Overview
Applied Ecology is the science of understanding and managing natural living resources. Over-harvesting of exploited species, habitat loss, and the spread of invasive species are among the world’s most pressing environmental issues. Solutions to these problems are complex, but firmly embedded in the fundamental tenets of ecological knowledge and theory. This unit will provide you with a broad perspective of the field of applied ecology by working across different ecological levels (ecosystem, community, population and species) and issues, in the process you will explore how ecological knowledge and theory is applied to the management of natural living resources.
Details
Pre-requisites or Co-requisites
Pre-requisites ZOOL11005 Foundation Animal Biology and BOTN11004 Foundation Plant Biology or BIOL11099 Living Systems and BIOL11100 Functional Biology or BIOL11102 and ENVR11014. Anti-requisite BIOL13031 - Ecology: Theory and Application
Important note: Students enrolled in a subsequent unit who failed their pre-requisite unit, should drop the subsequent unit before the census date or within 10 working days of Fail grade notification. Students who do not drop the unit in this timeframe cannot later drop the unit without academic and financial liability. See details in the Assessment Policy and Procedure (Higher Education Coursework).
Offerings For Term 2 - 2025
Attendance Requirements
All on-campus students are expected to attend scheduled classes - in some units, these classes are identified as a mandatory (pass/fail) component and attendance is compulsory. International students, on a student visa, must maintain a full time study load and meet both attendance and academic progress requirements in each study period (satisfactory attendance for International students is defined as maintaining at least an 80% attendance record).
Recommended Student Time Commitment
Each 6-credit Undergraduate unit at CQUniversity requires an overall time commitment of an average of 12.5 hours of study per week, making a total of 150 hours for the unit.
Class Timetable
Assessment Overview
Assessment Grading
This is a graded unit: your overall grade will be calculated from the marks or grades for each assessment task, based on the relative weightings shown in the table above. You must obtain an overall mark for the unit of at least 50%, or an overall grade of 'pass' in order to pass the unit. If any 'pass/fail' tasks are shown in the table above they must also be completed successfully ('pass' grade). You must also meet any minimum mark requirements specified for a particular assessment task, as detailed in the 'assessment task' section (note that in some instances, the minimum mark for a task may be greater than 50%). Consult the University's Grades and Results Policy for more details of interim results and final grades.
All University policies are available on the CQUniversity Policy site.
You may wish to view these policies:
- Grades and Results Policy
- Assessment Policy and Procedure (Higher Education Coursework)
- Review of Grade Procedure
- Student Academic Integrity Policy and Procedure
- Monitoring Academic Progress (MAP) Policy and Procedure - Domestic Students
- Monitoring Academic Progress (MAP) Policy and Procedure - International Students
- Student Refund and Credit Balance Policy and Procedure
- Student Feedback - Compliments and Complaints Policy and Procedure
- Information and Communications Technology Acceptable Use Policy and Procedure
This list is not an exhaustive list of all University policies. The full list of University policies are available on the CQUniversity Policy site.
Feedback, Recommendations and Responses
Every unit is reviewed for enhancement each year. At the most recent review, the following staff and student feedback items were identified and recommendations were made.
Feedback from Self-reflection.
Students require additional support with data analysis and the capacity to extract meaning, and therefore reach informed conclusions/decisions.
Provide more scaffolding and support for students in the areas of data analysis and the role of data in decision making.
Feedback from SUTE Unit Comments Report.
Timetabling of the residential school in Week 10 does not allow students sufficient time to complete the assessment.
Consider reducing the magnitude of the residential school assessment.
Feedback from SUTE Unit Comments Report.
Spreading assessment across multiple smaller low risk items is highly beneficial.
Continue to use a low-risk assessment strategy within the unit.
- Describe how ecological principles are applied to the protection, management, and restoration of terrestrial and aquatic living resources and ecosystems
- Discuss the elements, concepts, and theories of population and community structure and dynamics
- Apply integrated knowledge of population, community and ecosystem ecology to real world situations using industry standard methods
- Develop and utilise the skills necessary to undertake ecological fieldwork successfully and to analyse ecological data/models.
Alignment of Assessment Tasks to Learning Outcomes
| Assessment Tasks | Learning Outcomes | |||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | |
| 1 - Online Quiz(zes) - 40% | ||||
| 2 - Practical Assessment - 30% | ||||
| 3 - Practical Assessment - 30% | ||||
Alignment of Graduate Attributes to Learning Outcomes
| Graduate Attributes | Learning Outcomes | |||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | |
| 1 - Communication | ||||
| 2 - Problem Solving | ||||
| 3 - Critical Thinking | ||||
| 4 - Information Literacy | ||||
| 5 - Team Work | ||||
| 6 - Information Technology Competence | ||||
| 7 - Cross Cultural Competence | ||||
| 8 - Ethical practice | ||||
| 9 - Social Innovation | ||||
| 10 - Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Cultures | ||||
Alignment of Assessment Tasks to Graduate Attributes
| Assessment Tasks | Graduate Attributes | |||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | 5 | 6 | 7 | 8 | 9 | 10 | |
| 1 - Online Quiz(zes) - 40% | ||||||||||
| 2 - Practical Assessment - 30% | ||||||||||
| 3 - Practical Assessment - 30% | ||||||||||
Textbooks
There are no required textbooks.
