ISSUES IN CONSERVATION

WCB2IC

2014

Credit points: 15

Subject outline

This unit covers rationales for biodiversity conservation: moral, aesthetic and utilitarian. Biodiversity and its assessment: measures of biodiversity, survey methods for bacteria, protists, plants and animals, surrogate groups, molecular assessment of biodiversity as genetic information content, rapid assessment methods, endemism, taxonomy and phylogeny. Biodiversity in Australia: continental biogeography, characteristics of Australian ecosystems. Maximising retained biodiversity through optimal reserve selection. Threatening processes. Ecosystem services: relationship to biodiversity. Management of endangered species: status evaluation, life histories, captive maintenance, inbreeding avoidance, reintroduction, population viability analysis, impact of introduced species. Restoration ecology. Use of computer programs for conservation biological analysis: reserve selection, evolutionary distinctiveness, and population viability analysis.

Faculty: Faculty of Science, Tech & Engineering

Credit points: 15

Subject Co-ordinator: Nick Murphy

Available to Study Abroad Students: Yes

Subject year level: Year Level 2 - UG

Exchange Students: Yes

Subject particulars

Subject rules

Prerequisites: BIO1AD, BIO1GEN, BIO1PS

Co-requisites: N/A

Incompatible subjects: CBE2IC

Equivalent subjects: N/A

Special conditions: N/A

Learning resources

Readings

Resource TypeTitleResource RequirementAuthor and YearPublisher
ReadingsPractical conservation biologyPrescribedD. Lindenmayer & M. Burgman (2005)CSIRO
ReadingsConservation biology in Australia: An introductionRecommendedT.R. New. (2006)OXFORD UNIVERSITY PRESS

Albury-Wodonga, 2014, Semester 1, Day

Overview

Online enrolment: Yes

Maximum enrolment size: 40

Enrolment information: Accommodation in Practical classes. Academic performance in pre-requisite subjects.

Subject Instance Co-ordinator: Alexei Rowles

Class requirements

Field TripWeek: 10 - 22
One 5.0 days field trip per study period on weekdays during the day from week 10 to week 22 and delivered via face-to-face.
"Field course (5 days) in week before Semester One"

LectureWeek: 10 - 22
Two 1.0 hours lecture per week on weekdays during the day from week 10 to week 22 and delivered via face-to-face.

PracticalWeek: 10 - 22
One 10.0 hours practical per study period on weekdays during the day from week 10 to week 22 and delivered via face-to-face.

Assessments

Assessment elementComments%
Field diary/notebook10
Literature review (1500 words)10
Project report - (3000 words)15
Project report - group oral presentation5
Theory exam (3 hours)60

Melbourne, 2014, Semester 1, Day

Overview

Online enrolment: No

Maximum enrolment size: 40

Enrolment information: Accommodation in Practical classes. Academic performance in pre-requisite subjects.

Subject Instance Co-ordinator: Nick Murphy

Class requirements

Field TripWeek: 10 - 22
One 5.0 days field trip per study period on weekdays during the day from week 10 to week 22 and delivered via face-to-face.
"Field course (5 days) in week before Semester One"

LectureWeek: 10 - 22
Two 1.0 hours lecture per week on weekdays during the day from week 10 to week 22 and delivered via face-to-face.

PracticalWeek: 10 - 22
One 10.0 hours practical per study period on weekdays during the day from week 10 to week 22 and delivered via face-to-face.

Assessments

Assessment elementComments%
Field diary/notebook10
Literature review (1500 words)10
Project report - (3000 words)15
Project report - group oral presentation5
Theory exam (3 hours)60