BZ5440 - Ecology and Conservation
| Credit points: | 03 |
| Year: | 2011 |
| 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 is an introduction to the key ideas in the ecology of plants and animals. In presenting these ideas, the subject emphasises not only the ways in which they can be used to explain the distribution and abundance of species, but also their importance in helping us understand the causes of extinction and providing the scientific basis for management of species. Special emphasis is placed on the processes responsible for high diversity in tropical ecosystems. Topics include fertility and mortality; population dynamics and population regulation; life history strategies; interactions between species (competition, facilitation, predation, herbivory, parasitism); dynamics of communities; island biogeography; limits to the coexistence of species. Students will normally be expected to show proficiency in biometry before undertaking this subject. Students will be required to attend lectures, practicals and tutorials in BZ2440.
Learning Outcomes
- ability to critically assess ecological hypotheses;
- appreciation of the relationship between ecological theory and conservation and management of natural populations and communities;
- familiarity with key concepts in population and community ecology;
- understanding of ecological processes involved in the maintenance of high species diversity in tropical ecosystems.
| 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 an excellent understanding of quantitative methods in biology (BS5001 or equivalent). |
| Inadmissible Subject Combinations: | AG2006 BZ2440 |
Availabilities | |
| Townsville, Internal, Study Period 2 | |
| Census Date 25-Aug-2011 | |
| Coordinator: | Dr Robert Congdon |
| Lecturers: | Dr Robert Congdon, Assoc. Professor Lin Schwarzkopf, Professor Ross Alford. |
| Contact hours: |
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| Assessment: | end of semester exam (40%); tutorial attendance and participation (10%); essays (20%); assignments (30%). |
| Cairns, Internal, Study Period 2 | |
| Census Date 25-Aug-2011 | |
| Coordinator: | Dr Will Edwards |
| Lecturers: | Dr Will Edwards, Dr Brad Congdon, Dr Susan Laurance. |
| Contact hours: |
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| Assessment: | end of semester exam (40%); tutorial attendance and participation (10%); essays (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.