Courses & Units

Biodiversity Conservation KPZ308

Introduction

This unit is about the application of biological principles and ecological science to the problems of conserving the diversity of animals and plants in ecosystems undergoing rapid change. You will gain an understanding of: current threats to biodiversity; tools and strategies to prevent declines and extinctions of species in the wild and maintain functioning ecosystems; current trends and controversies in biodiversity conservation; impacts of global climate change; restoration of species and ecological processes to degraded landscapes. Practical work will give you experience and knowledge of vegetation restoration, use of models in management of threatened species, landscape change caused by fire, and management of invasive species in island ecosystems. Assignments will develop your abilities in critical writing, public speaking, use of computer simulations, and interpretation of field-collected data.

Summary

Unit name Biodiversity Conservation
Unit code KPZ308
Credit points 12.5
College/School College of Sciences and Engineering
School of Natural Sciences
Discipline Biological Sciences
Coordinator Professor Barry Brook
Available as an elective? Yes
Delivered By University of Tasmania
Level Advanced

Availability

Location Study period Attendance options Available to
Hobart Semester 2 On-Campus International Domestic

Key

On-campus
Off-Campus
International students
Domestic students
Note

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Key Dates

Study Period Start date Census date WW date End date
Semester 2 22/7/2024 16/8/2024 9/9/2024 27/10/2024

* The Final WW Date is the final date from which you can withdraw from the unit without academic penalty, however you will still incur a financial liability (refer to How do I withdraw from a unit? for more information).

Unit census dates currently displaying for 2024 are indicative and subject to change. Finalised census dates for 2024 will be available from the 1st October 2023. Note census date cutoff is 11.59pm AEST (AEDT during October to March).

About Census Dates

Learning Outcomes

  • demonstrate a broad understanding of the application of fundamental principles from population and community ecology, genetics and ecosystem science to the conservation of biodiversity.
  • critically evaluate uncertainty and controversy in the development of strategies for species conservation
  • communicate effectively in the form of written reports and spoken presentations
  • demonstrate knowledge, through understanding of theory and case studies, of the requirements for success in effective species conservation.

Fee Information

The 2024 Commonwealth Supported Place (CSP) rates are still being finalised by the Government and we will update the domestic fee information as soon as we have more details.

Requisites

Prerequisites

KPZ211 Population and Community Ecology

Teaching

Teaching Pattern

2 x 1-hour lectures, 1 x 3-hour practical per week. 

AssessmentFire Risk practical report (10%)|Population Viability Analysis (10%)|Conservation Success Case Study Essay (20%)|Ecological Restoration presentation (20%)|Final Examination (40%)
TimetableView the lecture timetable | View the full unit timetable

Textbooks

Required

Sodhi, N. S. & Ehrlich, P. R. (2010) Conservation Biology for All. Oxford University Press
[PDF available as free download at: http://conbio.org/publications/free-textbook/]
LinksBooktopia textbook finder

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