James Cook University Subject Handbook - 2024

BZ5755 - Climate Change and Biodiversity

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

Subject Description

Climate change is now considered to be the most significant threat to global biodiversity and represents a significant challenge to conservation biologists. This subject will provide students with a comprehensive understanding of the implications of a changing climate to the processes determining patterns of biodiversity and the healthy functioning of natural ecosystems. It will cover all aspects of global change biology and present the latest research on the consequences of climate change to biodiversity pattern and process including documented impacts, predicting future impacts, possible methods of mitigation and the potential for adaptation (both natural and assisted). Factors that underpin the vulnerability of species and ecosystems will be considered along with an exploration of how this understanding may help conservation managers minimize biodiversity loss and the subsequent degradation of natural ecosystems.

Learning Outcomes

• improved knowledge of methods for understanding patterns of biodiversity and predicting, vulnerability to climate change
• conservation planning in a changing climate
• an in-depth knowledge and understanding of the impacts of global climate change on the natural environment
• improved skills in analysing data on climate change in the natural environment

Subject Assessment

• Written > Examination (centrally administered) - (50%) - Individual
• Oral > Presentation 1 - (30%) - Group
• Participation > Class participation - (20%) - 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:  This subject will target students with a general knowledge in biology and/or ecology. However an in-depth knowledge in these areas will be not be essential.

Inadmissible Subject Combinations:  BZ3755

Availabilities