Forest Ecosystems

Subject FRST90015 (2011)

Note: This is an archived Handbook entry from 2011.

Credit Points:

12.50

Level:

9 (Graduate/Postgraduate)

Dates & Locations:

This subject has the following teaching availabilities in 2011:

February, Creswick - 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

Intensive teaching, Creswick

Timetable can be viewed here. For information about these dates, click here.

Time Commitment:

Contact Hours: 50 hours of lectures, practical work and tutorials over a two-week intensive teaching block
Total Time Commitment: 120 hours

Prerequisites:

None

Corequisites:

None

Recommended Background Knowledge:

None

Non Allowed Subjects:

None

Core Participation Requirements:

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/

Coordinator

Dr Christopher Weston

Contact

Melbourne School of Land & Environment Student Centre
Ground Floor, Land & Food Resources (building 142)

Enquiries
Phone: 13 MELB (13 6352)
Email: 13MELB@unimelb.edu.au

Subject Overview:	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 focus on regeneration and recovery following fire. 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 and a functional appreciation of forest soils.
Objectives:	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.
Assessment:	Participation in class discussions and group work - 20%, Literature review assignment (2000 words) - 30%, Major assignment (3500 words) - 50%.
Prescribed Texts:	None
Breadth Options:	This subject is not available as a breadth subject.
Fees Information:	Subject EFTSL, Level, Discipline & Census Date
Links to further information:	http://www.forests.unimelb.edu.au/subjects.html
Related Course(s):	Bachelor of Forest Science (Honours) Bachelor of Science (Degree with Honours) Master of Forest Ecosystem Science Postgraduate Certificate in Bushfire Management Postgraduate Diploma in Bushfire Management
Related Majors/Minors/Specialisations:	Sustainable Forests

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