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Biosecurity: Managing Invasive Species (NRMT90002)
Graduate courseworkPoints: 12.5Online
Please refer to the return to campus page for more information on these delivery modes and students who can enrol in each mode based on their location.
About this subject
- Overview
- Eligibility and requirements
- Assessment
- Dates and times
- Further information
- Timetable(opens in new window)
Contact information
Semester 2
Overview
| Availability | Semester 2 - Online |
|---|---|
| Fees | Look up fees |
Invasions are natural ecological phenomena. Dispersing individuals encounter suitable habitat, establish, spread and evolve. In this way, species have radiated outwards from their origins, colonised distant offshore islands, and species have spread in response to changes in climate.
Human-induced invasions of plants, animals and diseases in modern times have dramatically altered the scales of time and distance over which invasions take place. Their impacts can be considerable, wiping out unique communities, endangering rare species, adding considerable costs to agriculture, horticulture and forestry, and having effects on the health, leisure and livelihoods of people. Tools such as pesticides and biological control can often be used to great effect, while for other invaders there are no obvious solutions. There may be unwanted side-effects of control methods on non-target species, they may adversely affect human health, and may cause considerable public concern. Integrated management strategies can be developed using ecological information about the species but these must be implemented in a real world that involves economics, politics, opinions and social interactions.
Intended learning outcomes
In this subject students will:
- explore the underlying principles of biological invasions and analyse their impacts;
- discuss in detail the various control methods and consider their possible side effects;
- develop a plan for a species of their choice; and
- learn to appreciate the interplay between science, technology, sociology and legislation in achieving successful management of invasive species.
Generic skills
On completion of this subject students should have:
- skills in formulating and writing management plans;
- an ability to critically access different forms of information;
- an understanding of how management decisions must consider people and not just science.
Last updated: 3 November 2022
Eligibility and requirements
Prerequisites
Admission into one of the following:
- MC-ENV Master of Environment
- MC-AGSC Master of Agricultural Sciences
- MC-ENVSC Master of Environmental Science
- MC-SCIBIO Master of Science (BioSciences)
- MC-SCIECO Master of Science (Ecosystem Science)
- GD-URBHORT Graduate Diploma in Urban Horticulture
- GD-AGSC Graduate Diploma in Agricultural Sciences
- GC-AGSC Graduate Certificate in Agricultural Sciences
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: 3 November 2022
Assessment
| Description | Timing | Percentage |
|---|---|---|
One report (submitted in two parts: mid-semester and end of semester)
| During the teaching period | 80% |
A management plan for an invasive species of the student's choice. An oral presentation must be given towards the end of semester.
| Late in the teaching period | 15% |
One short report (300 words maximum) commenting on the 3 best plans presented by the rest of the class
| End of the teaching period | 5% |
Last updated: 3 November 2022
Dates & times
- Semester 2 - Online
Principal coordinator James Camac Mode of delivery Online Contact hours Lectures 2 hrs/week; one practical of 3 hrs; Tutorials 2 hrs/5 per semester. Total time commitment 170 hours Teaching period 26 July 2021 to 24 October 2021 Last self-enrol date 6 August 2021 Census date 31 August 2021 Last date to withdraw without fail 24 September 2021 Assessment period ends 19 November 2021 Semester 2 contact information
Time commitment details
In addition, students will need to spend significant non-contact time researching and writing a major assignment (split into two parts); time will also be required to prepare a short oral presentation and a final one page report.
Last updated: 3 November 2022
Further information
- Texts
Prescribed texts
There are no specifically prescribed or recommended texts for this subject.
- Related Handbook entries
This subject contributes to the following:
Type Name Course Graduate Diploma in Urban Horticulture Course Graduate Certificate in Agricultural Sciences Course Graduate Diploma in Agricultural Sciences Course Master of Urban Horticulture Informal specialisation Master of Agricultural Sciences - Elective Subjects Major Conservation and Restoration Major Conservation and Restoration Major Integrated Water Catchment Management Major Environmental Science Major Environmental Science Major Integrated Water Catchment Management Informal specialisation Landscape Management Major Tailored Specialisation Major Tailored Specialisation Major Tailored Specialisation - 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.
- Available to Study Abroad and/or Study Exchange Students
This subject is available to students studying at the University from eligible overseas institutions on exchange and study abroad. Students are required to satisfy any listed requirements, such as pre- and co-requisites, for enrolment in the subject.
Last updated: 3 November 2022