ENVSCI 737 : Applied Terrestrial Ecology

Science

2024 Semester One (1243) (15 POINTS)

Course Prescription

The dynamics of change in terrestrial ecosystems with a focus on forest and wetland environments. Students will be introduced to methods for vegetation assessment and ecosystem ecology, including multivariate statistical methods. Students are required to participate in a residential field course. No formal prerequisite but a knowledge of ecology equivalent to Stage II, including associated quantitative analysis, is assumed.

Course Overview

This course focuses on developing an understanding in/of vegetation dynamics in forest and wetland ecosystems, with an emphasis on the potential and realised effects of fire, climate change and invasive species in New Zealand. These issues will be placed into the wider context of the ongoing debate about the nature of the ecological community and the role of disturbance in structuring ecological systems. The course also considers methods for collecting the data required to describe the composition, structure and function of vegetation communities and some of the quantitative tools used to analyse such data. The course is organised around a one week residential field-trip.

Course Requirements

No pre-requisites or restrictions

Capabilities Developed in this Course

Capability 1: People and Place
Capability 2: Sustainability
Capability 3: Knowledge and Practice
Capability 4: Critical Thinking
Capability 5: Solution Seeking
Capability 6: Communication
Capability 7: Collaboration
Capability 8: Ethics and Professionalism

Learning Outcomes

By the end of this course, students will be able to:
  1. Describe the main processes underpinning vegetation dynamics in New Zealand's forest and wetland ecosystems and the fundamental and applied importance of these issues (Capability 1, 2, 3 and 4)
  2. Apply some of the field methods used to collect data to describe and characterise ecological communities and ecosystem functions (Capability 3, 4, 5, 6, 7 and 8)
  3. Show an understanding of and ability to apply some of the quantitative methods used to analyse ecological data (Capability 2, 3, 5 and 8)
  4. Understand and critically evaluate the importance of long-term ecological change in NZ, including human-environment interactions, for contemporary ecosystems (Capability 1, 2, 3 and 4)
  5. Develop and demonstrate scientific writing skills through written reports integrating analysis of field data (Capability 3, 4, 5 and 6)

Assessments

Assessment Type Percentage Classification
Field-report 1 30% Individual Coursework
Field-report 2 50% Individual Coursework
Literature summary 20% Individual Coursework
Assessment Type Learning Outcome Addressed
1 2 3 4 5
Field-report 1
Field-report 2
Literature summary

Tuākana

Tuākana Science is a multi-faceted programme for Māori and Pacific students providing topic specific tutorials, one-on-one sessions, test and exam preparation and more. Explore your options at
https://www.auckland.ac.nz/en/science/study-with-us/pacific-in-our-faculty.html
https://www.auckland.ac.nz/en/science/study-with-us/maori-in-our-faculty.html

As part of the University-wide Tuākana community, The School of Environment Tuākana Programme aims to provide a welcoming learning environment for and enhance the success of, all of our Māori and Pacific students. We are led by the principles of tautoko (support) and whanaungatanga (connection) and hope you find a home here at the School. Students who have identified as Māori and/or Pacific will receive an invitation to our online portal introducing the Programme, the resources we have available, and how you can get involved. This course is supported by our Programme Coordinator, Kaiāwhina/Māori student adviser, and Pacific student adviser. They are able to organize group study and facilitate direct assistance regarding material taught in this course. 

Special Requirements

A residential field trip on Aotea-Great Barrier Island is the fundamental component of  ENVSCI 737.  This field trip will involve fieldwork in forest and wetland environments. In 2024, the field trip is scheduled to run 31 March - 5 April.  Please contact the course coordinator, George Perry (george.perry@auckland.ac.nz), with any questions about this course component.

Workload Expectations

This course is a standard 15-point course and students are expected to spend 10 hours per week involved in each 15-point course that they are enrolled in.

For this course, you can expect 50 hours of field class, 7 hours of lectures, a 3-hour tutorial, 30 hours of reading and thinking about the content, and 60 hours of work on assignments and/or test preparation.

Delivery Mode

Campus Experience

This course is not available to Offshore students. 

