6 points, SCA Band 2, 0.125 EFTSL
Undergraduate - Unit
Refer to the specific census and withdrawal dates for the semester(s) in which this unit is offered.
Faculty
Organisational Unit
Chief examiner(s)
Coordinator(s)
Unit guides
Prerequisites
12 points from level two BIO or GEN units or by permission
Synopsis
This unit studies how human-induced environmental changes, such as climate change, affects biodiversity. The unit explores how environmental stresses affect the physiology, behaviour, and ecological interactions of different organisms. The unit covers a range of organisms (i.e. plants, vertebrates, invertebrates, microorganisms) and biomes (e.g. grasslands, oceans, coral reefs, Antarctica). It also considers intervention strategies that can increase the sustainability of human development and reduce its impacts on biota.
Outcomes
On completion of this unit students will be able to:
- Summarise the main anthropogenic pressures on biota, including climate change, land use change, pollution, and invasive species.
- Explain how plants and animals respond to environmental stresses, including by modulating: gene expression, metabolism, morphology, and behaviour.
- Predict how ongoing environmental changes will affect the ecological distributions and interactions of animals, plants, and microorganisms.
- Propose and evaluate strategies to mitigate environmental change and its impacts on biota.
- Demonstrate critical analytical approaches to scientific research and writing scientific reports.
Assessment
Examination (2 hours): 50%
Practical work: 50%
Workload requirements
- Two 1-hour lectures and the equivalent of three hours laboratory work per week.
This unit may have a weekend excursion.
See also Unit timetable information