IT Resources
- CQUniversity Student Email
- Internet
- Unit Website (Moodle)
All submissions for this unit must use the referencing style: Harvard (author-date)
For further information, see the Assessment Tasks.
a.carton@cqu.edu.au
Module/Topic
Introduction to Applied Ecology and Fundamentals of Ecology
Chapter
Events and Submissions/Topic
Module/Topic
Ecological Surveying and Monitoring
Chapter
Events and Submissions/Topic
Module/Topic
Ecological Indicators
Chapter
Events and Submissions/Topic
Theory Quiz 1 will open 7:00am (AEST) Friday of Week 3
Module/Topic
Exploited Species-Wild Capture Fisheries I
Chapter
Events and Submissions/Topic
Theory Quiz 1 will close 11:55pm (AEST) Friday of Week 4
Module/Topic
Residential School
Chapter
Events and Submissions/Topic
Residential School: Tuesday (12/08) to Thursday (14/08)
Module/Topic
Chapter
Events and Submissions/Topic
Module/Topic
Residential School Recap and Data Analysis
Chapter
Events and Submissions/Topic
Module/Topic
Exploited Species-Wild Capture Fisheries II
Chapter
Events and Submissions/Topic
Theory Quiz 2 will open 7:00am (AEST) Friday of Week 7
Module/Topic
Landscape Ecology and Management
Chapter
Events and Submissions/Topic
Theory Quiz 2 will close 11:55pm (AEST) Friday of Week 8
Module/Topic
Remote Sensing
Chapter
Events and Submissions/Topic
Module/Topic
Wildlife Interactions and Introduced/Invasive Species Management
Chapter
Events and Submissions/Topic
Module/Topic
Environmental Restoration/Rehabilitation
Chapter
Events and Submissions/Topic
Theory Quiz 3 will open 7:00am (AEST) Friday of Week 11
Practical Report 2: Ecological Surveying Methods Due: Week 11 Friday (3 Oct 2025) 11:55 pm AEST
Module/Topic
Unit Review
Chapter
Events and Submissions/Topic
Theory Quiz 3 will close 11:55pm (AEST) Friday of Week 12
1 Online Quiz(zes)
Online Quiz(zes)/Short Answer Questions will test knowledge across several key areas:
Ecological surveying and monitoring / Ecological indicators (Topics Week 2 and 3).
Exploited Species: Wild capture fisheries (Topic Week 4 and 7).
Landscape ecology and management / Wildlife interactions and Introduced species management / Environmental restoration/rehabilitation (Topics Week 8, 10, and 11).
The 72-hour grace period does not apply to this assessment.
Level of GenAI use allowed:
Level 1: You must not use Al at any point during the assessment. You must demonstrate your core skills and knowledge.
3
Other
Quiz 1 due 11:55pm Friday Week 4, Quiz 2 11:55pm Friday Week 8, Quiz 3 11:55pm Friday Week 12
Immediately following online submission and completion of the quiz.
Periodic online quizzes/short answers are based on lecture and study material from the previous week(s).
Students will have one attempt per quiz. Questions can be a mix of true/false, multiple choice, mix-and-match, short answers, and other formats. Answers will be assessed for completeness and correctness.
Do not share your questions or answers with other students as this may disadvantage other students, and such behaviour will be considered a breach of academic integrity and may result in academic misconduct.
- Describe how ecological principles are applied to the protection, management, and restoration of terrestrial and aquatic living resources and ecosystems
- Discuss the elements, concepts, and theories of population and community structure and dynamics
- Communication
- Critical Thinking
- Information Literacy
2 Practical Assessment
During your ENVR12002 Residential School you will undertake activities that require the application of scientific and industry standard monitoring, assessment and surveying methodologies and technologies. These activities will be primarily across two areas; 1) Growth Modelling Assessment of Marine Fish (Practical Report 1), and 2) Ecological Surveying Methods (Practical Report 2). Following the Residential School you will use the data collected during each activity to write up and present the results and conclusions in the format of a scientific/industry standard report.
To assist you with the task of writing up the reports, general assistance with the interpretation and analysis of data will be provided at the conclusion of each activity during the Residential School.
Level of GenAI use allowed:
Level 2: You may use Al for planning, idea development, and research. Your final submission should show how you have developed and refined these ideas.
Week 10 Friday (26 Sept 2025) 11:55 pm AEST
Week 12 Friday (10 Oct 2025)
Assessment, feedback and marking rubric returned via the unit Moodle site
Practical Report will be assessed on:
- Completeness (relevant observations, methods and results relating to growth assessment and modelling of teleost fish).
