SLE202 - Landscapes and Their Management

Unit details

Year:

2024 unit information

Enrolment modes:Trimester 2: Burwood (Melbourne)
Credit point(s):1
EFTSL value:0.125
Unit Chair:Trimester 2: Don Driscoll
Prerequisite:

SLE102 and 1 SLE coded unit at level 1

Corequisite:Nil
Incompatible with:

SLE322

Typical study commitment:

Students will on average spend 150 hours over the teaching period undertaking the teaching, learning and assessment activities for this unit.

This will include educator guided online learning activities within the unit site.

Educator-facilitated (scheduled) learning activities - on-campus unit enrolment:

1 x 2 hour lecture per week, 2 x 3 hour practical experience (laboratory) per trimester, 3 x 3 hour practical experience (computer practical) per trimester, 1 x full day practical experience (field trip) to the Mornington Peninsula.

Content

The use and management of land is central to many of the major environmental and societal issues of our age, including the biodiversity and climate crises, water degradation, urbanisation, human population growth, and the decay of agricultural land. These are all issues that we increasingly need to understand and manage, locally and globally. Landscape ecology provides a framework for developing solutions to these types of issues because it focuses on understanding spatial patterns in the landscape and how such patterns influence ecological processes. It does this at the scale of populations and metapopulations; the scale that determines whether species will become extinct or survive. Human land-use is a major driver of changes to landscapes throughout the world, and understanding how humans affect landscape processes is essential to creating sustainable landscapes for the future. Landscape ecology is underpinned by Landscape evolution, which determines topography, landforms, soil types, and hydrology. These aspects of landscapes place fundamental limitations on where species can occur; they define moisture, nutrient and sunlight availability, as well as exposure to fire and wind disturbances. Overlaying those natural patterns of variation in resources and disturbances are the impacts of humans. Understanding these landscape-scale factors is critical for predicting which species can persist at a site, the types of ecosystems that form there, and how they interact with other populations and communities across the landscape.

ULO These are the Learning Outcomes (ULO) for this unit. At the completion of this unit, successful students can: Deakin Graduate Learning Outcomes
ULO1 Describe basic physical properties of geological materials and explain the significance of key landscape features. GLO1: Discipline-specific knowledge and capabilities
GLO2: Communication

ULO2

Describe and interpret features of landscapes based upon field observations and/or imagery including maps and remotely sensed images. GLO1: Discipline-specific knowledge and capabilities
GLO3: Digital Literacy
GLO4: Critical thinking
GLO5: Problem solving

ULO3

Synthesise knowledge of major concepts and principles in landscape ecology and how they apply to issues in land use and the conservation of natural resources in Australia and in global contexts.

GLO1: Discipline-specific knowledge and capabilities
GLO4: Critical thinking
GLO8: Global citizenship

ULO4

Develop practical skills in studying landscapes including study design, the collection and analysis of data and communication of findings.

GLO2: Communication
GLO5: Problem solving

Assessment

Assessment Description Student output Grading and weighting
(% total mark for unit)
Indicative due week
Assessment 1
Tests
Quizzes testing class and practical materials 10% Weeks 2-11
Assessment 2
Group discussion and test

Quizzes testing class and practical materials

10% Weeks 2-11
Assessment 3
Research report (Google Earth)

1500 word written report

40% Week 5

Assessment 4
Fieldwork report (Frog occupancy)

1500-2000 word written report 40% Week 12

The assessment due weeks provided may change. The Unit Chair will clarify the exact assessment requirements, including the due date, at the start of the teaching period.

Learning Resource

The texts and reading list for the unit can be found on the University Library via the link below: SLE202 Note: Select the relevant trimester reading list. Please note that a future teaching period's reading list may not be available until a month prior to the start of that teaching period so you may wish to use the relevant trimester's prior year reading list as a guide only.

Unit Fee Information

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