BIO112 Principles of Ecology (8)
CSU Discipline Area: Biological Sciences (BILSC)
Duration: One session
Abstract:
The subject teaches the fundamental principles of ecology, focusing on Australian species and environments. The subject discusses the evolution and nature of Australian environments, concentrating especially on the historical relationship to other landmasses and to climate and the chemistry of soils and water. It explores the ways in which individual organisms have become adapted to live in hot, dry environments and how they cope with the challenges of chemistry such as high salinity levels that are characteristic of many Australian environments. The subject also examines topics such as the ecology of animal and plant populations and communities, competition, mutualism, life history strategies and biodiversity. There is no residential school associated with this subject when it is taken by distance education. Internal students are taken on some short field trips. The subjects contains a total estimated workload of 145 hours.
+ Subject Availability Modes and Locations
| Session 2 | |
|---|---|
| Internal | Albury-Wodonga |
| Distance | Albury-Wodonga |
Continuing students should consult the SAL for current offering details: BIO112
Where differences exist between the Handbook and the SAL, the SAL should be taken as containing the correct subject offering details.
Enrolment restrictions:
Students who have already completed BIO200 can not enrol in this subject
Objectives:
Upon successful completion of this subject, students should:
be able to:
- explain the terms and principles used in the study of ecology
- explain how evolutionary theory is applied to aspects of ecology
- explain the evolution and history of Australian plants and animals
- describe how Australian animals and plants are adapted to live in hot dry environments and how they respond to variations in the concentrations of solutes such as salt (sodium chloride) in their environment
- describe the basic principles of population ecology and how these are applied to the management of plants and animals
- demonstrate an understanding of the main ideas involved in competition and mutualism among plants and animals
- appreciate the differences in life history strategies among plants and animals and how these have evolved
- explain the meaning of biodiversity, how it is measured and how it varies in different habitats and different regions of the world
Syllabus:
The subject will cover the following topics:
- The evolution of Australian environments
- The nature of Australian environments, especially in terms of climates and salinity
- Evolutionary theory and its application to ecology
- Ecology of individual organisms, especially their adaptations to live in hot, dry environments and in areas of high salinity
- An introduction to plant and animal population ecology and its application to management
- Aspects of community ecology, including succession, competition and mutualism
- Life history strategies
- Biodiversity
The information contained in the 2013 CSU Handbook was accurate at the date of publication: 24 April 2013. The University reserves the right to vary the information at any time without notice.