91116 Australian Wildlife and Management
Warning: The information on this page is indicative. The subject outline for a
particular session, location and mode of offering is the authoritative source
of all information about the subject for that offering. Required texts, recommended texts and references in particular are likely to change. Students will be provided with a subject outline once they enrol in the subject.
Subject handbook information prior to 2024 is available in the Archives.
Credit points: 6 cp
Result type: Grade and marks
Requisite(s): 91363 Animal Behaviour and Physiology OR 91309c Biodiversity Conservation OR 91154 Ecology
The lower case 'c' after the subject code indicates that the subject is a corequisite. See definitions for details.
These requisites may not apply to students in certain courses. See access conditions.
Description
Human populations are expanding globally, putting increasing pressure on wildlife populations. In Australia, human activities such as land clearing, mining, gas exploration, and agriculture, coupled with the spread of invasive species, and changes to fire regimes, pose serious threats to our native wildlife. In recent years, there has been increasing demand for environmental scientists to identify and mitigate threats to wildlife populations. This subject explores the conservation, management and biology of Australian wildlife. The subject explores the diversity of wildlife in Australia, and focuses on current issues in wildlife ecology and applied solutions to conservation and wildlife management problems. The subject involves a field trip where students can gain hands-on experience working with native animals, and learn a broad range of skills and techniques used to survey, identify and study wildlife. Students learn many of the necessary skills and knowledge to contribute in a professional capacity to the conservation and management of Australian wildlife. Topics include conservation biology, the ecology of threatened and endangered species, anthropogenic impacts on Australian wildlife, captive breeding programs, the role of zoos and national parks in conservation, the ecology of native and introduced pest animals, and the sustainable use of wildlife. Guest lecturers, researchers, and resource managers give presentations covering a range of contemporary issues and advances in the vibrant interdisciplinary field of wildlife ecology.
Subject learning objectives (SLOs)
Upon successful completion of this subject students should be able to:
| 1. | apply ecological principles and ethical knowledge to critically evaluate a complex contemporary issue relating to the management and/or conservation of Australian wildlife |
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| 2. | examine the different positions and perceptions of stakeholders with respect to complex wildlife management issues |
| 3. | apply critical reading and thinking skills while researching a current issue in wildlife management |
| 4. | use contemporary wildlife ecology field skills to survey and identify terrestrial vertebrates present at a field site |
| 5. | analyse and interpret field collected data and present research findings in the form of a scientific manuscript |
| 6. | work effectively as part of a team to evaluate the potential impact of a proposed development on native fauna, and use time management skills to allocate tasks within the team to produce a multi-authored scientific paper |
| 7. | demonstrate understanding of key concepts relating to the management and conservation of wildlife |
Course intended learning outcomes (CILOs)
This subject also contributes specifically to the development of following course intended learning outcomes:
- Demonstrate theoretical and technical knowledge of the principles of biodiversity and ecosystem function and evaluate and integrate principles of sustainability and conservation to protect biodiversity. (1.1)
- Critically evaluate scientific evidence and literature and apply effective and appropriate experimental design and analytical techniques to discover and hypothesise solutions to new and emerging environmental issues. (2.1)
- Demonstrate professionalism, including personal organisation, autonomy, teamwork, literacy and quantitative skills, while ensuring due consideration to ethical guidelines, work health and safety and environmental impact requirements. (3.1)
- Communicate effectively and professionally (oral, written, visual), generating defensible, convincing arguments for relaying research findings or articulating complex issues, concepts or skill around environmental science, within a multi-disciplinary setting. (5.1)
- Acquire knowledge of Indigenous Australian and Torres Strait Islander people's unique connection to the environment, developing professional cultural capability to work effectively with and for, Indigenous Australians within environmental professions. (6.1)
Contribution to the development of graduate attributes
1. Disciplinary knowledge
a. Key concepts in wildlife ecology are learnt through online lectures, readings, and presentations from experts working in the fields of conservation biology and wildlife management.
b. The application of these concepts to address current issues in wildlife ecology is learnt by researching a topic and is assessed by an oral presentation and a written report.
