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ENV515 - Desert Field Ecology

2025

Sector

Higher Education

Discipline

Environmental Science

Credit Points

Equivalent Units

Prerequisites

Incompatible

Assumed Knowledge

Undergraduate-level ecology and statistics

Unit Description

This advanced ecology unit focuses on the unique characteristics and challenges of studying ecology and managing environments in the Australian arid zone. Students will be active participants in field-based research as they develop an experiential understanding of the ecology desert environments. The importance of quantitative ecological methods including sound experimental design, and the contribution that ecological science makes toward the conservation and management of arid environments will be emphasized while there will also be opportunity to explore and discuss the human dimensions of land management.

Online enrolment is not available for this unit due to the field trip requirements. Students are required to check enrolment availability with the lecturer prior to application.To enrol, Special Enrolment is required through CDU Portal.

This unit is taught primarily during a 7 - day field intensive scheduled during the mid semester break, with some assessment tasks and online work to be completed before and after. Students are required to make their own travel arrangements to and from central Australia before and after the field course. Please check with the unit coordinator for exact dates and start and end locations.

Unit Learning Outcomes

1.	Synthesise complex and diverse information from the literature and primary field based data to inform effective management of desert ecosystems or promote understanding of desert ecology.
2.	Evaluate the importance of experimental design for solving complex ecological questions.
3.	Develop expertise in field skills used in ecological, biological and landscape studies.
4.	Plan, implement and manage the collection, compilation and analysis of accurate field data.
5.	Demonstrate a professional level of leadership and initiative to engage others to achieve common goals.
6.	Effectively communicate ecological information for different audiences and in a range of formats including a report in the form of a journal article.

Assessment Overview

	Assessment Task	Value (of total mark)	Related Learning Outcome/s
1.	Online discussion (3 X 250 words)	15%	1 - Synthesise complex and diverse information from the literature and primary field based data to inform effective management of desert ecosystems or promote understanding of desert ecology. 5 - Demonstrate a professional level of leadership and initiative to engage others to achieve common goals. 6 - Effectively communicate ecological information for different audiences and in a range of formats including a report in the form of a journal article.
2.	Presentation (5 - 8 mins) including annotated bibliography of sources and written summary of talking points	25%	1 - Synthesise complex and diverse information from the literature and primary field based data to inform effective management of desert ecosystems or promote understanding of desert ecology. 5 - Demonstrate a professional level of leadership and initiative to engage others to achieve common goals. 6 - Effectively communicate ecological information for different audiences and in a range of formats including a report in the form of a journal article.
3.	Field work skills (Field notebook - approx. 10 pages of short answer questions and field notes)	20%	2 - Evaluate the importance of experimental design for solving complex ecological questions. 3 - Develop expertise in field skills used in ecological, biological and landscape studies. 4 - Plan, implement and manage the collection, compilation and analysis of accurate field data. 5 - Demonstrate a professional level of leadership and initiative to engage others to achieve common goals. 6 - Effectively communicate ecological information for different audiences and in a range of formats including a report in the form of a journal article.
4.	Research report (2000 words)	40%	1 - Synthesise complex and diverse information from the literature and primary field based data to inform effective management of desert ecosystems or promote understanding of desert ecology. 2 - Evaluate the importance of experimental design for solving complex ecological questions. 4 - Plan, implement and manage the collection, compilation and analysis of accurate field data. 6 - Effectively communicate ecological information for different audiences and in a range of formats including a report in the form of a journal article.

Unit Availability

Year	Semester	Att Mode	Location	Learning Method	Timetable*
2025	Semester 1	Internal	Alice Springs Campus	ITV,OLR
2025	Semester 1	External	External Studies	ITV,OLR

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ITV: This unit will be delivered/part-delivered intensively in this teaching period rather than over the full semester.

OLR: Internet access is required for this unit as students are required to access study materials provided on-line through Learnline. Please log into Learnline on the first day of each teaching period. For more information about Learnline, please click here.

Critical Dates

Important Dates for Students

Fee Information:
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Student Services and Amenities Fees
2024 Domestic Unit Fees (PDF)