FORE225-26S1 (C) Semester One 2026

Forest Biology

15 points

Details:
Start Date: Monday, 16 February 2026
End Date: Sunday, 21 June 2026
Withdrawal Dates
Last Day to withdraw from this course:
  • Without financial penalty (full fee refund): Sunday, 1 March 2026
  • Without academic penalty (including no fee refund): Sunday, 10 May 2026

Description

This course provides a comprehensive introduction to the rich diversity of New Zealand's native plants and forest ecosystems. Students will develop skills in collecting, curating, and identifying key native plant species, gaining a solid foundation in plant diversity and evolutionary history. The course covers the biology of dominant New Zealand tree species, as well as invertebrate and fungal biology within native forests. Additionally, the course addresses wildfire behaviour and its role in forest ecosystems, equipping students with knowledge of fire management practices in New Zealand. The cultural significance of forest species to Maori will be emphasised throughout the course.

This course provides a comprehensive introduction to the rich diversity of New Zealand's native plants and forest ecosystems. Students will develop skills in collecting, curating, and identifying key native plant species, gaining a solid foundation in plant diversity and evolutionary history.

The course covers the biology of dominant New Zealand tree species, as well as invertebrate and fungal biology within native forests. The cultural significance of forest species to Māori will be emphasised throughout the course.

Learning Outcomes

Students will have:
1. An appreciation and understanding of plant diversity and evolution, including the collection, curation and identification of key New Zealand native plants with an emphasis on dominant tree species;
2. An understanding of invertebrate/fungal biology and ecology of New Zealand's native forests;
3. An understanding of the cultural significance of native plants and animals to Māori.

University Graduate Attributes

This course will provide students with an opportunity to develop the Graduate Attributes specified below:

Employable, innovative and enterprising

Students will develop key skills and attributes sought by employers that can be used in a range of applications.

Biculturally competent and confident

Students will be aware of and understand the nature of biculturalism in Aotearoa New Zealand, and its relevance to their area of study and/or their degree.

Prerequisites

FORE111 and BIOL112; or subject to approval by the Chair Board of Studies.

Restrictions

FORE218

Recommended Preparation

BIOL111 (BCHM111), and/or BIOL113, and/or BIOL116

Timetable 2026

Students must attend one activity from each section.

Lecture A
Activity Day Time Location Weeks
01 Monday 10:00 - 11:00 Meremere 105 Lecture Theatre
16 Feb - 29 Mar
20 Apr - 31 May
Lecture B
Activity Day Time Location Weeks
01 Tuesday 10:00 - 11:00 Psychology - Sociology 115
16 Feb - 29 Mar
20 Apr - 31 May
Computer Lab A
Activity Day Time Location Weeks
01 Monday 11:00 - 14:00 Forestry 252 Computer Lab
23 Mar - 29 Mar
Field Trip A
Activity Day Time Location Weeks
01 Monday 10:00 - 17:00 - 16 Mar - 22 Mar
Lab A
Activity Day Time Location Weeks
01 Monday 11:00 - 14:00 Forestry 152
16 Feb - 15 Mar
20 Apr - 31 May

Course Coordinator / Lecturer

Sarah Wyse

Lecturer

Stephen Pawson

Assessment

Assessment Due Date Percentage  Description
Cultural importance video 10% Cultural importance video
Plant herbarium 30% Plant herbarium
Fungal lab report 20% Fungal lab report
Final exam 40% Final exam

Textbooks / Resources

There is no text book for this course, but you are required to purchase the following book for the field trip: Dawson L & Lucas R 2000. Nature Guide to the New Zealand Forest. Random House, Auckland (available from the University Bookshop for $45)

Indicative Fees

Domestic fee $1,190.00

International fee $5,875.00

* 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 Forestry .

All FORE225 Occurrences

  • FORE225-26S1 (C) Semester One 2026