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ENV204 - Ecosystems, Evolution and Biodiversity

2026

Sector

Higher Education

Discipline

Environmental Science

Credit Points

Unit Level

200

Equivalent Units

(SBI265)

Prerequisites

Incompatible

Coerequisites

Assumed Knowledge

SBI106 or ENV102 or equivalent

Unit Description

This unit develops the student's understanding of biological diversity within all major ecosystems, and of the tools needed to study and analyse biodiversity. All Australian and global ecosystems are discussed, with a special focus on the Australian tropics and deserts, as well as the Asian tropics. A key aspect of this unit is the study of evolution, biogeography, modern species concepts and taxonomy. The practical component of the unit focuses on the identification of Top End plants and animals, using a range of tools, and includes local excursions. Such skills are essential for government natural resource managers, environmental consultants, museum/ herbarium curators and weeds officers.

Unit Learning Outcomes

1.	Recognise ecosystem types across Australia, their characteristic flora and fauna taxa, and environmental determinants of those ecosystem types.
2.	Understand how Australian ecosystems relate to international biomes with a focus on tropical communities.
3.	Students will become familiar with Australian native plant diversity and develop identification skills.
4.	Students will become familiar with vertebrate fauna diversity and develop the skills to be able to identify vertebrate taxa.
5.	Students will further develop biological scientific investigation skills including the development of hypotheses, data acquisition from taxonomic and other literature sources and the use of tables, graphs and drawings to correctly present data and its analysis in well written reports.

Assessment Overview

	Assessment Task	Value (of total mark)	Related Learning Outcome/s
1.	Report (1500 words)	15%	3,4,5
2.	Written assignment (2000 words)	20%	1,2,3,4
3.	Animal and plant identification and biodiversity practical exercises (6 class submissions, which may consist of drawings, worksheets, ID exercises or paragraph responses for a total of 20 pages)	25%	1,3,4,5
4.	Online exam (2 hours)	40%	1,2,5

Unit Availability

Year	Semester	Att Mode	Location	Learning Method	Timetable*
2026	Semester 2	Internal	Casuarina Campus	OLR	View
2026	Semester 2	External	External Studies	OLR	View

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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:
Fees and Payments
Student Services and Amenities Fees
2026 Domestic Unit Fees (PDF)
2026 Incidental Fees (PDF)