BIO312 Landscape Ecology (8)
CSU Discipline Area: Biological Sciences (BILSC)
Duration: One session
Abstract:
In recent years there has been increasing awareness that the long-term conservation of the earth’s natural resources requires a research framework and management strategy that can be applied across large areas and long timeframes. Landscape ecology gives the theoretical framework under which these large scale processes and interactions can be studied. Students build on existing university knowledge of ecology and conservation to understand spatial processes within ecosystems: relationships among pattern, process and scale; and the modelling of spatial and temporal dynamics in biological systems. As such, students will combine knowledge of GIS, spatial analysis, remote sensing and ecology to analyse the biophysical properties of real landscapes for biodiversity conservation and landscape management. The subject contains a total estimated workload of 155 hours.
+ Subject Availability Modes and Locations
| Session 1 | |
|---|---|
| Distance | Albury-Wodonga |
Continuing students should consult the SAL for current offering details: BIO312
Where differences exist between the Handbook and the SAL, the SAL should be taken as containing the correct subject offering details.
Objectives:
Upon successful completion of this subject, students should:
be able to:
- demonstrate knowledge of the themes and issues associated with landscape ecology;
- apply landscape metrics and spatial statistics to landscape processes and interpret the results;
- demonstrate the ability to design research projects to test specific issues relating to the application of landscape ecology to natural resource management; and
- comprehend and critically appraise key literature in the field of landscape ecology.
Syllabus:
The subject will cover the following topics:
- Introduction to landscape ecology
- Quantifying landscape patterns
- Ecosystem processes in the landscape
- Patch characteristics and quality
- Patch context and metapopulations
- Connectivity and boundaries
- Thresholds
- Broad scale processes and natural resource management
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.