Plants and the Urban Environment

This subject has the following teaching availabilities in 2016:

120 hours

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/. Email: disability-liaison@unimelb.edu.au

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 ecology and characteristics of remnant, spontaneous and designed vegetation in cities, identification of species typical of these communities, designed systems that use plants to provide ecosystem services, the effects of urbanisation on climate, air, water and soils and the response of plants and animals to these changes.

Students will be able to critically evaluate urban vegetation and understand why different urban plant communities grow where they do, the characteristics of species that comprise them, the ecological processes maintaining or threatening their persistence and the ecosystem services they provide.

A 120 minute final examination (50%:end of semester), an individual report equivalent to 2000 words (20%:due during semester) and a group assignment of 3000 words (30%: due end of semester).

A reading pack will be prepared for use in the subject.

This subject is not available as a breadth subject.

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.