BIO1042 - Environmental Biology

General Unit Information

BIO1042 (Environmental Biology) is ideal for students interested in learning more about ecology and environmental science.  Changes to, and the degradation of our environment are common concerns and the subject of considerable media attention. Environmental Biology covers the biosphere and environmental conditions, the adaptations of organisms to environmental stresses such as drought, salinity and fire, and the organization of plants and animals in aquatic, marine and terrestrial ecosystems.

This unit also covers environmental genetics, the important role of microbes in the geochemical cycling of elements and the evolution of the Australia's unique biota.  Human impacts on the environment, and the effective and responsible management of biological resources are also included in BIO1042.

As for other first year Biology Units, BIO1042 is structured to encourage self-paced learning, with considerable feedback on written work and other assessment tasks.

Objectives

At the completion of this subject students will

• understand the various contexts of humans interactions with the environment;
• appreciate the diversity of plants, animals and their habitats;
• have developed skills to assess the biological health of the environment;
• appreciate the special multidisciplinary nature of research in environmental biology;
• further improved their skills in essay writing, including the use of library databases;
• have developed skills to in designing, carrying out and writing up a field research project;
• have further developed skills in analysis and the presentation of quantitative information in environmental biology.

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Specific Unit Information

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