James Cook University Subject Handbook - 2001

BZ1030:03

Introductory Ecology

Townsville

Prerequisites: BT1020 and ZL1001 recommended
Inadmissable Subject Combination: BZ1002

37 lectures, 5 tutorials, 21 hours laboratory/field work. Second semester.

Staff: Professor R Pearson.

An introduction to the ecology of populations, communities and ecosystems, including selected aspects of physiological ecology, biogeography and evolutionary ecology.

Learning Objectives:

  1. to learn the basic principles of ecology;
  2. to gain an understanding of Australian ecosystems, with emphasis on the tropics;
  3. to learn laboratory and field techniques in ecology, how to apply these techniques to answering ecological questions and how to produce scientific reports;
  4. to learn about the application of ecological principles to solving environmental problems, e.g. human population growth, pollution, loss of biodiversity.

Assessment by examination (60%); practical reports (20%); practical book (10%); tutorial performance (10%).