Enrolments for 2020 have closed.
Backyard Biodiversity
Undergraduate | TAS-KPZ9006 | 2020
Course information for 2020 intake
View information for 2021 course intake- Study method
- 100% online
- Assessments
- 100% online
- Entry requirements
- Part of a degree
- Duration
- 12 weeks
HECS-HELP and FEE-HELP available
Backyard Biodiversity
About this subject
Upon completion of this subject, the student should be able to:
- Explain the value of biodiversity using the UN Sustainable Development Goals
- Quantify the biodiversity and habitat present in your local environment
- Create solutions for living in biodiverse environments
- Develop the skills to manage the biodiversity of your local environment
- Welcome to Backyard Biodiversity
- Introduction to biodiversity
- Ecosystems, resilience and ecosystem services?
- Biodiversity in Australia?
- Biodiversity and the Sustainable Development Goals
- Taxonomy: the name game
- Techniques for detecting wildlife
- Quantifying biodiversity
- Habitat!
- Identifying mammals
- Identifying birds
- Identifying reptiles and amphibians
- It’s the little things in life that matter most: invertebrates and microbes
- Getting to know your plants
- Plants that provide food for wildlife
- Creating terrestrial habitat
- Creating aquatic habitat
- Making a backyard habitat management plan
- Protecting the plants in your yard
- Protecting the animals (wildlife and pets)
- Protecting ourselves: dealing with bushfire risk
- Maintaining backyard habitat
- Making it work
- Designing for equity and accessibility
- Co-benefits for sustainable living
Biodiversity is a critical component of sustainable living and is central to several of the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals. At a local scale, biodiversity is important for healthy and sustainable living, and due to the complexity of biodiversity issues in urban areas, requires well informed and strategic management. Focusing on the biodiversity present in urban areas, especially your own backyard, you will learn about the importance of biodiversity to human and ecosystem health and how biodiversity supports sustainable living. You will develop skills and knowledge in identification, quantification and management of both vertebrate and invertebrate biodiversity, and learn how to modify your environment to facilitate greater biodiversity.
- Fortnightly interactive quizzes (30%)
- Backyard biodiversity report (20%)
- Backyard habitat report (20%)
- Backyard biodiversity management plan (30%)
For textbook details check your university's handbook, website or learning management system (LMS).
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Entry requirements
To enrol in this subject, you must be admitted into a degree.
Additional requirements
No additional requirements
Study load
- 0.125 EFTSL
- This is in the range of 10 to 12 hours of study each week.
Equivalent full time study load (EFTSL) is one way to calculate your study load. One (1.0) EFTSL is equivalent to a full-time study load for one year.
Find out more information on Commonwealth Loans to understand what this means to your eligibility for financial support.