1. Handbook
  2. Subjects
  3. Forest Ecosystems

Forest Ecosystems (FRST90015)

Graduate courseworkPoints: 12.5On Campus (Parkville)

You’re viewing the 2018 Handbook:
Or view archived Handbooks
You’re currently viewing the 2018 version of this subject

Overview

Availability
February
FeesLook up fees

The subject provides an introduction to the forests and woodland ecosystems of south-eastern Australia based on a mix of face to face and online lectures and field trips. The subject aims to provide a sound theoretical and practical understanding of the major ecosystem processes from regeneration following fire to maturity. The subject involves field visits and data collection from forests across a broad rainfall gradient from woodlands to cool temperate rainforest. These field visits, associated practical work and lectures will help to develop knowledge of forest productivity, forest soils and carbon and nutrient cycling.

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: 12 October 2023