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Course Outline

ENS321 Restoration Ecology

Course Coordinator:Alison Shapcott (ashapcot@usc.edu.au) School:School of Science, Technology and Engineering

2026Trimester 1

UniSC Sunshine Coast

UniSC Moreton Bay

 Blended learning Most of your course is on campus but you may be able to do some components of this course online.

Please go to unisc.edu.au for up to date information on the
teaching sessions and campuses where this course is usually offered.

What is this course about?

Description

This course explores ecological aspects of environmental restoration using Landscape, site and species specific approaches. You are introduced to the ecology of; landscapes, communities, populations, metapopulations, disturbance and invasive species. You will learn how to apply this to practical scenarios such as translocations, compensatory populations, and provenance for revegetation, landscape defragmentation and climate change. You will develop skills in field assessments, and the analysis and interpretation of data using a variety of statistical and analytical approaches and software.

How will this course be delivered?

Activity Hours Beginning Week Frequency
Blended learning
Learning materials – pre recorded learning materials content and or other instruction materials available as video recordings 2hrs Week 1 12 times
Laboratory 1 – On campus computer laboratory/workshop. Self paced tutorial activities. Fieldwork may be incorporated in some of the computer labs for data collection 2hrs Week 1 12 times
Fieldwork – 1 day field work on or off campus for class data collection for major assignment 8hrs Week 5 Once Only
Seminar – Face to face guest seminar 1hr Week 7 2 times

Course Topics

Landscape ecology and fragmentation; succession, population growth and restoration; metapopulations and invasive species; genetics of restoration and restoration and climate change

What level is this course?

300 Level (Graduate)

Demonstrating coherence and breadth or depth of knowledge and skills. Independent application of knowledge and skills in unfamiliar contexts. Meeting professional requirements and AQF descriptors for the degree. May require pre-requisites where discipline specific introductory or developing knowledge or skills is necessary. Normally undertaken in the third or fourth full-time study year of an undergraduate program.

What is the unit value of this course?

12 units

How does this course contribute to my learning?

Course Learning Outcomes On successful completion of this course, you should be able to... Graduate Qualities Completing these tasks successfully will contribute to you becoming...
1 Understand key concepts and theories pertinent to ecological restoration including | genetic theory, metapopulations, succession, demographic parameters, climate change, and population growth and regulation Knowledgeable
Engaged
2 Describe and explain the ecology of weed invasions Knowledgeable
Sustainability-focussed
3 Explain the implication of climate change for species viability and restoration Empowered
Sustainability-focussed
4 Design and formulate restoration strategies and communicate findings in a scientific report format Creative and critical thinker
Sustainability-focussed

Am I eligible to enrol in this course?

Refer to the UniSC Glossary of terms for definitions of “pre-requisites, co-requisites and anti-requisites”.

Pre-requisites

ENS221 or ENS222 or ENS282 or ENS213 or ENS214 or LFS261

Co-requisites

Not applicable

Anti-requisites

ENS361

Specific assumed prior knowledge and skills (where applicable)

Will have undertaken some scientific writing and data analysis at second year level

Microcredential Information

Not applicable

How am I going to be assessed?

Grading Scale

Standard Grading (GRD)

High Distinction (HD), Distinction (DN), Credit (CR), Pass (PS), Fail (FL).

Details of early feedback on progress

Students will receive feedback during practical class sessions they will also submit on a weekly basis their completed practical session ( in computer lab) worksheets in the week following the class these will be returned the following week in class marked and with comments to provide early feedback on student progress. These then combine to make the total mark for task 3

Assessment tasks

Delivery mode Task No. Assessment Product Individual or Group Weighting % What is the duration / length? When should I submit? Where should I submit it?
All 1 Artefact - Technical and Scientific, and Written Piece Individual 40% 
3000 words
 Week 10 Online Submission
All 2 Examination - Centrally Scheduled Individual 40% 
2 hours
 Exam Period Online Submission
All 3 Artefact - Technical and Scientific, and Written Piece Individual 20% 
200 words
 Throughout teaching period (refer to Format) In Class
All - Assessment Task 1:Restoration project report/paper
Goal: 
This task is designed to allow you to demonstrate your knowledge and theory
of restoration ecology  by evaluating a real world restoration project using scientific methods.

