Studying online (if an online offering is shown below)
There are now 2 possible online modes for units:
Units with modes Online timetabled and Online flexible are available for any student to self-enrol and study online.
Click on an offering mode for more details.
Unit Overview
- Description
This unit analyses the way animal populations fluctuate and use resources in space and time. It considers how individuals within populations interact with each other and with individuals in populations of other species, including those interactions that contribute to the determination of the biodiversity apparent in communities today. It covers population parameters such as age structure, birth and death rates and how these are used to construct life tables and population models. Theories and empirical evidence as to how biodiversity has developed over time and is currently maintained are considered along with discussion of how biodiversity contributes to ecosystem function and how that biodiversity should be managed and conserved.
- Credit
- 6 points
- Offering
(see Timetable) Availability Location Mode Semester 1 UWA (Perth) Face to face - Details for undergraduate courses
- Level 3 core unit in the Zoology; Wildlife Conservation; Biodiversity and Evolution major sequences
- Level 3 elective
- Outcomes
Students are able to (1) acquire a knowledge of population parameters and use them to produce population models; (2) understand how models are used to manage and conserve animal populations; (3) understand how populations interact with populations of the same and different species and model those responses; (4) use statistics to analyse data either collected during practical sessions or provided from field experiments; (5) articulate the main characteristics of communities and the divergent theories on how diversity is generated and maintained; (6) be able to apply theories of community organisation to conservation and management; (7) use multivariate techniques to analyse community data; and (8) critically assess recent and relevant literature.
- Assessment
Indicative assessments in this unit are as follows: (1) final examination; (2) data analysis and interpretation exercises; and (3) mid-semester in-class test. Further information is available in the unit outline.
Student may be offered supplementary assessment in this unit if they meet the eligibility criteria.
- Unit Coordinator(s)
- Professor Raphael Didham and Associate Professor Mandy Ridley
- Unit rules
- Prerequisites
- Successful completion of
- Contact hours
- lectures: 2 hours per week
practical classes: 3 hours per week
- The availability of units in Semester 1, 2, etc. was correct at the time of publication but may be subject to change.
- All students are responsible for identifying when they need assistance to improve their academic learning, research, English language and numeracy skills; seeking out the services and resources available to help them; and applying what they learn. Students are encouraged to register for free online support through GETSmart; to help themselves to the extensive range of resources on UWA's STUDYSmarter website; and to participate in WRITESmart and (ma+hs)Smart drop-ins and workshops.
- Visit the Essential Textbooks website to see if any textbooks are required for this Unit. The website is updated regularly so content may change. Students are recommended to purchase Essential Textbooks, but a limited number of copies of all Essential Textbooks are held in the Library in print, and as an ebook where possible. Recommended readings for the unit can be accessed in Unit Readings directly through the Learning Management System (LMS).
- Contact hours provide an indication of the type and extent of in-class activities this unit may contain. The total amount of student work (including contact hours, assessment time, and self-study) will approximate 150 hours per 6 credit points.
Face to face
Predominantly face-to-face. On campus attendance required to complete this unit. May have accompanying resources online.
Online flexible
100% Online Unit. NO campus face-to-face attendance is required to complete this unit. All study requirements are online only. Unit is asynchronous delivery, with NO requirement for students to participate online at specific times.
Online timetabled
100% Online Unit. NO campus face-to-face attendance is required to complete this unit. All study requirements are online only. Unit includes some synchronous components, with a requirement for students to participate online at specific times.
Online Restricted
Not available for self-enrolment. Students access this mode by contacting their student office through AskUWA. 100% Online Unit.
NO campus face-to-face attendance. All study and assessment requirements are online only. Unit includes some timetabled activities, with a requirement for students to participate online at specific times. In exceptional cases (noted in the Handbook) students may be required to participate in face-to-face laboratory classes when a return to UWA’s Crawley campus becomes possible in order to be awarded a final grade.
External
No attendance or regular contact is required, and all study requirements are completed either via correspondence and/or online submission.
Off-campus
Regular attendance is not required, but student attends the institution face to face on an agreed schedule for purposes of supervision and/or instruction.
Multi-mode
Multiple modes of delivery. Unit includes a mix of online and on-campus study requirements. On campus attendance for some activities is required to complete this unit.