- Discussion of the results in context with current and relevant fisheries methods for assessment and predictive modelling of fish growth.
- Appropriate application and discussion of teleost fish growth and modelling assessment(s) and applications/limitations in the management of exploited stocks.
- Clarity, grammar, punctuation and organisation.
- Presentation of figures, tables and diagrams (to publication standard).
- Correct inline referencing of figures/tables/diagrams.
- Appropriate and correctly-cited references with appropriate author-date citation (Harvard referencing).
- Word limit of 2000 words.
Further details of the assessment criteria and rubric will be available on the unit Moodle (Week 10: Residential School) and discussed with students at the conclusion of the Residential School.
- Discuss the elements, concepts, and theories of population and community structure and dynamics
- Apply integrated knowledge of population, community and ecosystem ecology to real world situations using industry standard methods
- Develop and utilise the skills necessary to undertake ecological fieldwork successfully and to analyse ecological data/models.
- Problem Solving
- Critical Thinking
- Team Work
- Information Technology Competence
- Ethical practice
3 Practical Assessment
During your ENVR12002 Residential School you will undertake activities that require the application of scientific and industry standard monitoring, assessment and surveying methodologies and technologies. These activities will be primarily across two areas; 1) Growth Modelling Assessment of Marine Fish (Practical Report 1), and 2) Ecological Surveying Methods (Practical Report 2). Following the Residential School you will use the data collected during each activity to write up and present the results and conclusions in the format of a scientific/industry standard report.
To assist you with the task of writing up the reports, general assistance with the interpretation and analysis of data will be provided at the conclusion of each activity during the Residential School.
Level of GenAI use allowed:
Level 2: You may use Al for planning, idea development, and research. Your final submission should show how you have developed and refined these ideas.
Week 11 Friday (3 Oct 2025) 11:55 pm AEST
Week 12 Friday (10 Oct 2025)
Assessment, feedback and marking rubric returned via the unit Moodle
Practical Report will be assessed on:
- Completeness (relevant observations, methods and results relating to assessment of species diversity through application of different sampling techniques).
- Discussion of the results in context with current and relevant ecological sampling techniques that seek to measure and quantify species diversity.
- Appropriate application and discussion of sampling and assessment of species diversity and consideration of habitat classification for ecological management.
- Clarity, grammar, punctuation and organisation.
- Presentation of figures, tables and diagrams (to publication standard).
- Correct inline referencing of figures/tables/diagrams.
- Appropriate and correctly-cited references with appropriate author-date citation (Harvard referencing).
- Word limit of 2000 words.
Further details of the assessment criteria and rubric will be available on the unit Moodle (Week 10: Residential School) and discussed with students at the conclusion of the Residential School.
- Discuss the elements, concepts, and theories of population and community structure and dynamics
- Apply integrated knowledge of population, community and ecosystem ecology to real world situations using industry standard methods
- Develop and utilise the skills necessary to undertake ecological fieldwork successfully and to analyse ecological data/models.
- Problem Solving
- Critical Thinking
- Team Work
- Information Technology Competence
- Ethical practice
As a CQUniversity student you are expected to act honestly in all aspects of your academic work.
Any assessable work undertaken or submitted for review or assessment must be your own work. Assessable work is any type of work you do to meet the assessment requirements in the unit, including draft work submitted for review and feedback and final work to be assessed.
When you use the ideas, words or data of others in your assessment, you must thoroughly and clearly acknowledge the source of this information by using the correct referencing style for your unit. Using others’ work without proper acknowledgement may be considered a form of intellectual dishonesty.
Participating honestly, respectfully, responsibly, and fairly in your university study ensures the CQUniversity qualification you earn will be valued as a true indication of your individual academic achievement and will continue to receive the respect and recognition it deserves.
As a student, you are responsible for reading and following CQUniversity’s policies, including the Student Academic Integrity Policy and Procedure. This policy sets out CQUniversity’s expectations of you to act with integrity, examples of academic integrity breaches to avoid, the processes used to address alleged breaches of academic integrity, and potential penalties.
What is a breach of academic integrity?
A breach of academic integrity includes but is not limited to plagiarism, self-plagiarism, collusion, cheating, contract cheating, and academic misconduct. The Student Academic Integrity Policy and Procedure defines what these terms mean and gives examples.
Why is academic integrity important?
A breach of academic integrity may result in one or more penalties, including suspension or even expulsion from the University. It can also have negative implications for student visas and future enrolment at CQUniversity or elsewhere. Students who engage in contract cheating also risk being blackmailed by contract cheating services.
Where can I get assistance?
For academic advice and guidance, the Academic Learning Centre (ALC) can support you in becoming confident in completing assessments with integrity and of high standard.
What can you do to act with integrity?
