BIO2011 - Ecology & Biodiversity

• Unit information
• General Unit Information & Objectives
• Specific Unit Information

General Unit Information

This unit is an introduction to ecology – the scientific study of the interactions between organisms and their environment. Ecology aims to explain patterns and processes in the natural world and to predict how individuals, populations and communities will respond under particular circumstances, including those caused by human activity. Because the domain of Ecology is broad, ranging from individuals organisms to the biosphere, emphasis is placed on integrating ecological processes across spatial and temporal scales. Lecture topics include the scope and approaches to ecological enquiry; abiotic and biotic factors determining distributions; population growth and regulation; species interactions; species diversity; food webs; disturbance and succession; and, production ecology and nutrient cycling.

Ecology is a field science, so all students will participate in field projects, develop skills in quantitative field sampling, analysis of datasets, and the production of scientific papers from their work. The practical component of the unit will consist of EITHER

Option 1 - A five-day field trip held at Aireys Inlet (29th Jan -2 February, 2010) with a follow-up group meeting once semester starts

OR

Option 2 - Laboratory work (normal prac times throughout semester) AND field excursions (on weekends) during semester. Rocky shores field trip will be on a weekend in March, 2010. Forest field trip to be held in late April 2010.

Prerequisites for this unit are 24 points of level one units, 6 points of which must be of BIO or GES.

Objectives

On completion of this unit, students will have gained a basic understanding of ecological principles, theory, and methodology. Students will have gained skills in ecological techniques and be able to critically evaluate their application to particular situations. Students will also gain skills in critical evaluation of key ecological issues, from population regulation to community organization. Skills, including design, analysis, written preparation, and presentation of ecological reports will be developed. Lastly, students will have gained a sound framework for understanding the environment, whether they become a biologist, an engineer, a schoolteacher, or a resource manager.

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Specific Unit Information

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