ENM123 Past Environments: An Introduction to Historic Ecology (8)

Current global and local ecological processes do not operate in a vacuum, but have been shaped by changes to the environment that occurred over time. During the Holocene and Anthropocene some of these are due to natural climatic fluctuations but most are due to environmental modification caused by human communities. There is an abundance of evidence drawn from sub-fossil deposits, indigenous oral traditions and knowledge, archaeological sites and historic records to reconstruct past environmental conditions and events. The subject takes the student on a trajectory from the deep past to the present (and thus a future past) examining evidence of past environments to understand their relevance for modern ecology and to develop an understanding of the long history of humans as agents of environmental change.

Subject Outlines
Current CSU students can view Subject Outlines for recent sessions. Please note that Subject Outlines and assessment tasks are updated each session.

No offerings have been identified for this subject in 2018.

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

Subject Information

Grading System

HD/FL

Duration

One session

School

School of Environmental Sciences

Learning Outcomes

Upon successful completion of this subject, students should:
  • be able to examine the sub-fossil, indigenous oral, archaeological and historic record and describe how it forms a valuable cultural and scientific resource to understand present conditions
  • be able to compare and contrast the value and explain limitations of evidence from various data sources provided by the sub-fossil, indigenous oral, archaeological and historic record
  • be able to interpret the role of historic ecology and describe how it influences the understanding of modern ecological conditions
  • be able to discuss the long history of humans as agents of environmental change

Syllabus

This subject will cover the following topics:
  • The Silent Past: the subfossil record
  • Voices of the Past: Indigenous knowledge
  • Science out of Rubbish: The archaeological record
  • Paper Trails: Historic Sources
  • The present as a future past: effects of the Anthropocene

Contact

Current Students

For any enquiries about subject selection or course structure please contact Student Central or ask@csu.edu.au or phone on 1800 275 278.

Prospective Students

For further information about Charles Sturt University, or this course offering, please contact info.csu on 1800 275 278 (free call within Australia) or enquire online.

The information contained in the 2018 CSU Handbook was accurate at the date of publication: August 2018. The University reserves the right to vary the information at any time without notice.

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