BZ5480 - Restoration Ecology

Graduate Certificate of Science, Graduate Diploma of Science, Master of Science, Graduate Certificate of Research Methods, Postgraduate Diploma of Research Methods, Bachelor of Science (Advanced), Graduate Certificate of Development Practice, Graduate Diploma of Development Practice, Master of Development Practice.

This subject will focus on developing student appreciation and understanding for one of the most important processes involved in wildlife ecology: the mitigation and restoration of impacts of habitat loss and landscape change. Habitat loss is one of the main drivers of species extinction facing much of the tropical world (and, indeed, other areas). Alleviating the potential impact of habitat loss requires restoring previously degraded natural systems and re-instating ecological processes. This subject will introduce students to this problem and focus on its solution. The subject will have a primarily plant-based focus (the basis of all habitat restoration programmes) and will introduce students to fundamental biological and functional attributes of plants and how these can be used in restoration. The subject will address the theoretical basis of restoration, its practical application and the ecological techniques (and evidence) for how wildlife populations (both plant and animal) change in response to restoration efforts.

There are additional charges for this subject; please contact the School for details.

Learning Outcomes

• Develop an appreciation for scope of plant (and animal) taxonomy and biologically important functional traits and how these influence and define performance, growth and survivorship in wild populations;
• Develop understanding of general theory of restoration ecology for wildlife and how ecological theory can be used in reducing/reversing impacts of habitat loss;
• Gain experience in the implementation of restoration activities, monitoring and ecological survey techniques used to study natural field populations.

Note: Minor variations might occur due to the continuous Subject quality improvement process, and in case of minor variation(s) in assessment details, the Subject Outline represents the latest official information.