BZ3755 - Biodiversity and Climate Change: Impact, Mitigation and Adaptation

Credit points:	03
Year:	2011
Student Contribution Band:	Band 4
Administered by:	School of Marine & Tropical Biology

Climate change is now considered to be the most significant threat to global biodiversity and represents a significant challenge to conservation biologists. This subject will provide students with a comprehensive understanding of the implications of a changing climate to the processes determining patterns of biodiversity and the healthy functioning of natural ecosystems. It will cover all aspects of global change biology and present the latest research on the consequences of climate change to biodiversity pattern and process including documented impacts, predicting future impacts, possible methods of mitigation and the potential for adaptation (both natural and assisted). Factors that underpin the vulnerability of species and ecosystems will be considered along with an exploration of how this understanding may help conservation managers minimize biodiversity loss and the subsequent degradation of natural ecosystems.

There are additional charges for this subject; please contact the School for details.

Learning Outcomes

• an in-depth knowledge and understanding of the impacts of global climate change on the natural environment;
• improved skills in analysing data on climate change in the natural environment;
• improved knowledge of methods for understanding patterns of biodiversity and predicting, vulnerability to climate change;
• conservation planning in a changing climate.

Graduate Qualities

• 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 deploy critically evaluated information to practical ends;
• The ability to find and access information using appropriate media and technologies;
• The ability to evaluate that information;
• The ability to select and organise information and to communicate it accurately, cogently, coherently, creatively and ethically;
• The ability to reflect on and evaluate learning, and to learn independently in a self directed manner;
• The ability to read complex and demanding texts accurately, critically and insightfully;
• The ability to speak and write clearly, coherently and creatively;
• The ability to communicate effectively with a range of audiences;
• The ability to select and use appropriate tools and technologies;
• The ability to use online technologies effectively and ethically.

Assumed Knowledge:	This subject will target students with a general knowledge in biology and/or ecology. However an in-depth knowledge in these areas will be not be essential.
Prerequisites:	18 credit points of level 1 and level 2 AQ BZ EV or MB subjects
Inadmissible Subject Combinations:	BZ5755

Availabilities
Cairns, Block, Study Period 3
Census Date 03-Feb-2011
Face to face teaching 24-Jan-2011 to 04-Feb-2011
Coordinator:	Professor Stephen Williams
Lecturers:	Professor Stephen Williams, Mr Jeffrey Middleton, Dr Luke Shoo, Dr Jeremy Vanderwal, Professor Bill Laurance, Dr Susan Laurance, Assoc. Professor Andrew Krockenberger.
Contact hours:	20 hours lectures 18 hours workshops/Seminars 24 hours fieldwork
Assessment:	end of semester exam (50%); tutorial attendance and participation (20%); assignments (30%).

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.