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Forest Ecosystems (FRST90015)
Graduate courseworkPoints: 12.5On Campus (Creswick)
About this subject
- Overview
- Eligibility and requirements
- Assessment
- Dates and times
- Further information
- Timetable(opens in new window)
Contact information
January
Dr Chris Weston weston@unimelb.edu.au
Dr Luba Volkova lubav@unimelb.edu.au
Overview
Availability | January |
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Fees | Look up fees |
An introduction to the forests and woodlands of southeastern Australia based on lectures and field visits to forests across a broad rainfall gradient. The subject aims to provide a sound theoretical and practical understanding of the major ecosystem processes in forests, including a focus on regeneration and recovery following both low- and high-intensity fire. Field visits to mallee, box-ironbark, Eucalyptus open forests and cool temperate rainforest and associated practical work will ensure that students obtain direct experience of a range of forest ecosystems. These field visits and associated lectures develop knowledge of state-of-the-art methods to analyse ecosystem processes, such as nutrient and carbon cycling, and also a functional appreciation of forest soils.
Intended learning outcomes
By the end of the subject students should:
- Understand the ecosystem paradigm including energy flow, organic and inorganic transformation processes in forests
- Have a broad understanding of relationships among vegetation types, climate and soils within forest ecosystems of south-eastern Australia
- Understand the relevance of forests and forest soils in the global carbon cycle and the amelioration of global climate change
- Have gained practical experience in the quantitative analysis of forest biomass, decomposition and respiration processes involved in nutrient and carbon cycling within forests, and between forest ecosystems and the atmosphere
- Be capable of critically evaluating management impacts on forest ecosystem processes maintaining water, air and soil quality.
Last updated: 3 November 2022
Eligibility and requirements
Prerequisites
None
Corequisites
None
Non-allowed subjects
None
Inherent requirements (core participation requirements)
The University of Melbourne is committed to providing students with reasonable adjustments to assessment and participation under the Disability Standards for Education (2005), and the Assessment and Results Policy (MPF1326). Students are expected to meet the core participation requirements for their course. These can be viewed under Entry and Participation Requirements for the course outlines in the Handbook.
Further details on how to seek academic adjustments can be found on the Student Equity and Disability Support website: http://services.unimelb.edu.au/student-equity/home
Last updated: 3 November 2022
Assessment
Additional details
Progress exercises, 40% (1500 words), due 2 weeks after the intensive subject ends. Progress exercises are based on field trips and revision of lectures and fieldwork discussion.
Major assignment, 60% (3500 words), due 7 weeks after the intensive subject ends.
Last updated: 3 November 2022
Dates & times
- January
Principal coordinator Christopher Weston Mode of delivery On Campus (Creswick) Contact hours 24 hours of lectures and discussions, 36 hours field work and practical exercises, delivered in a two-week intensive teaching block Total time commitment 170 hours Pre teaching start date 16 January 2017 Teaching period 30 January 2017 to 10 February 2017 Last self-enrol date 18 January 2017 Census date 17 February 2017 Last date to withdraw without fail 10 March 2017 Assessment period ends 3 April 2017 January contact information
Dr Chris Weston weston@unimelb.edu.au
Dr Luba Volkova lubav@unimelb.edu.au
Time commitment details
170 hours
Additional delivery details
Please note that this subject has a pre-teaching period. During this time students will be required to read the following:
- Chapters from Attiwill P. M. & Wilson B. (editors), Ecology: An Australian Perspective. 2nd Edition. 2006:
- Chapter 11: Carbon Flow, Energy Transformations, and Productivity
- Chapter 33: Forests
- Australia’s State of the Forests Report 2013, Executive summary (www.daff.gov.au/ABARES/forestsaustralia/Documents/executive-summary_web2.pdf)
The subject involves field work away from the Creswick Campus.
Last updated: 3 November 2022
Further information
- Texts
Prescribed texts
Costermans, L. Native Trees and Shrubs of South-Eastern Australia
OR
Costermans, L. Trees of Victoria and Adjoining Areas
Recommended texts and other resources
Attiwill P. M. & Wilson B. (editors), Ecology: An Australian Perspective. 2nd Edition. 2006
- Related Handbook entries
This subject contributes to the following:
- Links to additional information
- Available through the Community Access Program
About the Community Access Program (CAP)
This subject is available through the Community Access Program (also called Single Subject Studies) which allows you to enrol in single subjects offered by the University of Melbourne, without the commitment required to complete a whole degree.
Entry requirements including prerequisites may apply. Please refer to the CAP applications page for further information.
Last updated: 3 November 2022