School Of ScienceBiological Adaptation to Climate ChangeWestern Sydney University Unit Code: 300909.2
Discipline: ECOLOGY AND EVOLUTION
Student Contribution Band: 2
Level: 3
Credit Points: 10
Unit Enrolment Restrictions
Successful completion of 40 credit points at Level 2.
About this Unit
This unit investigates how organisms respond to variation in climate and what can be done to reduce their vulnerability to anthropogenic climate change. The unit makes use of a novel conceptual framework that defines ‘vulnerability’ as a function of the ‘exposure’ and ‘sensitivity’ of organisms to climate change. Therefore, we will begin by exploring how organisms are exposed to climate change, from regional climatic changes acting at the scale of populations, to local climatological effects acting at the scale of individuals. Next, we will examine what determines the sensitivity of organisms, focusing on the physiological, behavioural, and life-history traits that affect the ability of organisms to cope with and adapt to climate change. Then, we will show how exposure and sensitivity combine to determine the vulnerability of organisms, including in both managed and natural ecosystems. Finally, we will discuss the ‘mitigation’ and ‘adaptation’ strategies that can prevent the worst of the potential impacts from becoming realised and help protect our biodiversity in the face of anthropogenic climate change.
Courses| 2743.10 | Bachelor of Science/Bachelor of Laws | CONTINUING |
| 2743.11 | Bachelor of Science/Bachelor of Laws | CONTINUING |
| 2743.12 | Bachelor of Science/Bachelor of Laws | CURRENT |
| 2743.8 | Bachelor of Science/Bachelor of Laws | CONTINUING |
| 2743.9 | Bachelor of Science/Bachelor of Laws | CONTINUING |
| 2786.2 | Bachelor of Business | CONTINUING |
| 2786.3 | Bachelor of Business | CURRENT |
| 3562.9 | Bachelor of Science (Advanced Science) | CONTINUING |
| 3658.6 | Bachelor of Science/Bachelor of Arts | CONTINUING |
| 3660.6 | Bachelor of Science/Bachelor of International Studies | CONTINUING |
| 3669.2 | Bachelor of Natural Science (Sustainable Agriculture and Food Security) | CONTINUING |
| 3670.1 | Bachelor of Natural Science (Animal Science) | CONTINUING |
| 3671.1 | Bachelor of Natural Science (Environmental Management) | CONTINUING |
| 3671.2 | Bachelor of Natural Science (Environmental Management) | CONTINUING |
| 3673.1 | Bachelor of Medical Science | CONTINUING |
| 3673.2 | Bachelor of Medical Science | CONTINUING |
| 3675.4 | Bachelor of Science | CONTINUING |
| 3677.2 | Bachelor of Science (Biological Sciences) | CONTINUING |
| 3680.3 | Bachelor of Science (Environmental Science) | CONTINUING |
| 3681.2 | Bachelor of Science (Zoology) | CONTINUING |
| 3732.1 | Bachelor of Science (Zoology)/Bachelor of Natural Science (Animal Science) | CONTINUING |
| 3754.1 | Bachelor of Science | CONTINUING |
| 3754.2 | Bachelor of Science | CURRENT |
| 3755.2 | Bachelor of Medical Science | CURRENT |
| 3756.1 | Bachelor of Science (Pathway to Teaching Primary/Secondary) | CONTINUING |
| 3756.2 | Bachelor of Science (Pathway to Teaching Primary/Secondary) | CURRENT |
| 3757.1 | Bachelor of Advanced Science | CONTINUING |
| 3757.2 | Bachelor of Advanced Science | CURRENT |
| 3763.1 | Bachelor of Science/Bachelor of Arts | CONTINUING |
| 3763.2 | Bachelor of Science/Bachelor of Arts | CURRENT |
| 3764.1 | Bachelor of Science/Bachelor of International Studies | CONTINUING |
| 3764.2 | Bachelor of Science/Bachelor of International Studies | CURRENT |
| 4748.3 | Bachelor of Science/Bachelor of Business | CONTINUING |
| 4748.4 | Bachelor of Science/Bachelor of Business | CURRENT |
| 6002.1 | Diploma in Science/Bachelor of Medical Science | CONTINUING |
| 6002.2 | Diploma in Science/Bachelor of Medical Science | CONTINUING |
| 6004.1 | Diploma in Science/Bachelor of Science | CONTINUING |
| 6037.1 | Diploma in Business/Bachelor of Business | CONTINUING |
| 6037.2 | Diploma in Business/Bachelor of Business | CONTINUING |
| 6037.3 | Diploma in Business/Bachelor of Business | CURRENT |
| 6042.2 | Diploma in Science/Bachelor of Medical Science | CURRENT |
| 6043.1 | Diploma in Science/Bachelor of Science | CONTINUING |
| 6043.2 | Diploma in Science/Bachelor of Science | CURRENT |
Specialisations