MB3200:03
Marine Conservation Biology
Townsville
Prerequisites: Consult Academic Adviser
Inadmissable Subject Combination: MB5004
26 lectures, 13 tutorials, 4 hours practicals, 4 hours field work. Second semester.
Staff: Dr G Jones.
This subject will be an ecological approach to human impacts on and conservation of marine habitats and species, with a tropical emphasis. The types and scales of human impacts on coral reefs, mangroves, seagrass beds and inshore benthos will be examined, from local to global, from ecological to evolutionary effects. It will examine the meanings of the terms ‘rare’ and ‘endangered’ for marine organisms, with case studies on marine reptiles and mammals. The concept and relevance of population viability analysis will be discussed for marine organisms. Current practices employed in the conservation and management of marine habitats and endangered marine species will be debated, including marine reserves and their effectiveness. The final topic of interest will be restoration ecology – the principles and practice of enhancing populations of rare species and restoring damaged biological communities.
Learning Objectives:
- have a knowledge of the current understanding of human impacts on and conservation of different types of marine organisms;
- have been able to develop their own views on debatable research fields and management practices;
- have an understanding of the basic methodologies of impact assessment and conservation research, that could serve them well for future research or employment.
Assessment by final examination (50%); assignments (total) (50%), being field report (20%); computer exercise (20%); laboratory (10%).
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