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Ecology of Urban Landscapes (EVSC30006)
Undergraduate level 3Points: 12.5Dual-Delivery (Parkville)
From 2023 most subjects will be taught on campus only with flexible options limited to a select number of postgraduate programs and individual subjects.
To learn more, visit COVID-19 course and subject delivery.
About this subject
- Overview
- Eligibility and requirements
- Assessment
- Dates and times
- Further information
- Timetable(opens in new window)
Contact information
Semester 1
Professor Kirsten Parris
Associate Professor Nicholas Williams
Overview
| Availability | Semester 1 - Dual-Delivery |
|---|---|
| Fees | Look up fees |
Australia is one of the most urbanised countries in an increasingly urbanised world. This subject will introduce students to urban ecology and landscape ecology concepts and illustrate how they can be applied to plan and design more ecologically sustainable human landscapes. Topics include the concept of scale in ecology, land transformation and habitat fragmentation, the structure and components of landscapes, patterns and processes along urban-rural gradients, the impacts of urbanisation on biodiversity and strategies to mitigate them.
Intended learning outcomes
Upon completion of the course students should be able to;
- Characterise the components of landscapes
- Assess the causes and consequences of land transformation and habitat fragmentation
- Evaluate how urbanisation may affect processes that operate in landscapes
- Discuss implications of ecological principles for planning and design of sustainable urban landscapes
Generic skills
In addition to learning specific skills that will assist students in their future careers in science, they will have the opportunity to develop generic skills that will assist them in any future career path. These include;
- Ability to access and critically analyse published literature;
- Ability to collect and analyse data;
- Written and oral communication skills.
Last updated: 7 September 2023
Eligibility and requirements
Prerequisites
Undergraduate Students
One of
| Code | Name | Teaching period | Credit Points |
|---|---|---|---|
| ENVS10001 | Natural Environments | Semester 1 (Dual-Delivery - Parkville) |
12.5 |
| LARC10001 | Natural History | Semester 2 (Dual-Delivery - Parkville) |
12.5 |
| ECOL20003 | Ecology | Semester 2 (Dual-Delivery - Parkville) |
12.5 |
AND
A minimum of 25 credit points of Level 2 subjects
Postgraduate students
Admission into the MC-URBHORT Master of Urban Horticulture
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.
This course requires all students to actively and safely participate in field excursions and laboratory activities. Students who feel their disability may impact upon their participation are encouraged to discuss this matter with the Subject Coordinator and Student Equity and Disability Support.
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: 7 September 2023
Assessment
| Description | Timing | Percentage |
|---|---|---|
One Practical Report
| Week 6 | 15% |
Written report suggesting and analysing measures to retrofit an urban area (visited on the field trip) for ecological sustainability
| Week 12 | 35% |
Written Examination (take home examination)
| During the examination period | 50% |
Additional details
Last updated: 7 September 2023
Dates & times
- Semester 1
Coordinators Nicholas Williams and Kirsten Parris Mode of delivery Dual-Delivery (Parkville) Contact hours 12 x 2 hour workshops, 8 hours of practicals and 1 x 5hr field trip. Total time commitment 170 hours Teaching period 28 February 2022 to 29 May 2022 Last self-enrol date 11 March 2022 Census date 31 March 2022 Last date to withdraw without fail 6 May 2022 Assessment period ends 24 June 2022 Semester 1 contact information
Professor Kirsten Parris
Associate Professor Nicholas Williams
Time commitment details
170 hours
Last updated: 7 September 2023
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 Informal specialisation Science Discipline subjects - new generation B-SCI Major Environmental Science Major Environmental Science Informal specialisation Environments Discipline subjects Major Landscape Ecosystem Management Informal specialisation Non-allowed Breadth Subjects within the Bachelor of Design - relating to specific majors Major Ecology and Evolutionary Biology Major Urban Design and Planning Breadth Track Greening Urban Landscapes Breadth Track Natural systems and our designed world - Breadth options
This subject is available as breadth in the following courses:
- Bachelor of Arts
- Bachelor of Design
- Bachelor of Fine Arts (Acting)
- Bachelor of Fine Arts (Animation)
- Bachelor of Fine Arts (Dance)
- Bachelor of Fine Arts (Film and Television)
- Bachelor of Fine Arts (Music Theatre)
- Bachelor of Fine Arts (Production)
- Bachelor of Fine Arts (Screenwriting)
- Bachelor of Fine Arts (Theatre)
- Bachelor of Fine Arts (Visual Art)
- Bachelor of Music
- 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: 7 September 2023