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BIO326 Vegetation and Disturbance Management (16)

Abstract

One of the key ways that land managers can conserve biodiversity is by managing vegetation and ecological disturbances. This is a 'double' subject (with twice the workload of a 'normal' subject) that builds on existing knowledge in ecological science and covers a range of real-world issues about vegetation and disturbance management. Topics include global warming, fire and grazing, landscape ecology, environmental weeds, enhancing degraded vegetation and monitoring plant populations. Residential school field trip and field work projects provide practical field skills and apply the course material to real-world situations.  Students completing this subject have a variety of specialised skills in designing and implementing monitoring and management strategies for plant populations and vegetation communities.

+ Subject Availability Modes and Location

Session 1
InternalAlbury-Wodonga Campus
Distance*Albury-Wodonga Campus
*This subject offering contains a residential school. Please view following information for further details.
Continuing students should consult the SAL for current offering details: BIO326
Where differences exist between the Handbook and the SAL, the SAL should be taken as containing the correct subject offering details.

Subject information

Duration Grading System School:
One sessionHD/FLSchool of Environmental Sciences

Assumed Knowledge

BIO112, BIO262

Enrolment restrictions

This subject replaces two subjects, BIO362 and BIO365 and students cannot enrol in this subject if they have completed either or both of BIO362 and BIO365
Incompatible subject(s)
BIO362 BIO365

Learning Outcomes

Upon successful completion of this subject, students should:
  • have an in-depth understanding of how disturbances affect natural processes, ecosystems and vegetation dynamics
  • have a critical understanding of how global warming will affect natural processes, ecosystems and species
  • have a critical understanding of how fire affect ecosystems and plant communities
  • have a critical understanding of how grazing by introduced animals affects ecosystems and plant communities
  • have a critical understanding of how introduced plants affect ecosystems and plant communities
  • be able to apply their knowledge and skills to assess the relative importance of ecological processes that act at landscape scales, rather than just local, site scales
  • be able to exercise critical thinking and sound judgement to develop appropriate vegetation management activities
  • have specialised skills in designing, analysing, and implementing monitoring strategies for plant populations and vegetation communities

Syllabus

The subject will cover the following topics:
  • 1. Global warming and natural ecosystems
  • 2. Introduction to disturbance ecology and management
  • 3. Fire behaviour, ecology and management
  • 4. Grazing ecology and management
  • 5. Landscapes, fragmentation and corridors
  • 6. The ecology and management of environmental weeds
  • 7. Field methods for monitoring vegetation changes

Residential School

This subject contains a compulsory 4 day residential school. At the residential school students gain field experience in vegetation sampling, monitoring and assessment techniques in carefully selected and contrasting natural ecosystems. Such skills are critical in developing field skills and enhancing students’ abilities to develop techniques appropriate to particular site conditions. Data that students collect at the residential school are collated, pooled and analysed in a major assessment item to provide experience in collating and analysing large ecological datasets. The residential school also provides experience in working as a team and collaborating in professional activities which is often critical for field surveys in environmental science. Such field expereince is essential if students are to complete this subject with a variety of specialised skills in designing and implementing monitoring and management strategies for plant populations and vegetation communities

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The information contained in the 2016 CSU Handbook was accurate at the date of publication: 06 September 2016. The University reserves the right to vary the information at any time without notice.