BIO3820 Tropical terrestrial biology
Faculty of Science
BIO3820 Tropical terrestrial biology is a level 3, 6-credit-point, undergraduate unit from the Faculty of Science, offered in 2024 in Semester 2 at Clayton and Malaysia. It has no prerequisites.
- Credit points
- 6
- Offered in 2024
- Semester 2
- Clayton, Malaysia
- Assessment
- Exam 30%
- and 3 other tasks
This is the 2024 handbook entry. See the 2027 entry.
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Requisites
Overview
This unit covers all major aspects of tropical ecology, explaining why the world's tropics are so rich and diverse in species, what factors contribute to this richness and how the interactions between plants and animals result in such complex relationships. We discuss biodiversity in the tropics, the variety of tropical ecosystems such as rainforests, savannas, dry forests, montane tropics and peat swamps. The importance of climate, nutrient cycling, disturbance, and forest dynamics on the ecology of tropical plants and animals is a major theme. Conservation and management issues such as conflicting land-use requirements, logging and fire are also investigated in the unit.
Offerings in 2024
| Teaching period | Campus | Mode |
|---|---|---|
| Second semester | Clayton | Immersive |
| Second semester | Malaysia | Immersive |
Assessment
- Literature review20%
- Field trip project report30%
- Mid semester test20%
- Final assessment - Exam (2 hours and 10 minutes)30%
Learning outcomes
When you finish this unit, you should be able to:
- 1
Describe the diversity, structure and function of a range of tropical ecosystems;
- 2
Explain conservation and management issues affecting tropical ecosystems;
- 3
Integrate and discuss the importance of climate, nutrient cycling, disturbance and forest dynamics on the ecology of tropical plants and animals;
- 4
Design, analyse and undertake sampling programs to examine the flora and fauna of tropical habitats;
- 5
Demonstrate advanced scientific report writing skills;
- 6
Make effective oral and visual presentations;
- 7
Work collaboratively and effectively in teams.
Workload and teaching
- Lectures24 hours
- Tutorials12 hours
- Seminars24 hours
- Applied sessions120 hours
- Teaching approachField trips
- Two 1-hour seminar or lecture (online, self study) and
- One 1-hour tutorial (or equivalent) per week, plus
- One 5-day field trip, excluding travel days
You will undertake group projects. The topics that are offered will reinforce many of the concepts delivered in applied sessions, while at the same time introducing you to the unique opportunities (and challenges) provided by doing field research in tropical habitats. The field trip will be run in a total duration of 5 days. The field trip project and details will be discussed during classes and described in greater detail in a separate hand-out.
Learning resources
Required resources
Tropical Ecology: John Kirchner - Princeton University Press, 2011
Where it fits
BIO3820 is part of 5 areas of study in the 2024 handbook.
- ECOLOGY07Biology elective unitsEcology and conservation biologyNo reviews yet
- PLNTSCI05Level 3 unitPlant sciencesNo reviews yet
- TRENVBIO01Core unitsTropical environmental biologyNo reviews yet
- TRENVBIO02Level 3 unitTropical environmental biologyNo reviews yet
- TRENVBIO03Core unitsTropical environmental biologyNo reviews yet
Contacts
- Unit Coordinators
- Dr Wan Faridah Jusoh
- Professor Richard Reina
- Chief Examiners
- Dr Wan Faridah Jusoh
Common questions
What are the prerequisites for BIO3820?
BIO3820 has no prerequisites, but enrolment rules apply.
When is BIO3820 offered?
In 2024, BIO3820 runs in Semester 2 at Clayton and Malaysia.
Does BIO3820 have an exam?
Yes. The exam is worth 30% of the final mark, alongside 3 other tasks.
Which majors and minors include BIO3820?
BIO3820 is part of Ecology and conservation biology; Plant sciences; and Tropical environmental biology.