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  3. Biogeography and Ecology of Fire

Biogeography and Ecology of Fire (GEOG90027)

Graduate courseworkPoints: 12.5Off Campus

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Overview

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Summer Term - Off Campus
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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.

The estimated additional cost of the 7 day field trip to Cradle Mountain, Tasmania, is in the vicinity of $900.

More information about this subject's field trip can be found here: https://sgeas.unimelb.edu.au/research/palynology-palaeoecology-and-biogeography#teaching  

Intended learning outcomes

At the completion of this subject, students will have achieved the following objectives



  • Critically evaluate the ecological, climatological, and anthropogenic drivers of fire regimes across diverse terrestrial ecosystems.
  • Analyse and compare complex fire-adaptive traits in flora and fauna.
  • Design, implement, and critically assess field- and laboratory-based ecological research projects.
  • Synthesize and critique contemporary scientific literature and debates in fire ecology.
  • Evaluate the long-term ecological consequences of climate change on fire regimes and ecosystem resilience.
  • Communicate complex ecological findings effectively to both academic and non-academic audiences.

Generic skills

Upon completion of this subject, students should have developed the following generic skills: 

  • Research: The ability to undertake literature searches and engage with current research and debates within the relevant fields, and initiate, design, conduct and communicate research.
  • Critical Thinking: The ability to comprehend, engage with and synthesise key literature and current debates, and develop independent thinking.  
  • Field Skills: The ability to design and execute controlled field- and laboratory-based experiments, as well as plant identification and ecological data acquisition and analysis to address hypotheses.
  • Software Skills: The ability to use software such Excel, R and specialist graphing programs.
  • Analysis: The ability to analyse and interpret ecological data, informed by relevant literature and test hypotheses.
  • Collaboration: The ability to participate in group field and research activities, working effectively in a team environment in the field and in the laboratory.
  • Communication: The ability to communicate effectively complex scientific findings in writing and orally, particularly with graphs and schematic diagrams.

Last updated: 19 November 2025