ENVT3305 Ecosystem Biogeochemistry [UG]

The availability of units in Semester 1, 2, etc. was correct at the time of going to press but may be subject to change. For the most up-to-date information click on the Timetable link below.

Credit: 6 points Availability: Semester 2 (See Timetable) Old unit code: 763.305

Outcomes: Students are able to understand the fundamental concepts of nutrient cycling and the linkages among plants, microbes and their environments, that underpin ecosystem functioning; understand the absolute and relative sizes of the pools of C, N and P (as well as an overview for other elements) in the atmosphere, plants, soil, water and rocks; outline the major fluxes of C, N and P in terrestrial and aquatic ecosystems; describe the major biological and biogeochemical processes that drive nutrient cycles; understand the factors that are likely to limit or stimulate those fluxes and processes; and appreciate the roles of fungi, bacteria and other micro-organisms in both terrestrial and aquatic ecosystems.

Content: This unit presents an overview of the role of plant communities (aquatic and terrestrial) in local and global cycles of carbon, nutrients and water. It focuses on developing a mechanistic understanding of the processes that drive biogeochemical cycling and underpin ecosystem functioning. Examples are drawn from diverse systems including semi-arid grasslands, forests, mulga woodlands, estuaries and coral reefs and include issues such as atmospheric pollution, climate change, carbon sequestration, fire, mining impacts as well as termites and ants as 'ecosystem engineers'. The unit encompasses studies of ecological and ecosystem biogeochemistry (e.g. disturbance responses, nutrient and water budgets, plant and soil chemistry, geochemical and biological interactions) and familiarises students with the most recent advances in research techniques, including the application of stable isotopes to studies in ecology.

Assessment: This comprises a two-hour examination (40 per cent) and assessment from practical work (60 per cent).

Supplementary assessment is not available in this unit except in the case of a bachelor's pass degree student who has obtained a mark of 45 to 49 and is currently enrolled in this unit, and it is the only remaining unit that the student must pass in order to complete their course.

Unit Co-ordinator(s): Dr Pauline Grierson and Associate Professor Gary Kendrick

Location: UWA (Crawley)

Mode: on-campus

Unit Rules:

Prerequisites: ENVT2250 Introduction to Ecology or PLNT2201 Plant Physiology: Plants in Action or PLNT2203 Aquatic Botany or EART2222 Earth Surface Processes and Soils

Contact hours—lectures: 2 hrs per week; labs: equivalent to 3 hrs per week; may include field work (charges: cost of food and accommodation for field trips is borne by the student)

Assistance with study skills, including English language skills, is available free of charge from Student Services for all enrolled students (see http://www.studysmarter.uwa.edu.au/). Student Services location: Second Floor, South Wing, Guild Village; telephone: 6488 2423.

Recommended reading

Attiwill, P. M. and Adams, M. A., eds Nutrition of Eucalypts: CSIRO Publishing 1996

Attiwill, P. M. and Leeper G. W. Forest Soils and Nutrient Cycles: Melbourne University Press 1987

Caldwell M. M. and Pearcy R. W. Exploitation of Environmental Heterogeneity by Plants: Academic Press 1994

Hessen, D. O. and Tranvik, L. J., eds Aquatic Humic Substances: Ecology and Biogeochemistry: Springer-Verlag 1998

Reddy, K. R. et al., eds Phosphorus Biogeochemistry in Subtropical Ecosystems: Lewis Publishers 1999

Schlesinger, W. Biogeochemistry, 2nd ed.: Academic Press 1991

Books and other material wherever listed may be subject to change. Book lists relating to 'Preliminary Reading', 'Recommended Reading' and 'Textbooks' are, in most cases, available at the University Co-operative Bookshop (from early January) and appropriate administrative offices for students to consult. For first-year units the Bookshop will endeavour to make available photocopies of book lists for individual units. Books marked with an asterisk (*) are available in paperback.