62327 PLANT ECOLOGY

Year	No.	Offer	Mode	Description			Cred. Pts
97	62327 	S2  	D 	PLANT ECOLOGY             	1.00

Contents

• Staffing
• Pre-requisite(s)
• Rationale
• Synopsis
• Objectives
• Topics
• Texts
• Recommended References
• Student Workload
• Assessment Details
• Other Requirements

STAFFING:

PRE-REQUISITE(S)

62214 62032/62221

RATIONALE:

With  the background of basic ecology in second year the plant biology
student is in a position to study the synecology of vegetation in this
third   year   unit.  Such  knowledge  is  of  great   importance   in
understanding, interpreting and recommending solutions  to  vegetation
interaction and change in relation to environmental disturbance.

SYNOPSIS:

This unit introduces students to the range of ecological concepts  and
techniques applied in the study of higher plants and examines some  of
the patterns and possible processes exhibited by plant populations and
communities,  particularly  in  the  Australian  context.   The   unit
concentrates on methods in plant ecological sampling and the numerical
techniques  involved in the analysis of vegetation data, the  concepts
of  populations,  communities and ecosystems, history and  present-day
patterns  in  Australian  vegetation and  reviews  the  major  factors
affecting the distribution of native plant species.

OBJECTIVES:

On successful completion of this unit students will be able
to:

1. understand how vegetation shows pattern on scales related to
   different influencing factors;
   
2. understand vegetation as a component of complex ecosystems.
   
3. understand the principles of sampling.
   
4. be able to sample vegetation to determine key components and
   determining factors and be able to analyse the data obtained.
   
5. understand and be able to use classification and ordination
   techniques to elucidate and investigate complex vegetational
   data sets.
   

TOPICS:

 Description                                                    Weighting(%)

Sampling theory - principles, strategies, population  and             15.00
community attributes

Ecosysten components and processes - inter-relationships,             10.00
population dynamics, niche and co-existence

Community  ecology  -  community  description,  dynamics,             20.00
gradients, diversity and pattern, continuum theory

Soils, climate and fire, - Australian soils, climate  and             15.00
vegetation, fire, disturbance ecology

Australian  vegetation  -  history,  classification   and             15.00
present-day distribution

Analysis  of  vegetation data - types and  properties  of             25.00
data,     univariate    and    multivariate     analyses,
classification, ordination and gradient analysis

TEXT and MATERIALS to be PURCHASED:

RECOMMENDED REFERENCE MATERIALS:

Agnew, A.D.Q. et al 1993, Mechanisms and Processes in Vegetation
Dynamics, Opulus Press.

Bazzaz, F.A. 1996, Plants in Changing Environments: Linking
Physiological, Population and Community Ecology, Cambridge University
Press.

Jongman, R.H.G. et al. 1987, Data Analysis in Community and Landscape
Ecology, Pudoc, Wageningen.

Kent, M. & Coker, P. 1992, Vegetation Description and Analysis: A
Practical Approach, Belhaven Press, London.

Kirkpatrick, J. 1994, A Continent Transformed: Human Impact on the
Natural Vegetation of Australia, Oxford University Press.

Klotzli, F. & van der Maarel, E. eds. 1995, Community Ecology and
Conservation Biology, Opulus Press.

McDonald, R.C. et al 1990, Australian Soil and Land Survey Field
Handbook, Inkata Press, Melbourne.

Moore, P.D. & Chapman, S.B. eds. 1986, Methods in Plant Ecology, 2nd
edn, Blackwell Scientific Publications

Sun, D., Hnatiuk, R.J. & Nelder, V.J. 1996, Vegetation Classification
and Mapping Systems for Australian Forest Management, Bureau of
Resource Sciences, Canberra.

Zobel, M. et al 1994, Species Co-existence and Vegetation Structure,
Opulus Press.

STUDENT WORKLOAD REQUIREMENTS:

	ACTIVITY				HOURS
Lectures                                      	28
Laboratory or Practical Classes               	36
Field Trips                                   	25
Report Writing                                	30
Private Study                                 	48
Examinations                                  	3

ASSESSMENT DETAILS:

No  *F/S Marks     Due        Description                              Wtg(%)    LBL
1   S              END S2    3 HOUR END SEMESTER EXAM                  50.00     N
2   S              19/09/97  ASSIGNMENT                                15.00     Y
3   S              PASSIM    REPORTS ON PRACTICALS                     35.00     Y

OTHER REQUIREMENTS:

1    In accordance with University policy and Guidelines,
1.1  an  Examiner  may  grant  an extension of  the  due  date  of  an
     assignment in extenuating circumstances;
1.2  no  assignments  will be accepted for assessment  purposes  after
     assignments  or  model  solutions have been  released  except  in
     extenuating circumstances;
1.3  assignments  submitted after the due date without any extenuating
     circumstances  will  attract a penalty of  at  most  20%  of  the
     assignment mark for each working day late;
1.4  students who submit an assignment after the due date and wish  to
     claim   extenuating   circumstances,  must  provide   documentary
     evidence with the assignment explaining the circumstances;
1.5  the   unit  examiner  shall  consider  a  claim  for  extenuating
     circumstances and decide on the outcome;
1.6  the  decision of the Dean shall be final in any dispute that  may
     arise in the implementation of these guidelines.