BZ5212 - Tropical Wetlands Ecology and Management

Credit points:	03
Year:	2007
Student Contribution Band:	Band 2
Administered by:	School of Marine & Tropical Biology

Field work and associated lectures and practicals to be conducted in the July vacation, with assignment work to be completed subsequently. Field work will make full use of the magnificent wetlands within close proximity of Townsville, demonstrating most aspects of ecology, disturbance and management problems to be found in tropical wetlands. Topics to be covered include the dynamics of large river, estuarine and floodplain systems; physico-chemical and ecological processes in permanent and intermittent lowland freshwater and saline lakes, swamps and mangroves; biodiversity of wetlands (plants, invertebrates, fish, birds, etc.); management requirements and methods for tropical wetlands, including integration of wetlands in agricultural, industrial and urban areas and use of artificial wetlands for treatment of waste waters.

Learning Outcomes

• ability to apply ecological knowledge to appropriate management of natural and artificial wetlands, for ecological and amenity values, such as sustained biodiversity, high water quality and enhanced fish and bird populations;
• experience in sampling and assessing water quality, plants and animals in tropical wetlands;
• understanding of major ecological processes in tropical wetlands;
• understanding of methods of identification of plants and animals;
• understanding of the dynamics of tropical wetland systems and major factors affecting them.

Prerequisites:	Consult HoS or course coordinator
Inadmissible Subject Combinations:	BZ3212

Availabilities
Townsville, Block, Study Period 7
Census Date 20-Jul-2007
Face to face teaching 16-Jul-2007 to 27-Jul-2007
Coordinator:	Professor Richard Pearson
Lecturers:	Dr Robert Congdon, Mrs Andi Cairns, Professor Richard Pearson.
Contact hours:	16 hours lectures 6 hours tutorials 12 hours practicals 40 hours fieldwork
Assessment:	assignments (30%); field report and take home exam (70%).
Restrictions:	An enrolment quota applies to this offering.

Note: Minor variations might occur due to the continuous Subject quality improvement process, and in case of minor variation(s) in assessment details, the Subject Outline represents the latest official information.