BIO328 Restoration Ecology (8)

CSU Discipline Area: Biological Sciences (BILSC)

Duration: One session

Abstract:

Restoration ecology is a new and vital area of ecology, which aims to underpin and improve current approaches to restore modified or degraded landscape elements. In this subject, we will first review the current status of biodiversity, land and water resources in Australia; explain key terminology, and then describe some of the key management principles, ecological models and theoretical frameworks that underpin restoration ecology. The problems and pitfalls of the discipline are discussed, as well as the challenges in linking theory to practice. Restoration principles specific to agricultural, riverine, urban and mining contexts are also examined. The subject contains a total estimated workload of 155 hours.

+ Subject Availability Modes and Locations

Session 2
Internal	Albury-Wodonga
Distance	Albury-Wodonga
Session 3
Distance	Albury-Wodonga

Continuing students should consult the SAL for current offering details: BIO328

Where differences exist between the Handbook and the SAL, the SAL should be taken as containing the correct subject offering details.

Assumed Knowledge:

BIO112

Enrolment restrictions:

Not available to students who have completed BIO317 .

Not available to students who have completed BIO521 .

Objectives:

Upon successful completion of this subject, students should:

be able to:

Review the current status of biodiversity, land and water resources in Australia, and identify the need to restore or rehabilitate degraded habitats or landscape elements;
Explain key terminology in restoration ecology;
Describe the main features of key management principles, ecological models and theoretical frameworks that underpin restoration ecology;
Discuss some of the challenges in clarifying and linking restoration ecology theory to ecological practice;
Assess and critique the merits of a chosen restoration project, based on current restoration ecology theory;
Appraise the problems and pitfalls of restoration ecology; and
Apply restoration ecology theory to agricultural, riparian, urban and mining contexts, and identify and compare restoration principles specific to these fields.

Syllabus:

The subject will cover the following topics:

The state of the Australian environment
Introduction to restoration ecology
Problems and pitfalls in restoration ecology
Theoretical contexts: population and community ecology
Theoretical contexts: landscape ecology and scale
Project management and goal setting
Project Evaluation
Restoration in agricultural landscapes
Restoration of riverine ecosystems
Restoration of urban ecosystems
Rehabilitation of mine sites
The future for restoration ecology

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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.