BZ5880 - Ecology: Distribution, Abundance and Diversity

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

Postgraduate Diploma of Research Methods, Master of Applied Science, Graduate Diploma of Science, Graduate Certificate of Science, Master of Science, Graduate Certificate of Research Methods, Bachelor of Science (Advanced), Graduate Certificate of Development Practice and Graduate Diploma of Development Practice.

This subject is an introduction to the key ideas in the ecology of plants and animals. This subject emphasizes the techniques and methods used to explain the distribution and abundance of species and how these measures help us understand the causes of extinction. This subject also explores how populations of individual species combine to determine local and global patterns in species diversity. 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 co-existence of species.

Learning Outcomes

• ability to critically assess ecological hypotheses;
• appreciation of the relationship between ecological theory and conservation and management of natural populations and communities;
• be familiar with key concepts in population and community ecology.

Graduate Qualities

• The ability to appraise information critically;
• The ability to place their research in a broader (preferably international)theoretical, practical and policy context.;
• The ability to think laterally and be original;
• The ability to conceptualise and evaluate a range of potential solutions to relevant problems.

Assumed Knowledge:	Students enrolling in this subject should have a good understanding of biology or environmental science, including, basic numerical and computer skills. Previous undergraduate studies in ecology or zoology.
Inadmissible Subject Combinations:	BZ5440 BZ2440 BZ2880

Availabilities
Cairns, Internal, Study Period 2
Census Date 29-Aug-2013
Coordinator:	Dr Will Edwards
Lecturers:	Dr Will Edwards, Dr Susan Laurance.
Contact hours:	26 hours lectures 15 hours tutorials 15 hours practicals 3 hours workshops/Seminars
Assessment:	presentations (15%); tutorial attendance and participation (20%); assignments (20%); centrally-administered final exam (45%).

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.