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Lismore Session 1 Session 1
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Unit Summary

Unit type

UG Coursework Unit

Credit points

12

AQF level

7

Level of learning

Intermediate

Former School/College

Former School of Environment, Science and Engineering

Pre-requisites

BIO00202 - Ecology

Unit aim

The unit Wetland Ecosystems provides an understanding of the structure, functioning and importance of aquatic ecosystems in freshwater environments and emphasises the need for their careful management. The importance of water as the medium for abiotic and biotic components needs to be recognised in order to understand the effects of human influence on aquatic ecosystems.

Unit content

The following topics will be discussed:

  • the aquatic environment
  • wetland hydrology
  • wetland chemistry
  • wetland biology
  • wetland habitats
  • human use and conservation of wetland ecosystems
  • palaeolimnology
  • management of wetland ecosystems.

Learning outcomes

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.

GA1: , GA2: , GA3: , GA4: , GA5: , GA6: , GA7:
On completion of this unit, students should be able to: GA1 GA2 GA3 GA4 GA5 GA6 GA7
1 describe the major physical, chemical and biological characteristics of wetland ecosystems including natural, artificial and disturbed systems
2 discuss human impacts upon wetland ecosystems and related management issues
3 demonstrate research skills in the field
4 prepare concise and accurate reports on wetland ecosystems and contribute to the rational management of aquatic resources

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

  1. describe the major physical, chemical and biological characteristics of wetland ecosystems including natural, artificial and disturbed systems
    • GA1:
    • GA4:
    • GA5:
  2. discuss human impacts upon wetland ecosystems and related management issues
    • GA3:
    • GA4:
  3. demonstrate research skills in the field
    • GA1:
    • GA3:
    • GA4:
    • GA5:
  4. prepare concise and accurate reports on wetland ecosystems and contribute to the rational management of aquatic resources
    • GA1:
    • GA3:
    • GA4:
    • GA5:

Prescribed texts

  • No prescribed texts.
Prescribed texts may change in future teaching periods.