Bushfire & Biodiversity

Subject FRST90026 (2012)

Note: This is an archived Handbook entry from 2012.

Credit Points:

12.50

Level:

9 (Graduate/Postgraduate)

Dates & Locations:

This subject has the following teaching availabilities in 2012:

March, 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

This subject is taught intensively at the Creswick Campus and scheduled to commence 19th-30th March 2012

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

Time Commitment:

Contact Hours: 24 hours lectures and 36 hours practical work delivered in a two-week intensive teaching block
Total Time Commitment: Not available

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

Assoc Prof Alan York, Dr Fiona Christie, Dr Julian Di Stefano

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:	The course covers the basic effects of fire on aspects of biodiversity and ecological processes. Managers are committed to developing science-based ecological burning strategies which achieve both biodiversity and asset protection objectives. Increased knowledge of the ecological impacts of fire on plants, animals and micro-organisms facilitates a better understanding of how more effective management can be achieved.
Objectives:	By the end of the subject students should: Have an understanding of the nature of plant responses to fire; particularly with regard to seeders and resprouters, seed storage and dispersal and the consequences of repeated fire Have an understanding of the response of animals to fire as individuals, populations and assemblages (communities) Have an appreciation that these impacts operate at the ecosystem level, depending on attributes of the species concerned and landscape factors such as connectivity and habitat condition Have a knowledge of the interaction between fire, plants, organic matter inputs, animals and micro-organisms in the context of ecological processes Have a better understanding of landscape-scale management, where current scientific knowledge is incorporated into planning, monitoring and legislation cycle
Assessment:	Laboratory Exercise 1 - 10%, Laboratory Exercise 2 - 30%, Report - 60% (4,000 words)
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):	Master of Forest Ecosystem Science Postgraduate Certificate in Bushfire Management Postgraduate Diploma in Bushfire Management
Related Majors/Minors/Specialisations:	Environmental Science Environmental Science Sustainable Forests

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