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Ecology and Evolutionary Biology
Bachelor of ScienceMajorYear: 2020
Ecology and Evolutionary Biology
Contact information
Coordinator
Associate Professor Peter Vesk (School of BioSciences)
Professor Barbara Downes (School of Geography)
Professor Mick Keough (School of BioSciences)
Email: pvesk@unimelb.edu.au
Email: barbarad@unimelb.edu.au
Email: mjkeough@unimelb.edu.au
Overview
The Ecology and Evolutionary Biology major will provide the springboard for students entering careers or research in the following areas: Ecology, Conservation Biology, Animal Behaviour, Evolutionary Biology, Systematic and Biodiversity, Environmental Consulting. Graduates will be prepared for these pathways by developing skills in survey, experimentation and modelling of ecological and evolutionary processes, which are crucial to being prepared to make contributions in research, education or in consulting roles in natural resources management and environmental consulting industries.
This major will integrate knowledge from a range of disciplines from genetics through organismal biology to ecosystem science, by enabling students to complete a sequence of specialist subjects in each, as well as integrated subjects in which the students develop an understanding of the application of ecological methods to solving current problems in evolution, ecology and biodiversity. Students will gain experience preparing them for the workplace by participating in group research projects and working groups.
Intended learning outcomes
Ecology & Evolutionary Biology Major graduates should demonstrate:
- Synthesise knowledge from a range of disciplines from genetics through organismal biology to ecosystem science are used in the ecology and evolutionary biology of organisms;
- Recognize and explain the historical and dynamic nature of biological diversity
- Outline and evaluate the methodologies in Ecology and Evolutionary Biology, specifically the role of theory, of models, of mathematics, of observational and experimental (both field and lab) empirical work. They will understand the historical development in their science and it’s testability;
- Employ skills in survey, experimentation and modelling of ecological and evolutionary processes and data;
- Identify, evaluate and apply knowledge and information from research and data in ecological and evolutionary domains
- Articulate the global nature of the science of Ecology and Evolutionary Biology, the inequality in amount of scientific knowledge and the opportunity for and importance of generality provided by regions and continents.
- Articulate how they as scientists can engage in facing problems of climate change, biodiversity loss and other global challenges;
- Demonstrate preparedness for the workplace through participating in group research projects and diverse working groups;
- Communicate about the theory, practice and evidence in Ecology and Evolutionary Biology orally, and in different modes of written presentation.
Last updated: 18 December 2020
Structure
50 credit points
Completion of 50 points of study at Level 3.
Subject Options
Students must take:
| Code | Name | Study period | Credit Points |
|---|---|---|---|
| ECOL30006 | Ecology in Changing Environments | Semester 1 (On Campus - Parkville) |
12.5 |
Plus one of the following evolutionary biology subjects:
| Code | Name | Study period | Credit Points |
|---|---|---|---|
| BOTA30002 | Plant Evolution | Semester 2 (On Campus - Parkville) |
12.5 |
| GENE30001 | Evolutionary Genetics and Genomics | Semester 1 (On Campus - Parkville) |
12.5 |
| ZOOL30004 | Evolution and the Human Condition | Semester 1 (On Campus - Parkville) |
12.5 |
| ZOOL30006 | Animal Behaviour | Semester 1 (On Campus - Parkville) |
12.5 |
Plus one of the following research experience subjects:
| Code | Name | Study period | Credit Points |
|---|---|---|---|
| BOTA30006 | Field Botany | Summer Term (On Campus - Parkville) |
12.5 |
| GEOG30022 | Riverine Landscapes: Hydrology & Ecology | Not available in 2020 | 12.5 |
| GEOG30025 | Biogeography and Ecology of Fire | Summer Term (On Campus - Parkville) |
12.5 |
| ZOOL30007 | Experimental Animal Behaviour | Semester 1 (On Campus - Parkville) |
12.5 |
| ZOOL30008 | Experimental Marine Biology | January (On Campus - Parkville) |
12.5 |
| ZOOL30009 | Tropical Field Ecology | Not available in 2020 | 12.5 |
| SCIE30001 | Science Research Project |
Summer Term (On Campus - Parkville)
Semester 1 (On Campus - Parkville)
Semester 2 (On Campus - Parkville)
|
12.5 |
Students who require ZOOL30009 in order to complete the major in Ecology and Evolutionary Biology, but who are experiencing financial difficulty should contact the subject coordinator to enquire about the possibility of scholarship support.
Plus one of:
| Code | Name | Study period | Credit Points |
|---|---|---|---|
| BOTA30002 | Plant Evolution | Semester 2 (On Campus - Parkville) |
12.5 |
| BOTA30006 | Field Botany | Summer Term (On Campus - Parkville) |
12.5 |
| GENE30001 | Evolutionary Genetics and Genomics | Semester 1 (On Campus - Parkville) |
12.5 |
| GEOG30022 | Riverine Landscapes: Hydrology & Ecology | Not available in 2020 | 12.5 |
| BOTA30004 | Vegetation Management and Conservation | Not available in 2020 | 12.5 |
| ECOL30005 | Applied Ecology | Semester 2 (On Campus - Parkville) |
12.5 |
| ECOL30007 | Marine Ecosystems: Ecology & Management | Semester 1 (On Campus - Parkville) |
12.5 |
| EVSC30003 | Environmental Risk Assessment | Semester 1 (On Campus - Parkville) |
12.5 |
| EVSC30006 | Ecology of Urban Landscapes | Semester 1 (On Campus - Parkville) |
12.5 |
| ZOOL30007 | Experimental Animal Behaviour | Semester 1 (On Campus - Parkville) |
12.5 |
| ZOOL30008 | Experimental Marine Biology | January (On Campus - Parkville) |
12.5 |
| ZOOL30009 | Tropical Field Ecology | Not available in 2020 | 12.5 |
| ZOOL30004 | Evolution and the Human Condition | Semester 1 (On Campus - Parkville) |
12.5 |
| ZOOL30006 | Animal Behaviour | Semester 1 (On Campus - Parkville) |
12.5 |
Last updated: 18 December 2020