Field Botany (BOTA30006)
Undergraduate level 3Points: 12.5On Campus (Parkville)
Overview
| Availability(Quotas apply) | Summer Term |
|---|---|
| Fees | Look up fees |
This subject is structured around the fieldwork in early February and covers the basic skills that are required to undertake a field-based botanical activity such as a flora survey or an environmental impact assessment, or to proceed to research in a field-based botanical discipline. Topics to be covered include:
- taxonomy of the Australian flora;
- field identification of major families and genera of plants;
- collection and preservation of plant specimens; mounting and cataloguing specimens; curatorial skills; nomenclature;
- techniques for description and classification of vegetation; structural types, floristic associations, measures of abundance (cover, density, basal area, biomass), sampling techniques (quadrats, line transects, plotless methods), sampling scale and species-area relationships, profile diagrams, life-form spectra;
- soils; and
- vegetation mapping.
Intended learning outcomes
At the end of this subject, students should have the skills for:
- identification, description and quantification of plants and plant communities in the field;
- collection, cataloguing and preserving plant specimens; and
- constructing a vegetation map.
Last updated: 9 April 2025
Eligibility and requirements
Prerequisites
One of
| Code | Name | Teaching period | Credit Points |
|---|---|---|---|
| BOTA20002 | Plant Biodiversity | Semester 2 (On Campus - Parkville) |
12.5 |
| BOTA20004 | Flora of Victoria | Summer Term (On Campus - Parkville) |
12.5 |
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: 9 April 2025
Assessment
| Description | Timing | Percentage |
|---|---|---|
Three field project reports
| End of semester | 60% |
Assessment of field activities
| During the teaching period | 20% |
A examination
| After completion of the field trip | 20% |
Last updated: 9 April 2025
Quotas apply to this subject
Dates & times
- Summer Term
Principal coordinator Andrew Drinnan Mode of delivery On Campus (Parkville) Contact hours This subject is offered full-time over two weeks. Total contact is 62 hours, comprising 36 hours fieldwork, 8 hours lectures, 18 hours practical work Total time commitment 170 hours Teaching period 21 January 2025 to 3 February 2025 Last self-enrol date 15 December 2024 Census date 31 January 2025 Last date to withdraw without fail 14 February 2025 Assessment period ends 23 February 2025 Summer Term contact information
Time commitment details
Estimated total time commitment of 170 hours
What do these dates mean
Visit this webpage to find out about these key dates, including how they impact on:
- Your tuition fees, academic transcript and statements.
- And for Commonwealth Supported students, your:
- Student Learning Entitlement. This applies to all students enrolled in a Commonwealth Supported Place (CSP).
Subjects withdrawn after the census date (including up to the ‘last day to withdraw without fail’) count toward the Student Learning Entitlement.
Additional delivery details
An enrolment quota of 36 students 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: https://science.unimelb.edu.au/students/plan-your-bsc-continuing/quota-subjects
Last updated: 9 April 2025
Further information
- Texts
- Subject notes
- Related Handbook entries
This subject contributes to the following:
Type Name Informal specialisation Plant Science Major Ecology and Evolutionary Biology Informal specialisation Science Discipline subjects - new generation B-SCI Informal specialisation Plant Science Major Plant Science - Breadth options
This subject is available as breadth in the following courses:
- Bachelor of Arts
- Bachelor of Commerce
- Bachelor of Design
- Bachelor of Environments
- 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.
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: 9 April 2025