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Unit of Study BIO10127 - Coral Reefs on the Edge (2017)

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Unit Snapshot

  • Enrolment information

    It is recommended that students have completed the following units prior to enrolling in this unit: BIO00232 - Coastal Marine Ecosystems There will be an 8 day compulsory residential field trip for all students that will be held at Heron Island Research Station on the Southern Great Barrier Reef. Therefore there will be a significant additional cost for this unit.

Unit description

Provides field-based coral reef ecology training, including quantitative ecological surveys and discussion of important management issues for the Great Barrier Reef. Examines the biology of reef-building organisms, ecological interactions and reef formation, natural disturbances and human impacts on reefs, and the status of coral reefs globally.

Unit content

Introduction to coral reef ecology and management

Reef origins and geomorphology

Biology and ecology of coral communities

Algal builders and primary productivity on coral reefs

Secondary production and trophic pathways on coral reefs

Reef biodiversity

Reef fish communities

Natural disturbance and reef communities

Human impacts on coral reefs

Coral bleaching, climate change and global reef status

Coral reef management issues

Availabilities

Location Domestic International
Online Session 3 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 understanding of the biology and ecology of reef-building organisms and coral reef formation
2 identify and classify common types of corals, fish and other reef organisms occurring on the Great Barrier Reef
3 discuss key ecological processes within coral reef ecosystems
4 contrast and explain differences between natural disturbances and human-induced impacts on coral reefs
5 demonstrate ability to work collaboratively in small teams to complete quantitative studies of coral reef communities
6 explain how ecological information can be used to inform management of coral reefs
7 evaluate the global status and future scenarios for coral reefs in a rapidly changing world.

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

  1. demonstrate understanding of the biology and ecology of reef-building organisms and coral reef formation
    • GA1:
    • GA4:
    • GA5:
  2. identify and classify common types of corals, fish and other reef organisms occurring on the Great Barrier Reef
    • GA1:
    • GA4:
    • GA5:
  3. discuss key ecological processes within coral reef ecosystems
    • GA1:
    • GA4:
  4. contrast and explain differences between natural disturbances and human-induced impacts on coral reefs
    • GA1:
    • GA4:
  5. demonstrate ability to work collaboratively in small teams to complete quantitative studies of coral reef communities
    • GA1:
    • GA4:
  6. explain how ecological information can be used to inform management of coral reefs
    • GA1:
    • GA4:
    • GA5:
  7. evaluate the global status and future scenarios for coral reefs in a rapidly changing world.
    • GA1:
    • GA4:
    • GA5:

Prescribed learning resources

Prescribed Texts
  • No prescribed texts.

Prescribed Learning Resources may change in future Teaching Periods.