SLE202 - Landscapes and Their Management
Unit details
| Year | 2025 unit information |
|---|---|
| Enrolment modes: | Trimester 2: Burwood (Melbourne) |
| Credit point(s): | 1 |
| EFTSL value: | 0.125 |
| Unit Chair: | Trimester 2: Don Driscoll |
| Prerequisite: | SLE102 and 1 SLE coded unit at level 1 |
| Corequisite: | Nil |
| Incompatible with: | SLE322 |
| Educator-facilitated (scheduled) learning activities - on-campus unit enrolment: | 1 x 2 hour online seminar per week, 2 x 3 hour practical experience (laboratory) per trimester, 3 x 3 hour practical experience (computer practical) per trimester, 1 x full day practical experience (field trip) to the Mornington Peninsula. |
| Typical study commitment: | Students will on average spend 150 hours over the teaching period undertaking the teaching, learning and assessment activities for this unit. This will include educator guided online learning activities within the unit site. |
Content
The use and management of land is central to many of the major environmental and societal issues of our age, including the biodiversity and climate crises, water degradation, urbanisation, human population growth, and the decay of agricultural land. These are all issues that we increasingly need to understand and manage, locally and globally. Landscape ecology provides a framework for developing solutions to these types of issues because it focuses on understanding spatial patterns in the landscape and how such patterns influence ecological processes. It does this at the scale of populations and metapopulations; the scale that determines whether species will become extinct or survive. Human land-use is a major driver of changes to landscapes throughout the world, and understanding how humans affect landscape processes is essential to creating sustainable landscapes for the future. Landscape ecology is underpinned by Landscape evolution, which determines topography, landforms, soil types, and hydrology. These aspects of landscapes place fundamental limitations on where species can occur; they define moisture, nutrient and sunlight availability, as well as exposure to fire and wind disturbances. Overlaying those natural patterns of variation in resources and disturbances are the impacts of humans. Understanding these landscape-scale factors is critical for predicting which species can persist at a site, the types of ecosystems that form there, and how they interact with other populations and communities across the landscape.
Learning Outcomes
| ULO | These are the Unit Learning Outcomes (ULOs) for this unit. At the completion of this unit, successful students can: | Alignment to Deakin Graduate Learning Outcomes (GLOs) |
|---|---|---|
| ULO1 | Describe basic physical properties of geological materials and explain the significance of key landscape features. | GLO1: Discipline-specific knowledge and capabilities GLO2: Communication |
| ULO2 | Describe and interpret features of landscapes based upon field observations and/or imagery including maps and remotely sensed images. | GLO1: Discipline-specific knowledge and capabilities GLO3: Digital Literacy GLO4: Critical thinking GLO5: Problem solving |
| ULO3 | Synthesise knowledge of major concepts and principles in landscape ecology and how they apply to issues in land use and the conservation of natural resources in Australia and in global contexts. | GLO1: Discipline-specific knowledge and capabilities GLO4: Critical thinking GLO8: Global citizenship |
| ULO4 | Develop practical skills in studying landscapes including study design, the collection and analysis of data and communication of findings. | GLO2: Communication GLO5: Problem solving |
Assessment
| Assessment Description | Student output | Grading and weighting (% total mark for unit) | Indicative due week |
|---|---|---|---|
| Assessment 1 Tests | Quizzes testing class and practical materials | 10% | Weeks 2-11 |
| Assessment 2 Group discussion and test | Quizzes testing class and practical materials | 10% | Weeks 2-11 |
| Assessment 3 Research report (Google Earth) | 1,500 word written report | 40% | Week 4 |
| Assessment 4 | 1,500-2,000 word written report | 40% | Week 12 |
The assessment due weeks provided may change. The Unit Chair will clarify the exact assessment requirements, including the due date, at the start of the teaching period.
Learning resource
The texts and reading list for SLE202 can be found via the University Library.
Note: Select the relevant trimester reading list. Please note that a future teaching period's reading list may not be available until a month prior to the start of that teaching period so you may wish to use the relevant trimester's prior year reading list as a guide only.
Unit Fee Information
Fees and charges vary depending on the type of fee place you hold, your course, your commencement year, the units you choose to study and their study discipline, and your study load.
Tuition fees increase at the beginning of each calendar year and all fees quoted are in Australian dollars ($AUD). Tuition fees do not include textbooks, computer equipment or software, other equipment or costs such as mandatory checks, travel and stationery.
For further information regarding tuition fees, other fees and charges, invoice due dates, withdrawal dates, payment methods visit our Current Students website.