Unit convenor and teaching staff |
Unit convenor and teaching staff
Unit Convenor
Jessica Boomer
Contact via jessica.boomer@mq.edu.au
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Credit points |
Credit points
4
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Prerequisites |
Prerequisites
GSE803
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Corequisites |
Corequisites
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Co-badged status |
Co-badged status
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Unit description |
Unit description
Principles, applications and implications of ecological knowledge are explored in this unit which covers the science of ecology and current concepts about how natural systems are organised. Global and Australian examples are used. The central theme is how processes operating in nature produce patterns in ecosystems, and how these processes both facilitate and constrain the interactions between humankind and the planet. Note: permission to complete the unit without completion of GSE803 as a prerequisite will only be granted if the student has completed a science-based degree.
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Information about important academic dates including deadlines for withdrawing from units are available at https://www.mq.edu.au/study/calendar-of-dates
On successful completion of this unit, you will be able to:
Name | Weighting | Due |
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Journal club | 35% | TBA |
Short paper | 25% | 11 April |
Essay | 40% | 13 June |
Due: TBA
Weighting: 35%
Ecology relies heavily on getting information out to other interested parties and the public, be this your family and friends, school children, at a conference, to the media, to your industry stakeholder, to your granting body, government ministers and advisors or the general public. Part of this course, therefore, involves a 15-20 minute talk on the contents of your journal club paper to your peers and staff during the evening classes. Assessment is based on your individual presentation and your participation in the class discussions on all journal club presentations.
Your paper presentation can be loaded onto a class computer where you will need to present it. Talks will be timed. The class will be allowed to ask questions and provide feedback. However, the unit convenor and staff (not the class) will decide on the formal marks for each talk. Good presentations will have a comprehensive understanding of the topic and will speak and participate equally during the presentation.
Due: 11 April
Weighting: 25%
This 2000 word paper will be assessed based on your demonstrated understanding of the problem, your use of available literature, and your written communication skills. You have a choice of two topics for this paper.
EITHER
Conservation biologists generally agree that landscape connectivity enhances population viability and that until fairly recently most species lived in well-connected landscapes. Because human activities such as urbanisation often sever natural connections, habitat corridors have been suggested as a means of retaining some connectivity between pockets of appropriate habitat. Corridors are frequently cited as of value both for reserve design and allocation and in particular in the urban bush context. However, there is a considerable argument as to whether corridors do indeed enhance population viability. Review the evidence for and against corridors and then discuss how you would empirically test this proposition for three endangered species of Australian flora and/or fauna.
OR
Australia has numerous plants and animals which are considered pests. Most of them were introduced after European settlement, either deliberately or by accident, including some brought in to assist with the control of other nuisance species. Choose one plant and one animal pest and discuss the following:
How and why the species were introduced
What factors contributed to their successful establishment
What were the environmental and economic impacts of the introduction
Discuss pros and cons of the methods used to control these species
Due: 13 June
Weighting: 40%
Choose an environmental topic from the list below (or suggest a suitable alternative but discuss with the unit convenor before proceeding with it) and write an examination of how the theoretical side of ecology relates to the practice of tackling that problem or issue. Your essay should not exceed 2500 words in length. This will allow you to examine at least one ecological topic in depth. Remember to explicitly link principles to applications. Also, be sure to set out the problem and your approach in the introduction of your essay. Your essay will be assessed based on your demonstrated understanding of the problem or issue, your ability to logically link principles to applications, your use of available literature, and your written communication skills.
Suggested topics:
Effects of a particular type of pollution on natural assemblages.
Conservation biology, especially with regard to the role of interactions between species.
Stock-recruitment relationships and harvesting in fisheries.
Introduction of exotic species across natural barriers of oceans and landmasses.
Habitat fragmentation and landscape ecology.
Ecosystem rehabilitation and reconstruction.
Ecological effects of the release of genetically engineered organisms.
Biological control of pests.
Strategies of biological monitoring.
Technology |
Students will need access to a computer and basic office software (eg. Microsoft Office or OpenOffice) to complete assessment tasks. An Internet browser will also be used to search for background information, for assignments and the weekly discussion group |
Lecture location and time |
EMC Monday 6:30-9:30 pm |
Information |
ilearn |
Changes since the last offering of this unit |
None |
Other material |
There is no set text for this unit. The following lists some useful references.
Attiwill, P. & B. Wilson, Ecology: an Australian perspective. Oxford University Press, New York. 648 pp. Begon, M., J.L. Harper & C.R. Townsend 1996. Ecology: individuals, populations and communities. 3rd ed., Blackwell, Oxford. 945 pp. Begon, M., M. Mortimer & D.J. Thompson. 1996. Population ecology: a unified study of animals and plants. 3rd ed., Blackwell, Oxford. Burgman, M. and Lindenmayer, D. (1998): Conservation Biology for the Australian Environment. Surrey Beatty & Sons, Sydney Ehrlich, P.R. & J. Roughgarden 1987. The science of ecology. MacMillan, New York. 710 pp. Krebs, C.J. 1994. Ecology: the experimental analysis of distribution and abundance. 4th ed., Harper, New York. 800 pp. Magurran, A. E. 2004. Measuring Biological Diversity. 1st ed. Blackwell Science, Massachusetts Townsend, C. R., J. Harper, & M. Begon (2000) Essentials of Ecology, 1st ed. Blackwell Science, Massachusetts Pechenik, J.A. 2009 A short guide to writing about biology. Longman: New York. 288p.
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Wk |
Date |
Lectures 2014 |
Journal Club |
1 |
March 3 |
What is ecology? |
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2 |
March 10 |
Distributions |
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3 |
March 17 |
Populations |
Journal club / class discussion |
4 |
March 24 |
Communities |
Journal club / class discussion |
5 |
March 31 |
Species Interactions |
Journal club / class discussion |
6 |
April 7 |
Nutrient cycling & energy flows |
Journal club / class discussion
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Mid-semester Break |
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7 |
April 28 |
Biological Invasions |
Journal club / class discussion |
8 |
May 5 |
Wildlife control & harvest |
Journal club / class discussion |
9 |
May 12 |
Nature conservation |
Journal club / class discussion |
10 |
May 19 |
Restoration ecology |
Journal club / class discussion |
11 |
May 26 |
Molecular Ecology |
Journal club / class discussion
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12 |
June 2 |
Ecosystem Monitoring |
Journal club / class discussion |
13 |
June 9 |
Public Holiday No lecture |
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