BZ5490 - Advanced Tropical Ecosystems and Climate Change
| Credit points: | 03 |
| Year: | 2009 |
| Student Contribution Band: | Band 4 |
| Administered by: | School of Marine & Tropical Biology |
Available to postgraduate students enrolled in the GradCertSc, GradDipSc, GradDipResMeth and MAppSc.
This subject provides an overview of ecosystem processes and structural components, with an emphasis on tropical ecosystems, including rainforest, fresh water, estuarine, marine, savanna and arid systems. Major topics will include the flow of matter and energy, nutrient cycles, productivity, biodiversity, physical structure, biotic interactions and disturbance, with a focus on the effects of climate change on these large scale properties and processes.
Learning Outcomes
- understand patterns of change in ecosystems;
- understand the levels of integration of organisms and environment in ecosystems;
- understand the physical processes of ecosystems on local and global scales;
- understand the nature of climate change and its effect on ecosystem processes.
Graduate Qualities
- The ability to define and to solve problems in at least one discipline area;
- The ability to think critically, to analyse and evaluate claims, evidence and arguments, and to reason and deploy evidence clearly and logically;
- The ability to read complex and demanding texts accurately, critically and insightfully.
| Assumed Knowledge: | Students enrolling in this subject should have an undergraduate degree in a relevant discipline (eg biology or environmental science) or have acquired equivalent knowledge through other study. They should have a good understanding of quantitative methods in biology (BS 5001 or equivalent); a basic understanding of biogeochemical cycles is recommended. |
| Inadmissible Subject Combinations: | BZ3420 |
Availabilities | |
| Cairns, Internal, Study Period 2 | |
| Census Date 28-Aug-2009 | |
| Coord/Lect: | Dr Peter Franks. |
| Contact hours: |
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| Assessment: | end of semester exam (50%); on-course assessment; (50%). |
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.