The Pacific is Earth's largest ocean. It has the greatest diversity of island sizes, ranging from New Guinea, the largest of tropical islands, to tiny atolls of a few hectares. It also has the greatest diversity of island ages (from the ancient isolate, New Caledonia, to recently emerged volcanoes) and distances from source (from islands lying only a few km away from giant New Guinea, to the most isolated of Earth's archipelagos, Hawaii). Because of this range of diversity amongst the key variables identified in the Equilibrium Theory of Island Biogeography, there is no better place to study the discipline. Indeed, much of the seminal work that has led to the development of Biogeography as an important component of the Life Sciences arises from research done in the Pacific Basin. This course will cover many aspects of Pacific studies, drawing on the combined knowledge of a number of prominent researchers and teachers with a great range of collective experience across Oceania. That diverse assemblage of lecturers will present a programme of studies that should leave you with a multi-faceted understanding of the Geology, Geography and Biology of this important region.
The course is designed for students with an interest in ecology and evolution at landscape scale in the biological sub-discipline of Biogeography. As such it equips graduates for post graduate programmes in landscape scale studies of ecology and evolution, and for careers in land management in agencies such as Regional Councils and Dept of Conservation. It also equips students very well for overseas study and employment particularly in Oceania.
The course forms part of the stage 3 component of the Ecology Pathway in School of Biological Sciences.