Fire in the Australian Landscape

This subject has the following teaching availabilities in 2015:

170 hours

25 points of 200 level subjects in any area

Proficient at using MS-Word and MS-Excel. Some understanding of temperate ecosystems.

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. This course requires all students to enrol in subjects where they must actively and safely contribute to field excursions and laboratory activities. Students who feel their disability will impact on meeting this requirement are encouraged to discuss this matter with the Subject Coordinator and Disability Liaison http://services.unimelb.edu.au/disability/ students email: disability-liaison@unimelb.edu.au

This subject introduces students to bushfires in Australia. The effects of fuel, weather and climate on the nature and periodicity of bushfires; the history of fire in Australia; the importance of fire to aboriginal culture and life; the effect bushfires have on fauna, flora, soils and hydrology; the importance of bushfire as an ecological process; the social and economic impact of bushfires; the role and impacts planned fire in the landscape; bushfire smoke and greenhouse gas production; design and planning of houses and towns in bushfire-prone environments.

• To understand how bushfires behave.
• To understand the factors affecting fire intensity, frequency, size, patchiness and seasonality.
• To understand the ecological role of bushfires.
• To understand how we can live in a bushfire environment.
• To learn what impact climate change might have on bushfires and the environment.

• Tutorial tasks including short quizzes throughout the semester (500 word equivalent) and one 5-minute oral presentation in a tutorial late in the semester (together, 20%)
• Major Assignment (1500 words) due in approximately week 10, 30%
• Final exam (2 hours) end of semester exam period, 50%

None

This subject potentially can be taken as a breadth subject component for the following courses:

• Bachelor of Arts
• Bachelor of Biomedicine
• Bachelor of Commerce
• Bachelor of Music
• Bachelor of Science
• Bachelor of Engineering

You should visit learn more about breadth subjects and read the breadth requirements for your degree, and should discuss your choice with your student adviser, before deciding on your subjects.

• High level ability to synthesize and critically evaluate information from a range of sources
• Moderate level ability to organise and evaluate quantitative data
• High level ability to apply theory to practical problems