ISSUES IN CONSERVATION
WCB2IC
2017
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, impact of introduced species. Restoration ecology. This subject includes a 5 day compulsory field camp at Wilsons Promontory National Park one or two weeks prior to the commencement of semester 1.
School: School of Life Sciences
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: (BIO1GEN or BIO1MGC) and any two of (BIO1AD, BIO1PS, BIO1EEB, BIO1APM)
Co-requisites: N/A
Incompatible subjects: CBE2IC
Equivalent subjects: N/A
Special conditions: N/A
Learning resources
Readings
| Resource Type | Title | Resource Requirement | Author and Year | Publisher |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Readings | Practical conservation biology | Recommended | D. Lindenmayer & M. Burgman (2005) | CSIRO |
| Readings | Conservation biology in Australia: An introduction | Recommended | T.R. New. (2006) | OXFORD UNIVERSITY PRESS |
Graduate capabilities & intended learning outcomes
01. Describe, record and reflect on observations during field work.
- Activities:
- Field diary/notebook.
03. Participate in the communication of the findings of a group investigation to peers and supervisor.
- Activities:
- Students participate in a workshop on preparing and giving oral presentations prior to completing the group oral presentation assessment task.
04. Apply scientific method to biological questions through practical investigation and written report.
- Activities:
- Practical investigation followed by written report and group presentation. Students participate in a workshop on writing scientific reports prior to completing the written report assessment task.
05. Define and explain biodiversity, threats to biodiversity, issues in the conservation and management of biodiversity.
- Activities:
- Final theory exam.
Melbourne, 2017, Semester 1, Day
Overview
Online enrolment: Yes
Maximum enrolment size: 40
Enrolment information: Quota due to limited resources. Merit based quota based on academic performance.
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.
TutorialWeek: 10 - 22
One 2.0 hours tutorial per week on weekdays during the day from week 10 to week 22 and delivered via face-to-face.
Assessments
| Assessment element | Comments | % | ILO* |
|---|---|---|---|
| Field diary/notebook | 15 | 01 | |
| Project report - (3000 words) | 25 | 04 | |
| Project report - group oral presentation | 10 | 03 | |
| Theory exam (2 hours) | 50 | 05 |