Plant Ecology

This subject is not offered in 2014.

120 hours

For the purposes of considering request for Reasonable Adjustments under the Disability Standards for Education (Cwth 2005), and Students Experiencing Academic Disadvantage Policy, academic requirements for this subject are articulated in the Subject Description, Subject Objectives, Generic Skills and Assessment Requirements of this entry. The University is dedicated to provide support to those with special requirements. Further details on the disability support scheme can be found at the Disability Liaison Unit website: http://www.services.unimelb.edu.au/disability/

This subject focuses on interactions between plants and the environment and how interactions between plants and other organisms shape the distribution, abundance and structure of global terrestrial plant communities. Particular attention is paid to the structure of Australian plant communities, including descriptions of different plant ecological strategies and life-form classifications. Students are introduced to key ecosystem processes which describe how plant communities develop over time and respond to succession and disturbance change; as well as fundamental concepts including the global cycling of critical carbon, nitrogen and water resources. These concepts are discussed in the context of both natural and managed systems, with particular reference to plant selection and management in urban environments

On completion of this subject students should be able to:

• understand how individual plants and plant communities are affected by the environment;
• understand complex interactions between plants and between plants and other organisms;
• describe the structure of Australian plant communities;
• describe major plant ecological strategies and life-form classifications;
• analyse and interpret basic plant distribution and abundance data collected from the field;
• understand key ecological processes such as disturbance and succession and be able to apply this knowledge to urban plant management; and
• identify suitable plant communities to source plants from for a range of applications in urban plant management.

1 hour examination (30%) mid semester, 1.5 hour examination (40%) end semester, Report of 1500 words (30%) end semester.

This subject is not available as a breadth subject.

On completion of this subject students should be able to:

• find, analyse and synthesise information from both academic and professional literature
• produce sound written reports based on scientific information
• demonstrate correct referencing and academic writing styles
• demonstrate problem-solving and critical thinking skills; and
• understand group dynamics and effective team work