BVB225 Ecosystems and Biodiversity
To view more information for this unit, select Unit Outline from the list below. Please note the teaching period for which the Unit Outline is relevant.
| Unit code: | BVB225 |
|---|---|
| Prerequisite(s): | BVB101 or BVB102 or BVB103 or EVB102 or BZB210 or admission to ST20 |
| Antirequisite(s): | BVB223, BVB224 |
| Credit points: | 12 |
| Timetable | Details in HiQ, if available |
| Availabilities |
|
| CSP student contribution | $1,192 |
| Domestic tuition unit fee | $5,364 |
| International unit fee | $5,952 |
Unit Outline: Semester 2 2026, Gardens Point, Internal
| Unit code: | BVB225 |
|---|---|
| Credit points: | 12 |
| Pre-requisite: | BVB101 or BVB102 or BVB103 or EVB102 or BZB210 or admission to ST20 |
| Anti-requisite: | BVB223, BVB224 |
| Coordinator: | Matthew Phillips | m9.phillips@qut.edu.au |
Overview
There are over one million species catalogued, and several million yet to be described. Familiarity with biological diversity and the role species play within ecosystems is central to biological and evolutionary research, and for developing solutions to sustain the environmental health of our planet. Australia has a largely unique flora and fauna, with a very high proportion of our plant and animal species found nowhere else. While it is impossible to cover every Australian plant and animal in a single unit, we will introduce some key elements of that diversity, with a focus on terrestrial ecosystems and the plants, insects and mammals which occur in them. For students enrolled in biology and environmental science majors this unit provides foundational knowledge to complement areas such as ecology and environmental monitoring; while for education majors the skills gained in creating collections forms a basis for teaching biology in both primary and secondary school.
Learning Outcomes
On successful completion of this unit you will be able to:
- Describe the fundamentals of terrestrial ecosystems, including the diversity of organisms, and their environments.
- Understand how key environmental and biological processes and interactions influence the structure of habitats and the distribution of species.
- Demonstrate basic sampling and analytical techniques to quantify biodiversity.
- Develop skills in critical analysis and scientific writing.
Content
1. What constitutes biological diversity, biodiversity measures, and evolutionary and ecological drivers of biodiversity change over time and space.
2. Environmental drivers of ecosystems and biodiversity, with a focus on Australia's terrestrial ecosystems, including rainforest, desert and sclerophyll forests.
3. Coevolutionary drivers of biodiversity, with a focus on insect-plant interactions.
4. Sampling and analysing biological diversity.
Learning Approaches
The unit will consist of face-to-face lectures, laboratory and computer-based practicals, and a one-day field exercise at Moggill Conservation Park. A significant component of the practical work will focus on identification of Australian flora and insects. You will also learn how to measure/analyse ecosystem and biological diversity using data collected on the field trip. The unit will be team taught, in a predominantly modular fashion. The first module will introduce the theoretical back-ground to ecosystems and biodiversity, and provide the context of the unit structuring. The remaining modules will examine the diversity of particular components of terrestrial ecosystems and the drivers for that biodiversity. Specifically, module 1 will examine the origins and drivers of biodiversity and how it is measured and catalogued; module 2 will focus on key terrestrial Australian ecosystems, particularly rainforests, grasslands and sclerophyll forests; and module 3 will explore insect diversity and insect-plant interactions.
Feedback on Learning and Assessment
Summative and formative feedback will be available during the semester via results of the reports, practice quizzes (prior to the exam) and feedback on collections progress during semester.
Assessment
Overview
There are three summative assessment tasks in this unit to assess your learning: A practical/field report for the plant module, curated plant and insect collections and a final exam. To help you consolidate your learning and to support your preparation for the exam you will be provided with several short formative quizzes during the semester that draw on content from the different modules.
Unit Grading Scheme
7- point scale
Assessment Tasks
Assessment: Report
A scientific report, relating to practicals and field work focusing on the biodiversity and key Australian ecosystem modules. This will test your practical knowledge and ability to analyse ecological and biodiversity data, as well as reflect on experimental design. (formative and summative)
This assignment is eligible for the 48-hour late submission period and assignment extensions.
Assessment: Plant and Insect Collection
At the end of semester you will submit a curated plant collection (herbarium) and a curated insect collection (weighted 25% each). Details of collection, materials required, and the skills needed, will be the focus of lectures and practicals during the semester.
This assignment is eligible for the 48-hour late submission period and assignment extensions.
Assessment: Exam
You will undertake a final exam that draws on all learning activities and will assess your understanding of biological diversity and the role species play within ecosystems and the application of this knowledge to solve problems.
Academic Integrity
Academic integrity is a commitment to undertaking academic work and assessment in a manner that is ethical, fair, honest, respectful and accountable.
The Academic Integrity Policy sets out the range of conduct that can be a failure to maintain the standards of academic integrity. This includes, cheating in exams, plagiarism, self-plagiarism, collusion and contract cheating. It also includes providing fraudulent or altered documentation in support of an academic concession application, for example an assignment extension or a deferred exam.
You are encouraged to make use of QUT’s learning support services, resources and tools to assure the academic integrity of your assessment. This includes the use of text matching software that may be available to assist with self-assessing your academic integrity as part of the assessment submission process.
Breaching QUT’s Academic Integrity Policy or engaging in conduct that may defeat or compromise the purpose of assessment can lead to a finding of student misconduct (Code of Conduct – Student) and result in the imposition of penalties under the Management of Student Misconduct Policy, ranging from a grade reduction to exclusion from QUT.
Resources
Risk Assessment Statement
The unit consists of classroom-based interactive lectures, discussions and practicals, all of which are low risk activities. Risk assessments for field exercises identify several low impact risks, including: travel; slips and trips; animal bites, and animal and plant stings. Students are provided with a health and safety manual detailing health, safety and emergency procedures associated with field and laboratory activities. Students are required to read, understand and put into practice all safety guidelines.