Plants and the Urban Environment
Subject HORT90003 (2012)
Note: This is an archived Handbook entry from 2012.
| Credit Points: | 12.50 | ||||||||||||
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| Level: | 9 (Graduate/Postgraduate) | ||||||||||||
| Dates & Locations: | This subject has the following teaching availabilities in 2012: Semester 1, Burnley - Taught on campus.
Timetable can be viewed here. For information about these dates, click here. | ||||||||||||
| Time Commitment: | Contact Hours: 48 hours comprising lectures, practical classes and field trips 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 fo 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 Nicholas WilliamsContact
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 Coordinator: denisej@unimelb.edu.au
| Subject Overview: |
This subject explores the relationship between the urban environment and the plants that grow in urban landscapes. It examines how urbanisation alters the physical and climatic environment of cities and the influence of these changes on urban vegetation and the ecosystem services they provide. Topics include: the origin, ecology and characteristics of remnant, spontaneous and designed vegetation in cities, the effects of urbanisation on climate, air, water and soils and the response of plants and animals to them to these changes, and the use of plants in living roofs and walls and water-sensitive urban design. |
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| Objectives: |
Students will be able to critically evaluate urban vegetation and understand why different urban plant communities grow where they do, the types of species that comprise them, the ecological processes maintaining or threatening their persistence and the ecosystem services they provide. |
| Assessment: | A 120 minute final examination 50% (end of semester), a practical report equivalent to 2000 words 20% (due during semester) and an assignment of 3000 words 30% (due during semester). |
| Prescribed Texts: | A reading pack will be prepared for use in the subject. |
| Breadth Options: | This subject is not available as a breadth subject. |
| Fees Information: | Subject EFTSL, Level, Discipline & Census Date |
| Generic Skills: | At the conclusion of the subject students should be able to demonstrate their understanding of the urban environment, its effect on plant performance and how vegetation can be used to ameliorate some of the effects of urbanisation. |
| Related Course(s): |
Graduate Diploma in Urban Horticulture Master of Urban Horticulture |
| Related Majors/Minors/Specialisations: |
Climate Change Environmental Science Environmental Science Sustainable Cities, Sustainable Regions |
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