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An overview of the indigenous flora and fauna of New Zealand, including their biogeographic origins, the unique and unusual aspects of native organisms, the makeup of native communities, and their interactions with introduced organisms. Emphasis will be placed on the role of biological invaders in modifying New Zealand ecosystems.
What’s not to love about New Zealand’s biodiversity? In this course, students interested in the ecology, evolution, conservation of New Zealand plants and animals are provided with an overview of New Zealand’s biogeographic origins, the unique and unusual aspects of native species, their interactions with introduced species, and the makeup of native communities. These topics will help students to understand what is so special about New Zealand’s biodiversity, as well as the challenges that it is facing. This knowledge provides a framework for other courses with a focus on ecology, evolution, and conservation. Students will also learn biodiversity monitoring skills as part of field work on campus and in Riccarton Bush. The data that they generate during this field work will be used inform the UC campus development plan. Finally, students will learn literature-research skills by writing a case study on an invasive species in New Zealand.
As a Student in this Course, I will develop the ability:to describe the processes that lead to the evolution and development of the New Zealand flora and fauna (assessment task: final exam);to understand the effects of human activities on the past and current states of New Zealand’s biodiversity, and on its future (assessment task: final exam);to understand the factors that have led to the decline in biodiversity and the importance of biosecurity in maintaining the remaining biodiversity (assessment task: final exam);to be able to identify key components of the local flora and fauna in the field (assessment task: field trip and lab reports);to be able to access the primary scientific literature reviewing the current state of knowledge on any species of plant or animal in New Zealand (assessment task: case study review).Transferable Skills RegisterAs a Student in this Course, you will develop the following skills:The ability to undertake and write a review of the primary scientific literature on an invasive plant or animal and its impact on the native New Zealand biota. (To gather the information needed for this assignment you will have to learn how to conduct a literature search, read through and extract the appropriate information for your topic from the scientific literature, and summarise the results of your literature search in an essay using scientific prose, including appropriate referencing and citing of material.)A knowledge of the basics of plant and animal identification in the field, as well as simple practical skills in the survey of biodiversity. (During a field trip, practical skills in the identification of plants, birds, aquatic organisms and fossils will be developed. You will also learn some basic techniques for surveying biodiversity.)An understanding of the diversity of the New Zealand flora and fauna, how it arose, and the current threats to its survival. (Lectures will detail the key features of the plants and animals of New Zealand, the high level of endemicity and how it arose, the threats to the continued survival of these species, and how these threats can be reversed to ensure no future extinctions occur.)
This course will provide students with an opportunity to develop the Graduate Attributes specified below:
Critically competent in a core academic discipline of their award
Students know and can critically evaluate and, where applicable, apply this knowledge to topics/issues within their majoring subject.
BIOL112 or BIOL113
BIOL114
Jim Briskie
Helen Warburton and Pieter Pelser
Linda Gay Morris
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What if I have written more than the word or page limit?If there is a word limit on an assignment, it is usually there to stop you doing too much work and to encourage you to write succinctly. It also makes things easier to assess. You can be up to 10% over without too much worry, but if the length increases beyond that your mark may suffer due to failure to follow the requirements. If you find yourself way over the word limit have a chat to the lecturer concerned about how to trim your assignment to an acceptable length.
Domestic fee $865.00
International fee $3,788.00
* All fees are inclusive of NZ GST or any equivalent overseas tax, and do not include any programme level discount or additional course-related expenses.
For further information see School of Biological Sciences .