An understanding of vegetation ecology is an important precursor to the conservation and sustainable management of forests and woodlands. More than 80% of Australia's treed landscapes are dominated by eucalypts and therefore this program is largely concerned with the ecology of eucalypt forests and woodlands.  The course covers the following topics:

• the classification of major Australian vegetation types, their geographical occurrence and factors controlling their distribution at a range of scales from continental to patch;
• Eucalypt taxonomy and biogeography focusing on the major taxa of Corymbia, Symphymyrtus and Monocalyptus;
• the reproductive biology and growth habits of eucalypts;
• Eucalypt adaptation to Australian environmental conditions;
• patterning and processes in eucalypt forests and models of succession describing eucalypt response to natural and anthropogenic disturbances - particularly fire;
• elements of stand structural complexity and their relationship to biodiversity in eucalypt dominated vegetation.

This is a hands-on course with a substantial practical component. Students reinforce and extend concepts presented in lectures through a coordinated set of field exercises located in Canberra Nature Parks, Namadgi National Park, the ANU Kioloa field station and the Murramarang National Park. Students synthesise their knowledge in a major project, in which they research the ecology of a tree species of their choice.

On satisfying the requirements of this course, students will have the knowledge and skills to:

Assessment will be based on:

• Short reports of field practicals (35%; LO 1,2,3,4,6,7)
• Kioloa field trip report (20%; LO 1,2,3,4,7)
• Journal abstract exercise (15%: LO 4,7)
• Major project - 1000 word annotated bibliography, 15 minute seminar, 2 page fact sheet (30%; LO 1,2,3,4,5,6,7)

Requires 48 units towards a degree. SRES1004 and SRES 2016 strongly recommended.

FSTY2019

Williams, J & Woinarski, J, eds (1997) Eucalypt ecology: individuals to ecosystems. Cambridge University Press.