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Forest Ecosystems (FRST90015)
Graduate courseworkPoints: 12.5On Campus (Parkville)
About this subject
- Overview
- Eligibility and requirements
- Assessment
- Dates and times
- Further information
- Timetable(opens in new window)
Contact information
Overview
Availability | February |
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Fees | Look 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
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: 12 October 2023
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: 12 October 2023
Dates & times
- February
Principal coordinator Christopher Weston Coordinator Luba Volkova Mode of delivery On Campus (Parkville) Contact hours 24 hours of lectures and discussions, 36 hours field work and practical exercises, delivered in a 6 day intensive teaching block. Total time commitment 170 hours Pre teaching start date 22 January 2018 Pre teaching requirements 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 (http://www.agriculture.gov.au/abares/forestsaustralia/sofr/sofr-2013) This subject involves field work away from the Parkville Campus for up to 3 days. Teaching period 5 February 2018 to 10 February 2018 Last self-enrol date 24 January 2018 Census date 9 February 2018 Last date to withdraw without fail 9 March 2018 Assessment period ends 31 March 2018
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 complete the online lectures and 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 (http://www.agriculture.gov.au/abares/forestsaustralia/sofr/sofr-2013)
The subject involves field work away from the Parkville Campus for up to 3 days. Students may be asked to contribute to travel and accommodation expenses while in the field.
Last updated: 12 October 2023
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
- Incidental costs
Students may be asked to contribute to travel and accommodation expenses while in the field
- Related Handbook entries
This subject contributes to the following:
- 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: 12 October 2023