This course is based on an integrative approach to how global climate change is affecting vegetation with a specific focus on the rise of dieback in plant communities. There is much controversy in the field regarding causes of dieback; however, various factors are implicated including carbon starvation, hydraulic failure, vulnerability to biotic stress and phenology and how these drivers interact with elevated atmospheric levels of carbon dioxide. You will investigate the causes of dieback through four modules driven by key researchers and through exposure to disciplinary controversies around the significance, role, and interplay of these factors on plant health, adaptation and survival. The course has a weekend field trip to Kioloa to identify and classify plants based on systematics and to consider evidence of vegetation changes arising from climate change and environmental stressors. There are several pre-field trip practical which will include living and herbarium specimens for first-hand examples of the plant groups and their characteristics. This course will build students’ understanding of plant function in relation to global climate change, field skills in identifying plants and their research analysis and proposal formulation skills.
Note: Graduate students attend joint classes with undergraduates but are assessed separately
Learning Outcomes
Upon successful completion, students will have the knowledge and skills to:
- Explain and describe, in-depth, global climate change and the ways in which its effects may have impacts on plant biology.
- Evaluate knowledge claims on the influence of carbon, hydraulics, abiotic stress and phenology (and their interaction) on plant susceptibility to dieback in context of climate change.
- Source, compare and critically analyse relevant primary research literature in written and oral formats.
- Communicate science ideas, research and evidence in broadly accessible terms.
- Identify and classify the diversity of relevant land plants groups in a phylogenetic field experience context.
Indicative Assessment
- Assessment will be based on: (null) [LO null]
- Oral presentation (10%) on a controversial issue from learning modules based on key paper (2 students to present each week taking different perspectives on a research issue) (LO 1-4) (10) [LO null]
- Constructive critique of peer presentations (which could focus on greater number or greater depth in peer critiques) (15%) (LO 2-4) (15) [LO null]
- Practical & Field Trip Report (15%) (LO 2, 5) (15) [LO null]
- Research proposal (40%) (LO 1-4) (40) [LO null]
- Open book exam (20%) (LO 1-3) (20) [LO null]
The ANU uses Turnitin to enhance student citation and referencing techniques, and to assess assignment submissions as a component of the University's approach to managing Academic Integrity. While the use of Turnitin is not mandatory, the ANU highly recommends Turnitin is used by both teaching staff and students. For additional information regarding Turnitin please visit the ANU Online website.
Workload
Following a week of introductory material, this course will be divided into four modules, each 2-3 weeks long and each having relevant number of lectures and tutorial sessions for the weeks covered. Additionally there will be 3-5 afternoon practical’s of 2-3 hour duration and a weekend field trip at Kioloa which is mandatory.Inherent Requirements
Not applicable
Requisite and Incompatibility
You will need to contact the Biology Teaching and Learning Centre to request a permission code to enrol in this course.
Fees
Tuition fees are for the academic year indicated at the top of the page.
If you are a domestic graduate coursework or international student you will be required to pay tuition fees. Tuition fees are indexed annually. Further information for domestic and international students about tuition and other fees can be found at Fees.
- Student Contribution Band:
- 2
- Unit value:
- 6 units
If you are an undergraduate student and have been offered a Commonwealth supported place, your fees are set by the Australian Government for each course. At ANU 1 EFTSL is 48 units (normally 8 x 6-unit courses). You can find your student contribution amount for each course at Fees. Where there is a unit range displayed for this course, not all unit options below may be available.
| Units | EFTSL |
|---|---|
| 6.00 | 0.12500 |
Course fees
- Domestic fee paying students
| Year | Fee |
|---|---|
| 2019 | $3840 |
- International fee paying students
| Year | Fee |
|---|---|
| 2019 | $5460 |
Offerings, Dates and Class Summary Links
ANU utilises MyTimetable to enable students to view the timetable for their enrolled courses, browse, then self-allocate to small teaching activities / tutorials so they can better plan their time. Find out more on the Timetable webpage.
Class summaries, if available, can be accessed by clicking on the View link for the relevant class number.
Second Semester
| Class number | Class start date | Last day to enrol | Census date | Class end date | Mode Of Delivery | Class Summary |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 7986 | 22 Jul 2019 | 29 Jul 2019 | 31 Aug 2019 | 25 Oct 2019 | In Person | View |