Forests and Water (FRST90022)
Graduate courseworkPoints: 12.5On Campus (Parkville)
Overview
| Availability | Semester 1 |
|---|---|
| Fees | Look up fees |
Forest hydrology deals with the interaction between forests and the water cycle. Forests strongly influence both the quantity and the quality of surface and groundwater resources. This subject will provide students with knowledge to understand the complex relationship between forests and water, and skills to apply this knowledge to a range of contemporary catchment management issues.
Content includes:
- Hydrological cycle - components and the inherent randomness and variability
- Forests - the complex role of forests in the catchment water balance
- Rainfall and runoff - Role of surface and groundwater flow. Characteristics of short-term and long-term variation
- Evapotranspiration processes – the fundamental biophysical processes of forest water use and loss, and how this varies as a function of forest type and climatic setting
- Water quality and its measurement – key issues in forested ecosystems
- Wildfire - How does fire impact on short and long term stream flow and water quality?
- Climate change - potential effects of changes in climate on vegetation function and catchment hydrology
- Modelling of water resources - A brief introduction to spreadsheet and other modelling of water resource issues
- Ecohydrology - the integrated study of water and vegetation in landscapes. What is the link between hydrology and forest ecology?
- Global forests - Hydrologic functioning of contrasting forest types under varying climatic conditions
The subject will include a 2 day field trip and practical work in Victoria’s forested water supply catchments
Intended learning outcomes
On completion of this subject students should:
- Have a detailed understanding of the forest hydrologic cycle
- Have insights into how forest management and growth dynamics, forest disturbance (including wildfire), and climate change can influence the water balance
- Develop an understanding of forest hydrologic processes in a range of forested landscapes
- Have an exposure to field experimental methods in forest research
Last updated: 11 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: 11 October 2023
Assessment
Semester 1
| Description | Timing | Percentage |
|---|---|---|
In-class exercises (Participation) | Throughout the semester | 10% |
Practical Exercise equivalent to 200 words in week 3
| Week 3 | 5% |
Practical Exercise equivalent to 800 words in week 7
| Week 7 | 15% |
Student presentation equivalent to 1000 words
| Week 11 | 20% |
Major assignment (3000 words)
| During the examination period | 50% |
Additional details
Includes:
- In-class exercises (10%) equivalent to participation in class through out the semester.
- Practical Exercises (20%) One assessment worth 5% equivalent to 200 words in week 3 and one assessment worth 15% equivalent to 800 words in week 11.
- Student presentation (20%) equivalent to 1000 words in week 3 and 7.
- Major assignment (50%) equivalent to 3000 words during the examination period.
Last updated: 11 October 2023
Dates & times
- Semester 1
Coordinator Patrick Lane Mode of delivery On Campus (Parkville) Contact hours Total time commitment 170 hours Teaching period 26 February 2018 to 27 May 2018 Last self-enrol date 9 March 2018 Census date 31 March 2018 Last date to withdraw without fail 4 May 2018 Assessment period ends 22 June 2018 Semester 1 contact information
Time commitment details
170 hours
Additional delivery details
Please note that this subject has a pre-teaching period and during this time students will be required to watch and understand 3 pre-recorded lectures that will cover fundamental/basic hydrologic principles. It will also be required that students prepare by reading the 4 references listed in the pre-course information. Note there will be a short assessed quiz on the first day relating to the pre-recorded lectures.
Last updated: 11 October 2023
Further information
- Texts
Prescribed texts
None
Recommended texts and other resources
- Chang, M. (2006) Forest hydrology: an introduction to water and forests. Boca Raton: CRC/Taylor & Francis.
- Eamus, D., Hatton, T., Cook, P. and Colvin, C. (2006) Ecohydrology: Vegetation function, water and resource Management. CSIRO Publishing, Collingwood.
- Bren L. (2015). Forest Hydrology and Catchment Management: an Australian Perspective. Springer.
- Subject notes
- 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.
Please note Single Subject Studies via Community Access Program is not available to student visa holders or applicants
Entry requirements including prerequisites may apply. Please refer to the CAP applications page for further information.
Last updated: 11 October 2023