Hobart
This unit has been discontinued.
Introduction
This unit is all about the study of how ecosystems function, which gives it great relevance from scientific and management perspectives. We will examine the processes that operate in terrestrial and aquatic communities and ecosystems from both a theoretical and practical point of view. The lecture series gives a thorough theoretical background into the development of ideas concerning community and ecosystem-level processes, including the importance of such factors as biodiversity and climate change in maintaining healthy, functioning ecosystems. The practical component, which is largely based in the field, teaches methods of sampling ecosystems, collecting data and doing experiments, as well as the analysis and interpretation of results.
Summary 2020
| Unit name | Advanced Ecology of Ecosystems |
|---|---|
| Unit code | KPZ719 |
| Credit points | 12.5 |
| Faculty/School | College of Sciences and Engineering School of Natural Sciences |
| Discipline | Plant Science|Zoology |
| Coordinator | Mark Hovenden |
| Teaching staff | Leon Barmuta |
| Level | Postgraduate |
| Available as student elective? | Yes |
| Breadth Unit? | No |
Availability
Note
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Units are offered in attending mode unless otherwise indicated (that is attendance is required at the campus identified). A unit identified as offered by distance, that is there is no requirement for attendance, is identified with a nominal enrolment campus. A unit offered to both attending students and by distance from the same campus is identified as having both modes of study.
Special approval is required for enrolment into TNE Program units.
TNE Program units special approval requirements.
* 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 (see withdrawal dates explained for more information).
Learning Outcomes
On completion of this unit, you will be able to:
1. design and apply advanced methods for studying ecosystem patterns and processes
2. demonstrate an advanced and integrated understanding of the various theories concerning community assembly and how it affects ecosystem function
3. design and analyse sophisticated ecological experiments and explain in detail their role in modern community and ecosystem ecology
4. describe complex interactions among nutrient fluxes and between nutrient and energy fluxes through ecosystems and predict the impacts of environmental perturbations on these flows
5. present sophisticated syntheses of ecological theories, data and results in the form of professional quality written scientific manuscripts
Fees
Requisites
Prerequisites
KPZ211
Mutual Exclusions
You cannot enrol in this unit as well as the following:
KPZ307 or KPA379 or KZA355 or KPA779 or KZA755
Teaching
| Teaching Pattern | 1 X 2-hour lecture weekly and 1 x 4-hour practical weekly |
|---|---|
| Assessment | Assessment Task 1: Competition analysis 10%; Assessment Task 2: Community analysis report 30%; Assessment Task 3: Decomposition PowerPoint 10%; Assessment Task 3:Final examination 50% |
| Timetable | View the lecture timetable | View the full unit timetable |
Textbooks
| Required | None |
|---|
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