Students will undertake a project to investigate a restoration topic. This will involve the design collection analysis and interpretation of data. Students will write an assignment in the scientific paper format suitable to submit to a restoration journal to present the work.
Product: Artefact - Technical and Scientific, and Written Piece
Authorship Statement:
Format: 
Scientific paper suitable for a Restoration Ecology Journal
Criteria:
No. Learning Outcome assessed
1 
Project design, writing within Scientific format
 1 2 4
2 
data analysis, presentation and interpretation
 1 2 4
3 
review of relevant literature and discussion of results in this context
 1 2 4
4 
ability to apply theoretical concepts to a practical restoration scenario
 1 2 4
Generic Skills: 
Communication, Collaboration, Problem solving, Organisation, Applying technologies, Information literacy
All - Assessment Task 2:End of trimester examination
Goal: 
To asses student understanding of restoration concepts, ability to apply restoration concepts to specific scenarios and analyse and interpret data in terms of restoration concepts.
Product: Examination - Centrally Scheduled
Authorship Statement:
Format: 
This examination will be based on material covered in lectures and tutorials for the course and will be held in the normal examination period. The exam will contain short answer questions data analysis and interpretation and an essay question
Criteria:
No. Learning Outcome assessed
1 
Demonstration of understanding of material covered in lectures and tutorials and ability to apply in a restoration context
 1 2 3
Generic Skills: 
Communication, Problem solving, Organisation, Applying technologies, Information literacy
All - Assessment Task 3:Tutorial questions
Goal: 
The tutorial question series allows you to review and apply practical l aspects of the science of restoration ecology
Product: Artefact - Technical and Scientific, and Written Piece
Authorship Statement:
Format: 
Students to complete tutorial data analysis exercises and answer tutorial questions. To be submitted after tutorial completion. Each tutorial submission is of equal weighting and combined will result in 20% of the total marks the specific tutorials to be submitted will be identified and tutorial notes will be available online
Submit: from week 1 to week 12.
Criteria:
No. Learning Outcome assessed
1 
Ability to perform required data manipulations and demonstrate ability to interpret data correctly and answer required questions particularly as applied to restoration scenarios.
 1 3
2 
Design and formulate restoration strategies based on scenario’s provided
 1 3
3 
Understand key ecological concepts and theories pertinent to ecological restoration
 1 3
Generic Skills: 
Communication, Collaboration, Problem solving, Organisation, Applying technologies, Information literacy

Directed study hours

A 12-unit course will have total of 150 learning hours which will include directed study hours (including online if required), self-directed learning and completion of assessable tasks. Student workload is calculated at 12.5 learning hours per one unit.

What resources do I need to undertake this course?

Please note: Course information, including specific information of recommended readings, learning activities, resources, weekly readings, etc. are available on the course Canvas site– Please log in as soon as possible.

Prescribed text(s) or course reader

You need regular access to the resource(s) below. Many texts are available as ebooks through the Library at no additional cost.

Required? Author Year Title Edition Publisher
Recommended Margaret A. Palmer,Joy B. Zedler,Donald A. Falk 2017 Foundations of Restoration Ecology 2nd Island Press

Specific requirements

Students are expected to wear appropriate protective clothing as specified in course handouts whilst on field trips.

How are risks managed in this course?

Risk assessments have been performed for all field activities and low to moderate levels of health and safety risk exists. Moderate risks may include working in an Australian bush setting, working with people, working outside normal office hours for example. It is your responsibility to review course material, search online, discuss with lecturers and peers and understand the health and safety risks associated with your specific course of study and to familiarise yourself with the University’s general health and safety principles by reviewing the online induction training for students, and following the instructions of the University staff.

What administrative information is relevant to this course?

Assessment: Academic Integrity

Academic integrity is the ethical standard of university participation. It ensures that students graduate as a result of proving they are competent in their discipline. This is integral in maintaining the value of academic qualifications. Each industry has expectations and standards of the skills and knowledge within that discipline and these are reflected in assessment.

Academic integrity means that you do not engage in any activity that is considered to be academic fraud; including plagiarism, collusion or outsourcing any part of any assessment item to any other person. You are expected to be honest and ethical by completing all work yourself and indicating in your work which ideas and information were developed by you and which were taken from others. You cannot provide your assessment work to others. You are also expected to provide evidence of wide and critical reading, usually by using appropriate academic references.

In order to minimise incidents of academic fraud, this course may require that some of its assessment tasks, when submitted to Canvas, are electronically checked through Turnitin. This software allows for text comparisons to be made between your submitted assessment item and all other work to which Turnitin has access.

Assessment: Additional Requirements

Eligibility for Supplementary Assessment

Your eligibility for supplementary assessment in a course is dependent of the following conditions applying:
(a) The final mark is in the percentage range 47% to 49.4%; and
(b) The course is graded using the Standard Grading scale

Eligibility for Supplementary Assessment Your eligibility for supplementary assessment in a course is dependent of the following conditions applying: The final mark is in the percentage range 47% to 49.4% The course is graded using the Standard Grading scale You have not failed an assessment task in the course due to academic misconduct

Assessment: Submission penalties

Late submissions may be penalised up to and including the following maximum percentage of the assessment task’s identified value, with weekdays and weekends included in the calculation of days late:
(a) One day: deduct 5%;
(b) Two days: deduct 10%;
(c) Three days: deduct 20%;
(d) Four days: deduct 40%;
(e) Five days: deduct 60%;
(f) Six days: deduct 80%;
(g) Seven days: A result of zero is awarded for the assessment task.

The following penalties will apply for a late submission for an online examination:
Less than 15 minutes: No penalty
From 15 minutes to 30 minutes: 20% penalty
More than 30 minutes: 100% penalty

Links to relevant University policy and procedures

For more information on Academic Learning & Teaching categories including:

  • Assessment: Courses and Coursework Programs
  • Review of Assessment and Final Grades
  • Supplementary Assessment
  • Central Examinations
  • Deferred Examinations
  • Student Conduct
  • Students with a Disability

For more information, visit https://www.usc.edu.au/explore/policies-and-procedures#academic-learning-and-teaching

Student Charter

UniSC is committed to excellence in teaching, research and engagement in an environment that is inclusive, inspiring, safe and respectful. The Student Charter sets out what students can expect from the University, and what in turn is expected of students, to achieve these outcomes.

General Enquiries

For course-specific questions, contact your teaching staff or Course Coordinator.  

For other enquiries or to access support, please contact Student Central: 

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