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Landscape Ecology (FRST90015)
Graduate courseworkPoints: 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 (Early-Start)
Associate Professor Craig Nitschke
Overview
| Availability | Semester 1 (Early-Start) - Dual-Delivery |
|---|---|
| Fees | Look up fees |
The interactions between spatial context and ecosystem composition and structure can have a significant influence on the management of our natural environment. Spatial and temporal patterning of ecosystems can influence ecosystem functioning which in turn can affect resource availability for flora and fauna, dynamics of plant communities, and lead to the alteration of disturbance regimes. Humans play a critical role in shaping the spatial context on ecosystems within landscapes, both creating and affecting these relationships. This subject will cover the principles of landscape ecology with a focus on understanding how spatial heterogeneity, spatial extent, agents of change (i.e. fire, climate) and the role of humans (i.e. forest management, urbanisation) influence ecosystem patterns and in turn ecological processes (i.e. plant migration, meta-population dynamics, provisioning of ecosystem services). Case studies will be drawn from international and domestic examples from urban, agricultural, and forested landscapes.
This subject will involve lectures, practicals and a 3-day field trip.
Intended learning outcomes
On successful completion of this subject, students should be able to:
- Demonstrate the key principles of landscape ecology including spatial heterogeneity, spatial extent, landscape-level ecological processes and role of humans in shaping landscape patterns and processes;
- Recognise and apply pattern-process relationships in a wide diversity of landscape types and geographical locations;
- Explain how changes in spatial patterns (i.e. fragmentation, connectivity, heterogeneity) impact on the conservation of flora and fauna;
- Demonstrate how human decisions and actions modify landscape patterns and processes and then predict and discuss the ecological implications for this locally, regionally and globally; and
- Use geographic information systems (GIS) and mechanistic models to investigate and identify spatial patterns and ecological processes at variety of spatial extents.
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:
- Project development and management
- Critical thinking (problem definition, analysis and synthesis)
- Report Writing
- Communication of Project Outcomes
- Use GIS to study and understand landscape patterns and processes
Last updated: 28 June 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: 28 June 2023
Assessment
| Description | Timing | Percentage |
|---|---|---|
Long essay
| Week 8 | 30% |
Individual oral presentation (500 words)
| Week 12 | 10% |
Landscape Ecology Project
| Due throughout weeks 4, 6, 8,10, 12 and in the assessment period. | 60% |
Last updated: 28 June 2023
Dates & times
- Semester 1 (Early-Start)
Principal coordinator Craig Nitschke Mode of delivery Dual-Delivery (Parkville) Contact hours 1 hour lecture per week = 12 hrs, 3 hrs of prac per weeks = 36 hrs Pracs will be used to build the skills base to complete the semester long Landscape Ecology Project . Total Contact Hours = 48 hrs Total time commitment 170 hours Teaching period 21 February 2022 to 29 May 2022 Last self-enrol date 4 March 2022 Census date 31 March 2022 Last date to withdraw without fail 6 May 2022 Assessment period ends 24 June 2022 Semester 1 (Early-Start) contact information
Associate Professor Craig Nitschke
Time commitment details
Reading and preparation for lectures: 3 hrs per week = 36 hrs Preparation for assessments: 5 hrs per week = 62 hrs Additional Time Commitments = 98 hrs TOTAL TIME COMMITMENT: 72+ 98 = 170 hrs
Last updated: 28 June 2023
Further information
- Texts
Prescribed texts
Recommended texts and other resources
Turner MG, RH Gardner. 2015. Landscape Ecology in Theory and Practice: Pattern and Process 2nd Ed. Springer, New York.
Gergel SE, Turner MG. 2017. Learning Landscape Ecology: A Practical Guide to Concepts and Techniques 2nd Ed. Springer, New York.
- Incidental costs
Students may be asked to contribute to travel and accommodation expenses while in the field.
- 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.
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: 28 June 2023