BZ2480 - Restoration Ecology

Credit points:	03
Year:	2013
Student Contribution Band:	Band 2
Administered by:	School of Marine & Tropical Biology

This subject will focus on developing student appreciation and understanding for one of the most important processes involved in ecology: the restoration of degraded landscapes. Habitat loss is one of the main drivers of species extinction facing much of the tropical world (and, indeed, other areas). Alleviating the potential impact of habitat loss requires restoring previously degraded natural systems and re-instating ecological processes. This subject will introduce students to this problem and focus on its solution. The subject will have a primarily plant-based focus (the basis of all habitat restoration programmes) and will introduce students to fundamental biological and functional attributes of plants and how these can be used in restoration. The subject will address the theoretical basis of restoration, its practical application and the ecological techniques (and evidence) for how wildlife populations (both plant and animal) change in response to restoration efforts.

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

Learning Outcomes

• Develop an appreciation for scope of plant (and animal) taxonomy and biologically important functional traits and how these influence and define performance, growth and survivorship in wild populations;
• Develop understanding of general theory of restoration ecology for wildlife and how ecological theory can be used in reducing/reversing impacts of habitat loss;
• Gain experience in the implementation of restoration activities, monitoring and ecological survey techniques used to study natural field populations.

Graduate Qualities

• The ability to adapt knowledge to new situations;
• 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 select and organise information and to communicate it accurately, cogently, coherently, creatively and ethically;
• The acquisition of coherent and disciplined sets of skills, knowledge, values and professional ethics from at least one discipline area;
• The ability to lead, manage and contribute effectively to teams;
• The ability to select and use appropriate tools and technologies.

Assumed Knowledge:	Students enrolling in this subject should have a good understanding of level 1 biology or environmental science, including at least one BZ or EV subject.
Prerequisites:	3 CREDIT POINTS OF BZ OR EV LEVEL 1 SUBJECTS
Inadmissible Subject Combinations:	BZ5480

Availabilities
Cairns, Internal, Study Period 1
Census Date 28-Mar-2013
Coordinator:	Dr Susan Laurance
Lecturers:	Dr Sandra Abell, Dr Susan Laurance.
Contact hours:	26 hours lectures 18 hours practicals 16 hours fieldwork
Assessment:	assignments (60%); centrally-administered final exam (40%).

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.