2. Research, inquiry and critical thinking
a. The experimental approach for conserving and managing wildlife is the platform for an Inquiry-oriented approach in this subject. The framework is taught in lectures and is examined in more detail using several case studies, and through presentations by guest lecturers working on current issues in wildlife management. For your oral presentation and written report, you are required to define the issue and synthesise evidence from a range of sources. Your learning will be assessed by the depth, extent and originality of your oral presentation and field study report.
b. Scientific curiosity will be encouraged and developed during the field trip. You will discover new animals that you may not have seen before, and you will have the opportunity to learn how a range of field techniques that are used to survey wildlife, and use field guides to identify terrestrial vertebrates. You will be encouraged to think about the techniques used to study wildlife, and ask questions during the field trip. If you are unable to attend the field trip, you will have the opportunity to learn about these techniques from online material and videos which will be posted on CANVAS. A series of short quizzes will be held during semester and will enable you to assess your understanding and depth of inquiry undertaken during the field trip, during lectures, and during student talks.
3. Professional, ethical and social responsibility
a. Professional and ethical field research skills used by wildlife ecologists are learnt via participation in the three-day fieldtrip and online material. During the fieldtrip you will learn how to survey and identify terrestrial vertebrates using a wide range of skills and techniques used by environmental consultants and wildlife biologists. Students unable to attend the fieldtrip will be able to learn these skills by reading online material and watching videos posted on CANVAS. Your understanding of these skills will be assessed via quizzes that will be held during semester.
b.Teamwork skills are learnt through participation in a group-based field project that requires you to work collaboratively to gather information that contributes to a collective goal: preparation of a group data set that will be analysed and interpreted, and writing a multi-authored report. Team management skills will be learned during the field trip and during semester, and will be assessed via the group report.
c. The importance of conserving and managing wildlife for social and economic sustainability is learnt through providing these perspectives in case studies of a range of current topical issues. This occurs in lectures and the fieldtrip, and the student oral presentations. You are required to consider the social and economic perspectives in your analysis of topical issues in wildlife management and you will be required to argue for or against an issue from social, ethical, and scientific perspectives.
5. Communication
a. The skills necessary to write a report based on an analysis of data and a critical evaluation of the literature are taught via analysis in class of good and poor reports. You will learn these skills by writing a report based on an analysis of the data collected during the student field trip. You will be assessed on your ability to write clearly and logically in a style suitable for a scientific journal, the originality of your perspective, and your ability to synthesise and critique and not merely summarise.
b. The verbal communication skills necessary to present a point of view and the supporting evidence are taught via instructions on the components of effective verbal communication and discussion. You are required to deliver an oral presentation in class, and you will argue your case for or against a contentious issue in wildlife management. Your oral presentation will be assessed by marking criteria that include the ability to engage the audience, ability to speak clearly and effectively, the originality and strength of the argument, and the ability to synthesise information from a diversity of sources.
6. Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Knowledge and Connection with Country
An appreciation of Aboriginal and Torres Strait knowledge and connection with country will be learned through lectures on indigenous fire management, watching online videos showing how Traditional Owners use fire to manage their country, and by listening to peer oral presentations on indigenous management of national parks and conservation reserves.
Teaching and learning strategies
You will learn about the biology and management of Australian Wildlife through two-hour weekly lectures from academics and guest lecturers who work on wildlife and/or are responsible for its management, and student presentations on contemporary issues in willdife management. During the three day field excursion to Stroud, you will learn how to survey terrestrial vertebrates in Karuah National Park and the field station using a variety of industry standard techniques including remote camera traps, Elliot traps, funnel traps, and spot lighting. The field trip will provide students with an opportunity to gain hands-on experience in the techniques used by professionals to survey and study native wildlife. If you are unable to attend the field trip, you can gain some understanding of the techninques we will cover from online videos which will be posted on CANVAS. In the practical classes you will work in groups to analyse the field data and critically evaluate the methods used to collect the data. Working in small groups, you will collaborate on a project to answer a question relevant to the management of Australian wildlife (e.g. effects of fire on species, or effects of invasive predators on behaviour, or the potential effects of land clearing on fauna). Each group will produce a multi-authored written report based on the interpretation of the data and critical review of the literature.
To assist your learning and understanding of key concepts and current issues in wildlife ecology you will critically read and analyse key papers that will introduce you to key concepts that we will discuss during lectures. The papers will be made available on CANVAS the week before the lecture. Reading widely will allow you to synthesise current knowledge and will help you to support your arguments in your oral presentations and written assignments. A series of quiz questions will be posted online after each lecture, and these will allow you to assess your understanding of key concepts, and will contribute to the final marks for this subject.
