Basic Ecology and Field Methods

The course aims to develop the students' knowledge of individual and population ecology, community ecology, ecosystems, and conservation ecology. Through a combination of field work and lectures, students will be trained in the identification of species, and will develop an understanding of how species are adapted to the environment they live in, what requirements they impose on the environment, and how species interact and depend on each other. In addition, some of the special challenges they have in the conservation of biodiversity in the Nordic countries will be presented (endangered species and habitats, invasive species, etc.). Furthermore, the course will include an introduction to scientific data collection methods in the field used to study the mentioned aspects.

In addition to lectures, the course contain a large proportion practical teaching in the field.

The student should, upon completion of the course, have achieved the following learning outcomes defined in knowledge, skills, and general competence:

Knowledge:

• Explain the differences and relationships between individual ecology, population ecology, community ecology, and ecosystems.
• Describe biodiversity in an area and discuss the factors that influence biodiversity.
• Identify the main factors that affect the distribution of species globally and locally, and discuss how this forms vegetation zones in terrestrial and marine habitats.
• Describe, understand, and compare dynamic processes in populations and communities over short and long time periods.
• Understand and investigate how species affect each other positively and negatively.
• Explain simple biogeographical patterns, such as the equilibrium model for island biogeography.
• Know the main environmental factors for the distribution of species in the Nordic region.
• Identify and explain the different biomes and their distribution in the world.
• Explain the main threats to biological diversity, especially in the Nordic region and globally, and discuss the measures used in the conservation of biological diversity.
• Be familiar with biogeochemical cycles (e.g., the carbon cycle and nitrogen cycle) and their functions in the ocean and on land.

Skills:

• