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ECOL100 Ecology: Concepts and Applications

Credit Points 6
Offering
Responsible Campus Teaching Period Mode of Study
Armidale Trimester 2 Off Campus
Armidale Trimester 2 On Campus
Intensive School(s)
Start Finish Attendance Notes
29 August 2013 31 August 2013 Mandatory
Supervised Exam There is a UNE Supervised Examination held at the end of the teaching period in which you are enrolled.
Pre-requisites None
Co-requisites None
Restrictions None
Notes None
Combined Units None
Coordinator(s) Caroline Gross (cgross@une.edu.au)
Unit Description

The estimated number of described species on earth is between 1.5 and 1.8 million species. Many others await discovery and formal recognition. Studying the distribution and abundance of species, and associated interactions with their natural environment is central to understanding how our earth works. Ecology helps us understand the underpinning principles of natural systems and cycles, thereby enabling the prediction of species' response to environmental change. Ecology also helps us understand complex problems that may arise from species' response to environmental change. This unit through high level practical engagements (including a field trip) introduces main concepts of ecology within an applied framework. Students will also be exposed to the evolutionary perspective that forms the theoretical foundation of the syllabus.
Important Information

Where calculators are permitted in examinations, it must be selected from an approved list, which can be accessed from the Further Information link below.

Further information
Materials Textbook information will be displayed approximately 8 weeks prior to the commencement of the teaching period. Please note that textbook requirements may vary from one teaching period to the next.
Disclaimer Unit information may be subject to change prior to commencement of the teaching period.
Assessment Assessment information will be published prior to commencement of the teaching period.
Learning Outcomes (LO) Upon completion of this unit, students will be able to:
  1. describe the philosophy of ecological thinking (both European and Indigenous);
  2. incorporate the global perspective of ecological systems into their future work;
  3. recognise and evaluate the need for methodological approaches to ecological problem solving;
  4. establish and manage basic ecological data-sets;
  5. incorporate the biophysical setting of Australian and other ecosystems into their ecological thinking; and
  6. describe climate, soils and energy cycles in an ecological context.

Graduate Attributes (GA)
Attribute Taught Assessed Practised
1 Knowledge of a Discipline
The philosophy of ecological thinking (both European and Indigenous) is the key starting point. This is taught via lectures and tutorials including guest oral presentations from distinguished ecologists. Knowledge is also gained from an evaluation of literature and the philosophers and is assessed using an essay. The students practise their philosphical positions in a tutorial setting. 		True True True
2 Communication Skills
Ecologists must be effective communicators. This will be taught by developing the quality argument based on quality of evidence paradigm which will be instilled in all assessable tasks. It will be taught using a variety of tools including scholarly writing, oral presentations and debates. 		True True True
3 Global Perspectives
As ecological systems are part of the biosphere, the global perspective is drawn upon in all areas involved with evaluating the utility of data sets. Ecological knowledge is built upon information gathered from ecological systems in similar biomes and a precursor to this knowledge base is a sound knowledge of the biophysical elements. A global perpsective is required for this deep learning task. 		True True
4 Information Literacy
Students will be taught how to access the literature (especially on-line resources), how to evaluate the robustness of literature sources (discrimination skills) and how to critique available information. Students will then practise these skills through the generation of reports, oral presentations and data base establishment and management. 		True True True
5 Life-Long Learning
The ability to be a critical thinker and an objective decision maker is a key life-long skill for an Ecologist. This will be instilled by the experiential learning dimensions of the unit where reflection on performance reveals alternative pathways to explain phenomena. 		True True
6 Problem Solving
Ecologists are faced with problem solving in three key areas: the elucidation of the problem, the compartmentalising of the problem and the testing of hypotheses around the problem. These basic principles are the backbone of the unit and all practical assignments are geared for the instillation of this key set of skills. 		True True True
7 Social Responsibility
Now more than ever and as concern for the environment intensifies, ecologists are increasingly being called away from the role of scientist and into policy and public consultation. Ecology is wrestling between two models of science: a science apart from society and a science directly engaged with society. The social responsibility of Ecologists in society will be one of the debate topics within the unit. 		True True
8 Team Work
All students undertaking practical work in the field and laboratory will be regularly working in teams. The benefits of team work such as, the sharing of creativity; task solutions and satisfactions; skills development, peer support underpinning a diversity of ideas are positive attributes for the unit. 		True True True
   

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