UWA Handbooks 2010 - Units
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UWA Handbooks 2010 - Units

Unit details


BIOL8360 Conservation Biology: Saving Endangered Species [PG]

Credit 6 points
Availability Semester 1 (see Timetable)
Outcomes Students are able to demonstrate an understanding of the threatened flora and fauna of the South Coast region (e.g. what is there, where it is, what the major threats are, and what conservation biology programs are in place to conserve species and their habitats); comprehend basic ideas and concepts in the conservation of threatened species through recovery planning; formulate a research plan to investigate important aspects of the biology/ecology of threatened species and the threats they are facing and carry it out; understand the risks involved, and precautions taken, when handling endangered species; analyse their own field-collected data on an endangered species, compare them with the available literature, identify relevant knowledge gaps, and present this in a scientific report; integrate and critically analyse the available data for a group of threatened species occurring together to develop a multi-species recovery plan; identify relevant knowledge gaps in the information available for an endangered species and develop a competitive grant proposal to address these.
Content This unit commences with a two-week field work component in Albany, just prior to the start of semester one. Thereafter, commitments include a period of self-study and preparation of assignments, which include a multi-species recovery plan, a scientific report, and an oral presentation of the recovery plan. As part of the field component, students undertake field work in collaboration with officers from the Department of Environment and Conservation, to analyse the conservation status, threats and biology/ecology of a particular threatened species. The integrated field-based practical and lecture program in the unit provides an overview of various considerations needed for the design of recovery plans, and also critically examines the various factors involved in the conservation of threatened species. Topics covered include assessing the conservation status of species, understanding and managing threatening processes such as habitat loss and fragmentation, fire and dieback, genetic considerations (such as inbreeding) associated with small population sizes, genetic drift and hybridisation, spread of disease, re-introduction, translocation and captive breeding, and conservation of threatened species using protected areas. Students gain an appreciation of the need for careful planning, execution and monitoring of threatened species by developing a multi-species recovery plan for selected threatened species.
Assessment This comprises the assessment of the corresponding Level 3 unit (50 per cent) and an additional assignment (50 per cent).

Supplementary assessment is not available in this unit.
Unit Co-ordinator(s) Associate Professor Barbara Cook and Assistant Professor Pieter Poot
Location UWA (Crawley), Albany
Mode on-campus and off-campus
Unit Rules
Prerequisites: enrolment in a postgraduate course
Contact hours—2 weeks of block teaching before the start of semester 1 in Albany; then individual or group-based meetings to assist in assessment preparations during the rest of semester 1
Note This unit is available to students in the three-year and four-year Bachelor of Science degrees. It is compulsory for students taking the major in Conservation Biology and students enrolled for the Bachelor of Science in Restoration Ecology.


  • The availability of units in Semester 1, 2, etc. was correct at the time of going to press but may be subject to change.
  • Assistance with study skills, including English language skills, is available free of charge from Student Services for all enrolled students (see http://www.studentservices.uwa.edu.au/ss/learning). Student Services location: Second Floor, South Wing, Guild Village; telephone: 6488 2423.
  • Books and other materials wherever listed may be subject to change. Book lists relating to 'Preliminary Reading', 'Recommended Reading' and 'Textbooks' are, in most cases, available at the University Co-operative Bookshop (from early January) and appropriate administrative offices for students to consult. For first-year units the Bookshop will endeavour to make available photocopies of book lists for individual units. Books marked with an asterisk (*) are available in paperback.
The University of Western Australia
University information CRICOS Code: 00126G
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Monday, 7 September, 2009 at 1:00 PM
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