You will have opportunities to receive feedback during the fieldtrip and the practical class when we will analyse the data collected during the fieldtrip. You are encouraged to submit drafts of your group report prior to the due date so that you can receive written feedback from your lecturer on your writing, analysis and presentation to assist you with your final submission. Verbal feedback is provided after your oral presentation, while more detailed feedback will be provided by an assessment sheet. This feedback aims to help you improve your communication skills.
Content (topics)
The program contains a brief outline of the subject content, including some presentations by guest lecturers, which may vary from year to year.
Assessment
Assessment task 1: Issues in Wildlife Management
| Intent: | This assessment item addresses the following graduate attributes: 1. Disciplinary knowledge 2. Research, inquiry and critical thinking 3. Professional, ethical, and social responsibility 5. Communication 6. Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Knowledge and Connection with Country |
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| Objective(s): | This assessment task addresses subject learning objective(s): 1, 2 and 3 This assessment task contributes to the development of course intended learning outcome(s): 1.1, 2.1, 3.1, 5.1 and 6.1 |
| Type: | Presentation |
| Groupwork: | Group, individually assessed |
| Weight: | 30% |
| Length: | Four minute oral presentation. Voice over Powerpoint or equivalent video. |
| Criteria: | Your verbal presentation will be assessed based on your ability to engage the audience, the extent and depth of information reviewed to develop your argument, evidence of a critical appraisal of the issue (as distinct from merely summarizing the information), and clarity of expression. Detailed assessment criteria will be provided to you during semester to give you time to focus your assessment preparation accordingly. |
Assessment task 2: Quiz on concepts covered in the subject
| Intent: | This assessment item addresses the following graduate attributes: 1. Disciplinary knowledge 2. Research, inquiry and critical thinking 6. Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Knowledge and Connection with Country |
|---|---|
| Objective(s): | This assessment task addresses subject learning objective(s): 1, 4 and 7 This assessment task contributes to the development of course intended learning outcome(s): 1.1, 2.1 and 6.1 |
| Type: | Quiz/test |
| Groupwork: | Individual |
| Weight: | 40% |
| Criteria: | The quizzes will be posted online during each week of semester. Each quiz will consist of multiple choice questions. The quiz questions will assess the ability of students to apply a range of concepts taught during the lectures, student talks, and field trip to real world situations. |
Assessment task 3: Wildlife Management Report
| Intent: | This assessment item addresses the following graduate attributes: 1. Disciplinary knowledge 2. Research, inquiry and critical thinking 3. Professional, ethical, and social responsibility 5. Communication |
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| Objective(s): | This assessment task addresses subject learning objective(s): 2, 4, 5 and 6 This assessment task contributes to the development of course intended learning outcome(s): 1.1, 2.1, 3.1 and 5.1 |
| Type: | Report |
| Groupwork: | Group, group assessed |
| Weight: | 30% |
| Length: | 2500 word report |
| Criteria: | Your group report will be assessed for the completeness of coverage of the case study topic, the adequacy of the summary, evidence of critical insight into the causes and possible solutions of the issue, the extent to which social and economic aspects are addressed, written expression, correct referencing, and how well your group was organized in terms of individual contributions to the project. Detailed assessment criteria will be provided to you via UTS online to give you time to focus your assessment preparation accordingly. |
Minimum requirements
Attendance at the field excursion is critical for your performance in this subject.
Recommended texts
No one specific text is being recommended.
References
The lectures are based on extracts of the following textbooks:
- Bolen, E.G., Robinson, W.L. 2003. Wildlife Ecology and Management. 5th Edition. Pearson Education, Inc..
- Bright, C. 1999. Life out of Bounce. Bio-Invasions in a borderless World. Earthscan Publications.
- Caughly, G. and Gunn, A. 1996. Conservation Biology in Theory and Practice. Blackwell Science.
- Caro, T. 1998. Behavioral Ecology and Conservation Biology. Oxford University Press.
- Sinclair, A.R.E, Fryxell, J.M. and Caughley, G. 2006. Wildlife Ecology, Conservation and Management, 2nd edition. Blackwell Publishing Professional.
Other books, journal articles and web sites may be recommended throughout the semester.