Students
BIOL8750 – Contemporary Conservation in Australia
2020 – Session 1, Infrequent attendance, North Ryde
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Due to the Coronavirus (COVID-19) pandemic, any references to assessment tasks and on-campus delivery may no longer be up-to-date on this page.
Students should consult iLearn for revised unit information.
Find out more about the Coronavirus (COVID-19) and potential impacts on staff and students
General Information
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| Unit convenor and teaching staff |
Unit convenor and teaching staff
Jaco Le Roux
Kate Barry
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|---|---|
| Credit points |
Credit points
10
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| Prerequisites |
Prerequisites
Admission to MBiotech or MBioBus or GradDipBiotech or MConsBiol or GradDipConsBiol or GradCertConsBiol or MEnv or MEnvPlan or GradDipEnv or MMarScMgt or MSusDev or GradDipSusDev or MPlan or MSc or MScInnovation or MScInnovationBioConsMgmt or BBioConsMConsBiol
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| Corequisites |
Corequisites
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| Co-badged status |
Co-badged status
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| Unit description |
Unit description
This unit provides a current perspective of the values, threats to existence and conservation of Australian wildlife. The special characteristics of the Australian biota (plants, animals and other organisms) and the key threatening processes are discussed as well as its global and historical context. The role of biological research in informing conservation management is explored, and how conservation-based research is communicated and interpreted. An emphasis is placed on case studies in conservation biology with critical analysis of conservation successes and failures.
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Important Academic Dates
Information about important academic dates including deadlines for withdrawing from units are available at https://www.mq.edu.au/study/calendar-of-dates
Learning Outcomes
On successful completion of this unit, you will be able to:
- ULO1: Describe theoretical concepts in conservation biology and current conservation issues in Australia and abroad
- ULO2: Communicate scientific research and issues in conservation to various target audiences in verbal and written form
- ULO3: Evaluate literature on conservation issues within peer-reviewed scientific literature and present them in the popular media
- ULO4: Identify how research in conservation biology influences environmental management practices and assess how effectively this is undertaken
- ULO5: Demonstrate a capacity for undertaking literature-based research into key topics in conservation biology and synthesising the current state-of-knowledge
Assessment Tasks
Coronavirus (COVID-19) Update
Assessment details are no longer provided here as a result of changes due to the Coronavirus (COVID-19) pandemic.
Students should consult iLearn for revised unit information.
Find out more about the Coronavirus (COVID-19) and potential impacts on staff and students
Delivery and Resources
Coronavirus (COVID-19) Update
Any references to on-campus delivery below may no longer be relevant due to COVID-19.
Please check here for updated delivery information: https://ask.mq.edu.au/account/pub/display/unit_status
Attendance at weekly lectures and tutorials is highly encouraged to enable face-to-face discussions with the invited speakers, interact with other students and enhance your learning experience. The lectures in this unit are entirely comprised of invited expert researchers who are active and renown in their fields, offering an excellent opportunity to connect with a diversity of researchers and expand knowledge.
Students will need access to a computer and basic office software (e.g. Microsoft Office or OpenOffice) to complete assessment tasks. An Internet browser will also be required to search for background information, for assignments and to complete online exercises and enable online course participation. Some tutorials may require a computer, which may be provided if needed. Course content and discussion boards etc. will be available through iLearn
The set, compulsory text required for this unit is: Austral Ark: The State of Wildlife in Australia and New Zealand (2015) Eds. A Stow, N Maclean, G. Holwell. Cambridge University Press. The text book is available for purchase on campus at the Co-op bookstore and an e-version is available via MQ’s library.
Other useful references:
Attiwill, P. & B. Wilson, Ecology: an Australian perspective. Oxford University Press, New York. 648 pp.
Burgman, M. and Lindenmayer, D. (1998): Conservation Biology for the Australian
Environment. Surrey Beatty & Sons, Sydney
Krebs, C.J. 1994. Ecology: the experimental analysis of distribution and abundance. 4th ed., Harper, New York. 800 pp
Unit Schedule
Coronavirus (COVID-19) Update
The unit schedule/topics and any references to on-campus delivery below may no longer be relevant due to COVID-19. Please consult iLearn for latest details, and check here for updated delivery information: https://ask.mq.edu.au/account/pub/display/unit_status
| Week | Date | Topic | Lecturer | Autral Ark Chapter | |
| 1 | 24/2/20 | Introduction to conservation in Australia and Unit summary | Jaco Le Roux/Dave Nipperess | david.nipperess@mq.edu.au | 1 to 3 |
| 2 | 2/3/20 | Groundwater life and its conservation | Grant Hose | grant.hose@mq.edu.au | 24 |
| 3 | 9/3/20 | Plant invasions and conservation | Rachael Gallagher | rachael.gallagher@mq.edu.au | 6 to 7 |
| 4 | 16/3/20 | Biological control | Jaco Le Roux | jaco.leroux@mq.edu.au | 6 to 7 |
| 5 | 23/3/20 | Animal invasions and Australian biodiversity | Rick Shine | rick.shine@mq.edu.au | TBA |
| 6 | 30/3/20 | Applying evolution and genetics to Australian conservation | Rachael Dudaniec | rachael.dudaniec@mq.edu.au | other |
| 7 | 6/4/20 | Urban ecology and biodiversity conservation | Alessandro Ossola | alessandro.ossola@mq.edu.au | 21 |
| BREAK | |||||
| 8 | 27/4/20 | Impacts of climate change on flora and fauna | Linda Beaumont | linda.beaumont@mq.edu.au | 4 |
| 9 | 4/5/20 | Environmental monitoring and biodiversity assessment | Anthony Chariton | anthony.chariton@mq.edu.au | various |
| 10 | 11/5/20 | Australian reptile conservation and management | Adam Stow | adam.stow@mq.edu.au | 17 |
| 11 | 18/5/20 | Marine protected areas in Australia | David Slip | dslip@zoo.nsw.gov.au | 21 |
| 12 | 25/5/20 | Unit summary and feedback | Jaco Le Roux | jaco.leroux@mq.edu.au | none |
| 13 | 1/6/20 | Bush Heritage Australia – a collaborative approach to Nature Conservation | Rebecca Spindler | rebecca.spindler@bushheritage.org.au | TBA |
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