Ecology in Changing Environments

Subject ECOL30006 (2012)

Note: This is an archived Handbook entry from 2012.

Credit Points: 12.50
Level: 3 (Undergraduate)
Dates & Locations:

This subject has the following teaching availabilities in 2012:

Semester 1, Parkville - Taught on campus.
Pre-teaching Period Start not applicable
Teaching Period not applicable
Assessment Period End not applicable
Last date to Self-Enrol not applicable
Census Date not applicable
Last date to Withdraw without fail not applicable


Timetable can be viewed here. For information about these dates, click here.
Time Commitment: Contact Hours: 2 x one hour lectures per week; 24 hours of tutorial/practical classes during the semester
Total Time Commitment: Estimated total time commitment of 120 hours
Prerequisites:

One of

Subject
Study Period Commencement:
Credit Points:
Semester 2
12.50
  • 654-204 Ecology: Individuals and Populations (prior to 2009)
  • 606-204 Ecology: Communities and Ecosystems (prior to 2009)
Corequisites: None
Recommended Background Knowledge: None
Non Allowed Subjects: Students who have received credit for 654-313 Ecology in Changing Environments (prior to 2010) may not enrol in this subject for credit.
Core Participation Requirements: For the purposes of considering applications for Reasonable Adjustments under the Disability Standards for Education (Cwth 2005) and Students Experiencing Academic Disadvantage Policy, this subject requires all students to actively and safely participate in practical class activities. Students who feel their disability may impact upon their participation are encouraged to discuss this with the Subject Coordinator and the Disability Liaison Unit. http://www.services.unimelb.edu.au/disability/

Coordinator

Assoc Prof Stephen Swearer, Dr Michael Kearney

Contact

Email: ECOL30006@zoology.unimelb.edu.au
Subject Overview:

This subject provides students with an essential grounding for careers in ecology, environmental management and conservation. Its underlying theme is the relevance of ecological and evolutionary theory for understanding the distributions of species, their interactions, their life history characteristics and how these traits are impacted by changing environmental conditions. Topics include spatial ecology and metapopulations, climatic impacts on distribution and abundance, life history evolution and ecosystem stability and resilience.

Objectives:

An important focus of this subject is learning to read, understand, and critically evaluate relevant contemporary literature in ecology. Students should become practised at accessing scientific literature, through both electronic and traditional sources, and should gain experience with computer-based ecological modelling and simulations.

Assessment:

Written essay and short-answer assignment work totalling up to 3000 words due during the semester (40%); a 1-hour written examination held mid-semester (20%); a 2-hour written examination in the examination period (40%).

Prescribed Texts: None
Recommended Texts: None
Breadth Options:

This subject potentially can be taken as a breadth subject component for the following courses:

You should visit learn more about breadth subjects and read the breadth requirements for your degree, and should discuss your choice with your student adviser, before deciding on your subjects.

Fees Information: Subject EFTSL, Level, Discipline & Census Date
Generic Skills:

The subject builds upon existing generic skills, including an ability to assimilate and critically evaluate new knowledge within a scientific paradigm, and to communicate that knowledge to a broad audience.

Notes: This subject is available for science credit to students enrolled in the BSc (both pre-2008 and new degrees), BASc or a combined BSc course.
Related Majors/Minors/Specialisations: Conservation and Australian Wildlife (pre-2008 Bachelor of Science)
Ecology (pre-2008 Bachelor of Science)
Ecology and Evolutionary Biology
Genetics
Geography Major
Marine Biology
Physical (Environmental Engineering) Systems major
Science credit subjects* for pre-2008 BSc, BASc and combined degree science courses
Science-credited subjects - new generation B-SCI and B-ENG. Core selective subjects for B-BMED.
Zoology

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