Biogeography and Ecology of Fire (GEOG90027)
Graduate courseworkPoints: 12.5On Campus (Parkville)
For information about the University’s phased return to campus and in-person activity in Winter and Semester 2, please refer to the on-campus subjects page.
Please refer to the LMS for up-to-date subject information, including assessment and participation requirements, for subjects being offered in 2020.
Overview
| Availability(Quotas apply) | Summer Term |
|---|---|
| Fees | Look up fees |
Fire is one of the most important controls over the distribution of vegetation on Earth. This subject examines the role of fire in natural systems, with a particular emphasis on the importance of fire in determining global vegetation patterns and dynamics over long periods of time. The aim is to understand how terrestrial systems have evolved to cope with and exploit fire, and to place the extreme flammability of Australia's vegetation within a global context. The subject will examine concepts such as resilience, positive feedback loops, hysteresis and alternative stable states. The use of fire by humans to manipulate environments will be examined, with a particular emphasis on the variety of approaches employed by people across a diversity of environments over long periods of time, allowing an exploration of the social and cultural dynamics of fire and environmental management. A March field excursion in Tasmania will visit a number of sites which will exemplify the subject themes. The practical exercises leading up to the field trip will focus on how to gather fire-related ecological data. The practical exercises following the field trip will be devoted to processing, analysing, interpreting and reporting on the field data. At the end of the subject, students will have gained an understanding of the way in which fire has shaped natural systems, as well as acquiring the skills necessary to formulate and test hypotheses.
More information about the subject and field trip can be seen at: http://michaelsresearch.wordpress.com/GEOG30025/
The estimated additional cost of the 7 day field trip to Cradle Mountain, Tasmania, is in the vicinity of $750.
Intended learning outcomes
At the completion of this subject, students will have achieved the following objectives
- An understanding of the causes and consequences of fire in terrestrial systems;
- An understanding of the specific adaptations that plants and animals have evolved to cope with fire;
- An ability to generate and test ecological hypotheses, design in-field ecological experiments and gather data to address specific hypotheses;
- Familiarity with the key literature and current debates on fire-ecology;
- An understanding of how the current global warming debate fits into the longer-term perspective.
Generic skills
- ability to conduct library searches to source the latest relevant literature on key topic areas;
- ability to comprehend some of the current debates in the field;
- software skills, such as Excel and more specialised software, such as ecological ordination software and R;
- basic introduction to plant identification, ecological data acquisition and analysis;
- field skills, especially an ability to design and execute controlled field experiments;
- data interpretation skills, informed by the relevant literature;
- group field and research activities.
Last updated: 30 October 2023
Eligibility and requirements
Prerequisites
None
Corequisites
None
Non-allowed subjects
| Code | Name | Teaching period | Credit Points |
|---|---|---|---|
| GEOG30025 | Biogeography and Ecology of Fire | Summer Term (On Campus - Parkville) |
12.5 |
Recommended background knowledge
Some background in Ecology, Physical Geography and/or Earth Science is strongly recommended. Students are normally expected to have completed one or more 3 rd yr physical geography, biology and/or earth science subjects. Interested students should contact the coordinator for advice.
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: 30 October 2023
Assessment
Due to the impact of COVID-19, assessment may differ from that published in the Handbook. Students are reminded to check the subject assessment requirements published in the subject outline on the LMS
| Description | Timing | Percentage |
|---|---|---|
Four online reading assignments due during last two weeks of February
| Early term | 10% |
Field Journal due at end of the field trip
| Early term | 25% |
Individual report based on the analysis of field data due at the end of February
| Early term | 50% |
Group presentation due in the last week of February
| Early term | 15% |
Attendance at laboratory sessions (students must attend a minimum of 90% of these sessions)
| Early term | 0% |
Last updated: 30 October 2023
Quotas apply to this subject
Dates & times
- Summer Term
Principal coordinator Michael-Shawn Fletcher Mode of delivery On Campus (Parkville) Contact hours 12 x 1 hr lectures (12 hours); 7 days field work (40 hours); Practicals: 1x2 hr pre-field practicals, 5x3 hr post-field practicals(17 hours) Hurdle requirement: Students must attend a minimum of 90% of practical sessions Total time commitment 170 hours Teaching period 13 January 2020 to 23 February 2020 Last self-enrol date 6 December 2019 Census date 31 January 2020 Last date to withdraw without fail 21 February 2020 Assessment period ends 13 March 2020 Summer Term contact information
Time commitment details
170 hours
Additional delivery details
An enrolment quota of 30 students (in undergraduate and post-graduate offering) applies to this subject. For detailed information on the quota subject application process, enrolment deadlines and selection preferences, refer to the Faculty of Science website: http://science.unimelb.edu.au/students/course-planning-and-advice
The estimated additional cost of the 7 day field trip is in the vicinity of $750. The field trip to Cradle Mountain, Tasmania, will take place in January.
This subject requires all students to actively and safely participate in laboratory and field activities. Students undertake field trip experiences that will require them to be physically capable of undertaking outdoor field work in remote locations.
Last updated: 30 October 2023
Further information
- Texts
- Related Handbook entries
This subject contributes to the following:
Type Name Course Master of Geography Course Master of Science (Geography) - 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.
Additional information for this subject
Quota limit applied - UoM students will be given preference over CAP applicants
- Available to Study Abroad and/or Study Exchange Students
Last updated: 30 October 2023