22.00 |
| 5. | Landscapes, Connectivity and Fragmentation | 23.00 |
Text and materials required to be purchased or accessed
Student workload expectations
To do well in this subject, students are expected to commit approximately 10 hours per week including class contact hours, independent study, and all assessment tasks. If you are undertaking additional activities, which may include placements and residential schools, the weekly workload hours may vary.
Assessment details
| Description | Group Assessment |
Weighting (%) | Course learning outcomes |
|---|---|---|---|
| Essay 1 | No | 30 | 3,4,6 |
| Essay 2 | No | 30 | 2,3,4,6 |
| Time limited online examinatn | No | 40 | 1,2,3,4,5,6 |