James Cook University Subject Handbook - 2016

BZ5480 - Restoration Ecology

Credit points: 03
Year: 2016
Student Contribution Band: Band 2
Administered by: College of Science and Engineering

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

This subject will focus on developing student appreciation and understanding for one of the most important processes involved in wildlife ecology: the mitigation and restoration of impacts of habitat loss and landscape change. 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

Assumed
Knowledge:
Students enrolling in this subject should have basic knowledge in ecological theory, an understanding of botanical and zoological terminology and organisation, and skills in experimental design and analysis. Students should have completed equivalents for BZ1004, BZ1005 and BZ2001/BZ5001.
Inadmissible
Subject
Combinations:
BZ2480

Availabilities

Cairns, Internal, Study Period 1
Census Date 24-Mar-2016
Coord/Lect: Professor Paul Gadek.
Contact hours:
  • 26 hours lectures
  • 10 hours practicals
  • 36 hours fieldwork
Assessment:presentations (34%); assignments (33%); centrally-administered final exam (33%).

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.