Unit Code: FES505

Unit Name: Forest Ecology

Description: The unit covers and emphasizes on: Introduction to forest ecology - concept, definition, historical development; ecosystem concept - characteristics, components, biogeochemical cycles; major biotic and abiotic components and their interaction - trophic levels, food webs, ecological pyramids and energy flow; population ecology; community ecology; ecological succession; concept, causes, trends in succession, basic types of succession, stability (climax); island biogeography; vegetation ecology - Fiji; tropical rainforests; cloud forests; cloud forests; coral - coral reefs; mangroves - concept, world distribution of mangroves, groups of Fiji?s mangrove, uses, identification, characters; seaweed - concept, importance, seaweeds cultivation in Fiji. Biodiversity and conservation - definition, levels of study, distribution of diversity in life forms. Importance of biodiversity. Current state of biodiversity. The loss of biodiversity consequences. Hotspots of biodiversity, measurement of diversity and diversity indices. Diversity in the tropical forests, coastal zones. Diversity and biological invasions of oceanic islands. Biodiversity in the Fiji Islands. Challenges to biodiversity in the urban areas. Principles of conservation biology, ex situ and in situ methods of conservation, genetical and evolutionary principles in conservation. Biosphere concept. International Development and Protection of Biological Diversity. Conservation ? efforts in Fiji and worldwide.

Learning Target Outcomes:

Prerequisite: N/A

Prerequisite Sentence: N/A

Credit Point:

Offered In: Semester 2