UWA Handbook 2025

Unit Overview

Description

This unit commences with a one-week field work component in Albany in the second week of February each year. Thereafter, commitments include a period of self-study and preparation of assignments, which include a species recovery plan, a scientific report and a video response. As part of the field component, students undertake field work in collaboration with officers from the Department of Biodiversity, Conservation and Attractions to analyse the conservation status, threats and biology/ecology of a selected threatened species. The integrated field-based practical and lecture program in the unit provides an overview of various considerations needed for the design of recovery plans and also critically examines the various factors involved in the conservation of threatened species.

Topics covered include assessing the conservation status of species, understanding and managing threatening processes such as habitat loss and fragmentation, fire and dieback, genetic considerations (such as in-breeding) associated with small population sizes, genetic drift and hybridisation, spread of disease, reintroduction, translocation and captive breeding, and conservation of threatened species using protected areas. Students gain an appreciation of the need for careful planning, execution and monitoring of threatened species by developing a species recovery plan for selected threatened species.

Credit

6 points

Offering
(see Timetable)

Availability	Location	Mode
Non-standard teaching period	UWA (Perth)	Face to face
Non-standard teaching period	Albany	Face to face

Details for undergraduate courses

• Level 3 core unit in the Conservation Biology; Wildlife Conservation major sequences
• Level 3 elective

Outcomes

Students are able to (1) demonstrate an understanding of the distribution of, and threats faced by the threatened flora and fauna of the South Coast region, and the conservation measures adopted to conserve these species and communities; (2) demonstrate an understanding of basic ideas and concepts in the conservation of threatened plant species through recovery planning; (3) design and carry out a research plan to investigate important aspects of the biology/ecology of threatened species and the threats they are facing; (4) demonstrate an understanding of the risks involved, and precautions taken, when handling endangered species; (5) critically analyse field-collected data on an endangered species, compare the data with the available literature, and present the data in a scientific report; and (6) critically analyse the available data and literature sources for threatened species and use the data to develop a recovery or management plan.

Assessment

Indicative assessments in this unit are as follows: (1) multi-species recovery plan; (2) scientific report; and (3) video response. 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)

Dr Barbara Cook

Unit rules

Prerequisites

Successful completion of

one Unit(s) BIOL2261 Conservation Biology (ID 1250)
or Unit(s) ENVT2221 Global Climate Change and Biodiversity (ID 1293)
or Unit(s) ENVT2250 Ecology (ID 1228) or equivalent

Incidental fees

Incidental student fees and charges are costs incurred by students as part of their studies at UWA that are in addition to their tuition fees (further information is available "
Participation in this unit will incur the following incidental fee(s):
Field trip (estimated cost - Up to $750).

Contact hours

Block taught in early February in Albany before the start of Semester 1 (ancillary charges to cover cost of food and accommodation which is borne by the student)), followed by online Collaborate or Microsoft Teams sessions during the semester:

Note

This unit is recognised by the University as a service learning unit. Service learning refers to community engagement activities that are embedded in units of study, being structured and assessed as formal educational experiences.