Units

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Sample subject outline - Semester 2 2013

Note: Subject outlines often change before the semester begins. Below is a sample outline.

Rationale

Conservation Biology is the application of ecological theory and principles to the problem of maintaining viable populations of rare, threatened or endangered species, or ecological systems. The unit integrates material from foundation units in ecology and genetics to provide an understanding of factors that enable the maintenance or enhancement of populations and is essential for anyone wanting to work in areas of wildlife management and conservation.

Aims

On completion of this course you will be able to:

1. Integrate concepts and knowledge gained in ecology and genetics to conservation issues of plants, animals and ecosystems.

2. Critically analyse the link, or lack of, between theory and application in current conservation management approaches.

3. Synthesise a diverse range of information to develop your critical understanding of key conservation issues as they affect all potential stake-holders.

Objectives

On completion of this unit you will be able to:

1. Understand current concepts and practices concerning conservation biology.

2. Synthesise a diverse range of information including high quality scientific literature to provide an incisive and decisive analysis of key conservation issues and how they affect all potential stakeholders.

3. Integrate theories concerning population ecology and genetics and understand how this synthesis is applied to conservation biology.

4. Apply skills in the monitoring and quantification of population and community characteristics to real conservation issues.

Content

This unit comprises four modules:

1. Nature of the problem and issues at stake: Sociological vs scientific agendas; biodiversity and its loss; extinctions & assessing declines.

2. Relevant ecological theory: Minimum viable populations; population viability analysis; island biogeography and metapopulation structure.

3. Relevant population genetics theory: Conservation genetics; genetics of small populations; effective population size; genetics and managing endangered populations.

4. Application of theory to management: Reserves; surrogate species approaches, population translocations; ex-situ conservation and gene flow.

Approaches to Teaching and Learning

The unit consists of 2 hours of lectures each week, seven 2-hour practical sessions and a short field trip. Lectures will provide the theoretical background relating to conservation biology. Practicals will extend concepts covered in lectures and address issues associated with quantification of genetic and demographic aspects of population viability, risk assessment, reserve design, conservation planning and the role of the public in conservation biology. The field exercise will provide experience in examining a typical issue in conservation biology.

Assessment

There will be three assessment items; assignment and seminar (30%), practical report (20%) and an end of semester theory exam (50%).Summative and formative feedback will be provided by written and oral feedback for all assessment items.

Assessment name: Essay
Description: You will select a currently topical conservation debate and your aim will be to develop a scientific understanding of that debate and so interpret it from an informed perspective. Issues to cover include: What is perceived to be at risk? Is this risk real? What scientific information is available on the subject? What are the public perceptions of the debate? The report (worth 20%) should be a maximum of 3000 words, excluding references. The seminar (worth 10%) will be 15 minutes in duration (including questions) and will relate to the scientific data that support your position in the debate.
Relates to objectives: 1 to 4
Weight: 30%
Internal or external: Internal
Group or individual: Individual
Due date: Mid Semester

Assessment name: Log/Workbook
Description: Workbook and Report.
A series of practicals will be run during the semester. The first will be a role-playing scenario designed to introduce the main assignment. The remaining practicals will use computer simulations and real data to examine the applied component of conservation biology. Assessment will be through a report and logbook.
Relates to objectives: 1 to 4
Weight: 20%
Internal or external: Internal
Group or individual: Individual
Due date: End Semester

Assessment name: Examination (Theory)
Description: The exam will consist of essay questions designed to assess your knowledge of the theoretical and applied concepts gained from the course.
Relates to objectives: 1, 3 & 4
Weight: 50%
Internal or external: Internal
Group or individual: Individual
Due date: Exam Period

Academic Honesty

QUT is committed to maintaining high academic standards to protect the value of its qualifications. To assist you in assuring the academic integrity of your assessment you are encouraged to make use of the support materials and services available to help you consider and check your assessment items. Important information about the university's approach to academic integrity of assessment is on your unit Blackboard site.

A breach of academic integrity is regarded as Student Misconduct and can lead to the imposition of penalties.

Resource materials

Recommended Textbook:

1. Lindenmayer, D and Burgman, M. (2005) Practical Conservation Biology, CSIRO Publishing, Collingwood, Victoria.

Risk assessment statement

The unit consists of classroom-based lectures, discussions and practicals, all of which are extremely low risk activities. Risk assessments for field trips identify several low impact risks, including: travel; slips and trips; animal bites, and animal and plant stings. Students are provided with a health and safety manual detailing health, safety and emergency procedures associated with field activities. Students are required to read, understand and put into practice all safety guidelines. Safety considerations associated with field trips will be discussed in pre-trip briefings with printed notes related to safety issues being distributed where appropriate.

Disclaimer - Offer of some units is subject to viability, and information in these Unit Outlines is subject to change prior to commencement of semester.

Last modified: 06-Feb-2013