Functional Tree Biology

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

This subject will provide a broad understanding of functional tree biology. Modern forest science, ecology and management relies on tools and models based on functional parameters of trees, e. g. in forest growth modelling, estimating water use by forests, assessing risks by environmental extremes, quantifying carbon sequestration by forests etc. Masters level forest scientists are expected to adequately and critically interpret such scenarios and outputs, a task that can only be achieved by the fundamental understanding of how the main forest resource - trees - work.

By the end of the subject students should:

• Understand the structure of trees in relation to associated functional aspects (growth, wood formation, water and nutrient uptake, environmental interactions)
• Have a good knowledge of the fundamental processes of tree life and primary production - photosynthesis, respiration, nutrition;
• Understand water relations and water use of trees;
• Have a broad knowledge of primary and secondary metabolism of trees;
• Understand principles of tree-environment interactions (ecophysiology);
• Understand strategies used by trees to withstand adverse environmental conditions (stress physiology);
• Have an overview of methods to measure the life functions of trees;
• Be able to critically evaluate the use of tree physiological characteristics in models and scenarios;

Recognise the importance of trees in ecosystems in general and value the inherent beauty of trees as an organism.

This subject is not available as a breadth subject.