James Cook University Subject Handbook - 2024

BZ5220 - Population and Community Ecology

Available to students admitted to postgraduate Research Methods, Science, Development Practice,and Global Development courses.

Subject Description

Animals and plants live in populations. Groups of populations inhabiting the same area make up biological communities. Processes operating at these levels control the biodiversity of habitats and regions. This subject presents the conceptual framework needed to understand these processes and illustrates that framework using examples drawn from many systems including tropical rainforests, which are among the most complex and diverse ecological systems in existence. Topics presented include population growth, species interactions, community patterns and dynamics, food webs and the effects of disturbance and scaling on diversity. In addition to an increased understanding of concepts, students gain hands-on experience in tropical research. Students will be required to attend BZ3220 lectures and practicals.

There are additional charges for this subject; please contact the College of Science and Engineering for details.

Learning Outcomes

• gain an ability to critically evaluate original research
• understand how communities can be defined and measured and how processes act at the community level
• understand modern concepts of population processes and species interactions and their relation to the structure and function of animal communities
• understand the composition and structure of rainforest communities and how they are affected by basic processes

Subject Assessment

• Written > Examination (centrally administered) - (40%) - Individual
• Written > Test/Quiz 1 - (10%) - Individual
• Participation > Class participation - (10%) - Group & Individual
• Written > Technical report - (40%) - Individual

Note that 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.

Assumed Knowledge:  Students enrolling in this subject should have an undergraduate degree in a relevant discipline or have acquired equivalent knowledge through other study. They should have an excellent understanding of basic ecological principles (BS5460 or equivalent) and quantitative methods in biology (SC5202 or equivalent). Students should have the ability to use R for data analysis or have done the JCU R Bootcamp, which can be found on LearnJCU under Organisations in the CSE_Refresh folder.

Inadmissible Subject Combinations:  BZ3220 BZ3230 BZ5230

Availabilities