Requisite(s): 66102 Introduction to Earth Systems AND 91154 Ecology AND 91270 Plant Physiology and Ecophysiology AND 91309 Biodiversity
These requisites may not apply to students in certain courses.
There are also course requisites for this subject. See access conditions.
This subject is designed to provide students with the knowledge required to identify groundwater-dependent ecosystems in situ. A brief overview of the various major ecosystems in Australia is given, including their defining features (structure, composition and climate envelope). Sources of water (rainwater, soil water, groundwater, fog, riparian water), patterns of water use (daily and seasonal), and the various methodologies available to measure ecosystem water use and the source(s) of water used by ecosystems are discussed. Factors that influence ecosystem water use (including climate, vegetation cover and water availability) are reviewed, as are definitions of ecosystem dependency on groundwater. Some discussion of field methods that are useful in the study of groundwater-dependent ecosystems is made in this subject.
Autumn semester, City campus