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School of Life Sciences
Department of Environmental Management & Ecology
Field excursions
The Department of Environmental Management and Ecology at our regional campus at Albury-Wodonga offers field excursions in first year, second year and third year units. These include practicals on the Murray River floodplain in Environmental Pollution Control (WEM2EPA), Origins and Evolution of the Australian Biota (WEM2OEB) and Sustainable Resource Management (WEM3RMA); excursions to the Australian Alps at Mt Hotham and Falls Creek in Theoretical and Applied Ecology (WEM2TAE); Phillip Island and Western Plains Zoo in Conservation Ecology and Environmental Law (WEM3RMB); a fieldtrip to the Strathbodgie Ranges for Ecological Genetics and evolutionary ecology; excursions to local areas in Albury in Processes that shape the earth (GEO1PRO) and to the Mitta Valley in Earth environments and resources (GEO1ERS). These excursions enable students to undertake research in areas which are environmentally sensitive and have relevant management issues.
Phillip Island
| Unit |
Conservation Ecology and Environmental Law (WEM3RMB) |
| Where |
Phillip Island, south of Melbourne Victoria |
| Ecosystems |
Intertidal marine and modified ecosystems for tourism |
| When |
During the Easter semester break (March – April) |
| Duration |
5 days |
| Accommodation |
Camping Ground Cabins |
| Indicative Costs |
$200 includes transport accommodation and meals |
| Purpose |
Introduction to marine ecology and intertidal ecology,
ecological design and methods, evaluation of human impact on
native fauna. |
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Western Plains Zoo
| Unit |
Conservation Ecology and Environmental Law (WEM3RMB) |
| Where |
Western Plains Zoo, at Dubbo, New South Wales approx 500km north east of Albury-Wodonga |
| Ecosystems |
Open arid zone landscape managed for conservtion of threatened and endangered mammals |
| When |
Mid semester 2 (September) |
| Duration |
3 days |
| Accommodation |
Tents in zoo grounds |
| Indicative Costs |
$200 includes transport accommodation and meals |
| Purpose |
The Western Plains Zoo is a free range facility which provides the students an insight into the role of zoos in conservation and the management of the waste from such a facility. Sites of significant land management issues (eg. dry land salinity, alternate farming methods) are visited on route to Dubbo. |
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Murray River
| Unit |
Origin and Evolution of Australian Biota (WEM2OEB), Environmental Pollution Control (WEM2EPA) and Sustainable Resource Management (WEM3RMA) |
| Where |
Dartmouth dam and the floodplain of the Murray River in the vicinity of the regional centre of Albury-Wodonga |
| Ecosystems |
Modified upland river, lowland arid zone river and its floodplain wetlands |
| When |
Varies |
| Duration |
1 day |
| Accommodation |
Not required |
| Indicative Costs |
No charge |
| Purpose |
The Albury-Wodonga campus is situated on the Murray River and it provides a natural resource to study river ecology and assess the impacts of regulation on the biological and geochemical processes. |
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Mount Hotham
| Unit |
Theoretical and Applied Ecology (WEM2TAE) |
| Where |
Mt. Hotham, 220 km north-east of Melbourne |
| Ecosystems |
Alpine herbfields & sub-alpine snow-gum woodlands |
| When |
Two weeks prior to 1st semester (mid February) |
| Duration |
5 days |
| Accommodation |
Alpine Ski Resort |
| Indicative Costs |
$50 including transport, students provide their own meals |
| Purpose |
An introduction to the alpine environment and field methods in ecology, including small group projects. |
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Albury
| Unit |
Processes that shape the earth (GEO1PRO) |
| Where |
Albury, 260 km north-east of Melbourne |
| When |
Varies |
| Duration |
1 day |
| Accommodation |
Not required |
| Indicative Costs |
No charge |
| Purpose |
To examine several locations around the area of Albury where a range of rock types are to be found. Ordovician ocean sediments with imprints of how they formed are seen but elsewhere these same sediments have been transformed by metamorphism and intruded by magmas that crystallised to form granite. After lunch at Ettomogah, an old volcano is visited north of Albury and finally the Devonian sediments that form the majestic Tabletop hills are examined. The object of the excursion is to develop skills in identifying minerals and rock types. The story of the events that gave rise to the earth beneath the landscape is portrayed.
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Mitta Valley
| Unit |
Earth enrvironments and resources (GEO1ERS) |
| Where |
Mitta Valley from Lockharts Gap via Yabba to Tallangatta, 280 km north-east of Melbourne |
| When |
Varies |
| Duration |
1 day |
| Accommodation |
Not required |
| Indicative Costs |
No charge |
| Purpose |
Many features related to folding and faulting covered in the structural geology part of the ERS course, are seen first hand in the intensely deformed Ordovician metamorphic and sedimentary rocks along the road. There are also opportunities to examine the geomorphology of the countryside as well as various igneous, sedimentary and metamorphic rock types. After a picnic lunch at a shady river location, the tour concludes with a drive along a country road taking in spectacular views of the Victorian High Country, the Hume Weir and a stop at the old gold and copper ming town of Bethanga.
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Strathbogie Ranges
| Unit |
Ecological genetics and evolutionary ecology (WEM2EGE) |
| Where |
Dropmore, Strathbogie ranges, Victoria |
| When |
August |
| Duration |
2 days |
| Accommodation |
Shearers' quarters, private property |
| Indicative Costs |
$40 includes food and transport |
| Purpose |
Survey of biodiversity as part of taxonomic projects for assessment
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