BIO432 Behaviour, Ecology and Conservation of Birds. (8)

CSU Discipline Area: Biological Sciences (BILSC)

Duration: One session

Abstract:

How abundant are our bird populations? How are bird populations and communities distributed? These questions, and the influences on bird populations and abundance of factors including phylogenetic, environmental and human, are examined in this subject. The residential school covers examines the role of behavioural ecology in the conservation and management of avian diversity which is a key topic in this subject. Students build on their existing ornithological knowledge to look at the analysis of abundance and distribution of birds, including migration and nomadism, behavioural, population and community ecology and conservation biology of birds.

+ Subject Availability Modes and Locations

Session 2
Distance *	Albury-Wodonga

*This subject offering contains a residential school. Please view following information for further details.

Continuing students should consult the SAL for current offering details: BIO432

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:

describe the variety of population structures and dynamics known for birds, including migratory and nomadic species;
explain the principles and processes that maintain and change bird community structure;
discern the factors influencing bird distribution and abundance and the effects these factors have on avian biogeography through changes in essential behavioural patterns;
describe the threats to avian biodiversity and actions which mitigate threats and restore biodiversity; and
be able to choose the most effective mechanisms for bird conservation.

Syllabus:

The subject will cover the following topics:

the distribution and abundance of bird populations and communities;
bird movements: migration and nomadism;
phylogenetic, environmental and human influences on abundance, distribution and movements;
behavioural ecology: the study of behavioural patterns essential for survival and reproduction;
population and community ecology: the study of behavioural interactions between individuals of the same and different species and their environments; and
conservation biology: the study of behavioural responses to environments changed by human activities, including both threatening and restorative factors and processes, through impact assessment.

Residential School

This subject contains a compulsory 3 day residential school.

Field based ecological exercises focused on conservation biology: the study of behavioural responses to environments changed by human activities, including both threatening and restorative factors and processes, through impact assessment.

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