Attendance is required at scheduled activities including field-class and tutorials to complete components of the course. On-campus lectures will be available as recordings. Other learning activities will not be available as recordings. The course will not include live online events. The activities for the course are scheduled as block delivery.

Learning Resources

Course materials are made available in a learning and collaboration tool called Canvas which also includes reading lists and lecture recordings (where available).

Please remember that the recording of any class on a personal device requires the permission of the instructor.

Learning resources will be made available through Canvas and Talis.

Student Feedback

During the course Class Representatives in each class can take feedback to the staff responsible for the course and staff-student consultative committees.

At the end of the course students will be invited to give feedback on the course and teaching through a tool called SET or Qualtrics. The lecturers and course co-ordinators will consider all feedback.

Your feedback helps to improve the course and its delivery for all students.

 The content of this course is updated each year according to student feedback.

Academic Integrity

The University of Auckland will not tolerate cheating, or assisting others to cheat, and views cheating in coursework as a serious academic offence. The work that a student submits for grading must be the student's own work, reflecting their learning. Where work from other sources is used, it must be properly acknowledged and referenced. This requirement also applies to sources on the internet. A student's assessed work may be reviewed for potential plagiarism or other forms of academic misconduct, using computerised detection mechanisms.

Class Representatives

Class representatives are students tasked with representing student issues to departments, faculties, and the wider university. If you have a complaint about this course, please contact your class rep who will know how to raise it in the right channels. See your departmental noticeboard for contact details for your class reps.

Copyright

The content and delivery of content in this course are protected by copyright. Material belonging to others may have been used in this course and copied by and solely for the educational purposes of the University under license.

You may copy the course content for the purposes of private study or research, but you may not upload onto any third party site, make a further copy or sell, alter or further reproduce or distribute any part of the course content to another person.

Inclusive Learning

All students are asked to discuss any impairment related requirements privately, face to face and/or in written form with the course coordinator, lecturer or tutor.

Student Disability Services also provides support for students with a wide range of impairments, both visible and invisible, to succeed and excel at the University. For more information and contact details, please visit the Student Disability Services’ website http://disability.auckland.ac.nz

Special Circumstances

If your ability to complete assessed coursework is affected by illness or other personal circumstances outside of your control, contact a member of teaching staff as soon as possible before the assessment is due.

If your personal circumstances significantly affect your performance, or preparation, for an exam or eligible written test, refer to the University’s aegrotat or compassionate consideration page https://www.auckland.ac.nz/en/students/academic-information/exams-and-final-results/during-exams/aegrotat-and-compassionate-consideration.html.

This should be done as soon as possible and no later than seven days after the affected test or exam date.

Learning Continuity

In the event of an unexpected disruption, we undertake to maintain the continuity and standard of teaching and learning in all your courses throughout the year. If there are unexpected disruptions the University has contingency plans to ensure that access to your course continues and course assessment continues to meet the principles of the University’s assessment policy. Some adjustments may need to be made in emergencies. You will be kept fully informed by your course co-ordinator/director, and if disruption occurs you should refer to the university website for information about how to proceed.

The delivery mode may change depending on COVID restrictions. Any changes will be communicated through Canvas.

Student Charter and Responsibilities

The Student Charter assumes and acknowledges that students are active participants in the learning process and that they have responsibilities to the institution and the international community of scholars. The University expects that students will act at all times in a way that demonstrates respect for the rights of other students and staff so that the learning environment is both safe and productive. For further information visit Student Charter https://www.auckland.ac.nz/en/students/forms-policies-and-guidelines/student-policies-and-guidelines/student-charter.html.

Disclaimer

Elements of this outline may be subject to change. The latest information about the course will be available for enrolled students in Canvas.

In this course students may be asked to submit coursework assessments digitally. The University reserves the right to conduct scheduled tests and examinations for this course online or through the use of computers or other electronic devices. Where tests or examinations are conducted online remote invigilation arrangements may be used. In exceptional circumstances changes to elements of this course may be necessary at short notice. Students enrolled in this course will be informed of any such changes and the reasons for them, as soon as possible, through Canvas.

Published on 01/11/2023 10:22 a.m.