Wildlife Management

This subject has the following teaching availabilities in 2016:

170 hours

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For the purposes of considering request for Reasonable Adjustments under the Disability Standards for Education (Cwth 2005), and Student Support and Engagement Policy, academic requirements for this subject are articulated in the Subject Overview, Learning Outcomes, Assessment and Generic Skills sections of this entry.

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. Students who feel their disability may impact on meeting the requirements of this subject are encouraged to discuss this matter with a Faculty Student Adviser and Student Equity and Disability Support: http://services.unimelb.edu.au/disability

Topics that will be covered in this subject include:

• Biological and legal definitions of wildlife and the goals of management
• Population dynamics and the measurement of abundance; the roles of competition, predation, harvesting and disease in the regulation of populations
• Physical and chemical techniques of capture and restraint
• Management of overabundant and pest species (native and exotic) including lethal (poisons, shooting, pathogens) and non-lethal (deterrents, fertility control, relocation) methods of control; methods of euthanasia and ethical considerations
• Management of threatened species, including roles of habitat loss, predation and disease in population declines, management of small populations in the wild and in captivity

The first and final two sessions will take place on the main campus at Parkville. The other sessions will be field trips held at different internal and external locations. There is prescribed reading for each field trip session, which will be provided to students through the LMS.

A number of key topics in wildlife management will be covered on each site visit. Students will be asked to complete an online quiz based on their pre-reading for the field trip before each trip, and a theme-specific task sheetmust be submitted online for each field trip session within 24 hours after the trip. Staff from a variety of agencies that manage wildlife in Victoria will present an outline of their management programs and will provide detailed information about specific management issues and activities. Different aspects of the same topic will be covered at different sites depending upon the species of animal or management system involved. Where feasible there will be practical activities designed to reinforce the theoretical aspects of the material being covered.

• An advanced understanding of environmental issues
• Advanced skills and techniques applicable to changing and managing the environment
• An ability to evaluate and synthesise research and professional literature in the chosen stream or focus of study
• An advanced understanding of the international context and sensitivities of environmental assessment

Attendance and participation in all field trips and seminars is a hurdle requirement for this subject.

• Quizzes for each of the five field trips due prior to each field trip worth 10% in total
• Task sheets for each field trip due within the 48 hours after each trip worth 10% in total
• A short presentation on the topic to be covered in the individual assignment to be held in last week of Semester 1 worth 20%
• A 4,000-word individual assignment in the form of a paper worth 60% The deadline for submission of final assignments will be announced at the start of the subject, but is typically the end of the first week of the Semester 1 exam period

Presentations will be held over two days at the end of semester. Attendance at all presentations both days is a hurdle requirement.

Prescribed readings will be advised at least one week before each trip via the LMS.

A list of recommended reading based on areas of interest is distributed to students at the start of the subject.

This subject is not available as a breadth subject.

At the completion of this subject students should be able to:

• Apply critical and analytical skills to the identification and resolution of problems
• Communicate effectively
• Have good time management skills
• Critically analyse and synthesise scientific publications
• Write a scientific literature review
• Demonstrate intellectual honesty and ethical values