BIO326 Vegetation and Disturbance Management (16)

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.

No offerings have been identified for this subject in 2022.

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 Agricultural, Environmental and Veterinary Sciences

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

Assumed Knowledge

BIO112, BIO262

Incompatible Subjects

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

This 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

Indicative Assessment

The following table summarises the assessment tasks for the online offering of BIO326 in Session 1 2021. Please note this is a guide only. Assessment tasks are regularly updated and can also differ to suit the mode of study (online or on campus).

Item Number
Title
Value %
1
Online test (5 topics)
25
2
Report: changes in woody plant cover
20
3
Residential school field trip assignment
30
4
Management of environmental weeds
25

Residential School

This subject contains a 4 day Compulsory 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 experience 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

The information contained in the CSU Handbook was accurate at the date of publication: May 2022. The University reserves the right to vary the information at any time without notice.

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