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Unit of Study BIO00213 - Plant Identification and Conservation (2020)

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Unit Snapshot

  • Enrolment information

    Students require a sound knowledge of basic biological processes such as photosynthesis and respiration, plant floral and vegetative structure and ecological principles such as community dynamics, adaptation to environment and landscape ecology. Experience in report writing and information research skills is also required. These skills are obtained by completing the pre-requisite units or equivalent experience. There will be a 4-day compulsory residential for Online students that will be held on the Lismore campus. Please refer to to https://www.scu.edu.au/timetables for further information on timetables.

Unit description

Introduces students to the ecological role, conservation value and management of Australian plants and plant communities, and develops practical skills in plant identification using keys. Students will integrate the knowledge gained in this unit to prepare a vegetation management plan for a forest remnant.

Unit content

  • Plant identification using taxonomic keys based on vegetative and floral structures
  • Plant community identification and classification using structural and floristic techniques
  • Physical environmental factors that influence plant growth and vegetation distribution patterns
  • Succession and plant community dynamics
  • Effect of isolation and fragmentation on native vegetation
  • Weeds: ecological impact and management strategies
  • Rare and threatened species
  • Ecological restoration of degraded vegetation
  • NSW and Federal Government legislative controls on vegetation
  • Approaches to conservation on public and privately owned land
  • Management for conservation in a changing world.

Availabilities

Location Domestic International
Lismore
Session1
Session1
Online
Session1
N/A

Learning outcomes and graduate attributes

Unit Learning Outcomes express learning achievement in terms of what a student should know, understand and be able to do on completion of a unit. These outcomes are aligned with the graduate attributes. The unit learning outcomes and graduate attributes are also the basis of evaluating prior learning.

On completion of this unit, students should be able to:

GA1: Intellectual rigour, GA2: Creativity, GA3: Ethical practice, GA4: Knowledge of a discipline, GA5: Lifelong learning, GA6: Communication and social skills, GA7: Cultural competence
Learning outcome count Learning outcome description GA1 GA2 GA3 GA4 GA5 GA6 GA7
1 demonstrate practical skills in identifying plants and plant communities, and describe the methodology and purpose of vegetation classification and mapping
2 discuss the dynamics and distribution of plant species and communities (including weeds and rare plants) with reference to environmental factors and human impacts
3 describe the main approaches to conservation and management of Australian vegetation, including legislative controls, on both public and privately owned land
4 synthesise and evaluate information from a variety of sources to prepare a well-structured and clearly written vegetation management plan for a forest remnant.

On completion of this unit, students should be able to:

  1. demonstrate practical skills in identifying plants and plant communities, and describe the methodology and purpose of vegetation classification and mapping
    • GA4:
  2. discuss the dynamics and distribution of plant species and communities (including weeds and rare plants) with reference to environmental factors and human impacts
    • GA4:
  3. describe the main approaches to conservation and management of Australian vegetation, including legislative controls, on both public and privately owned land
    • GA4:
  4. synthesise and evaluate information from a variety of sources to prepare a well-structured and clearly written vegetation management plan for a forest remnant.
    • GA1:
    • GA6:

Prescribed learning resources

Prescribed Texts
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Prescribed Learning Resources may change in future Teaching Periods.