Forest Ecosystems

This subject has the following teaching availabilities in 2008:

For the purposes of considering request for Reasonable Adjustments under the Disability Standards for Education (Cwth 2005), and Student Support and Engagement Policy, academic requirements for this subject are articulated in the Subject Overview, Learning Outcomes, Assessment and Generic Skills sections of this entry.

It is University policy to take all reasonable steps to minimise the impact of disability upon academic study, and reasonable adjustments will be made to enhance a student's participation in the University's programs. Students who feel their disability may impact on meeting the requirements of this subject are encouraged to discuss this matter with a Faculty Student Adviser and Student Equity and Disability Support: http://services.unimelb.edu.au/disability

An introduction to the forests and woodlands of southeastern Australia. The subject aims to provide a sound theoretical and practical understanding of the major ecological processes in forest ecosystems, including a functional appreciation of forest soils. A 3-day field trip and associated practical work will ensure that students obtain direct experience in state-of-the-art methods used to analyze ecosystem processes such as nutrient and carbon cycling.

By the end of the subject students should:

• understand the ecosystem paradigm including energy flow, organic and inorganic transformation processes in forests
• have a broad understanding of relationships among vegetation types, climate and soils within forest ecosystems of south-eastern Australia
• understand the relevance of forests and forest soils in the global carbon cycle and the amelioration of global climate change
• have gained practical experience in the quantitative analysis of forest biomass, decomposition and respiration processes involved in nutrient and carbon cycling within forests, and between forest ecosystems and the atmosphere
• be capable of critically evaluating management impacts on forest ecosystem processes maintaining water, air and soil quality

Two assignments (each 2,500 words) total 100%.

This subject is not available as a breadth subject.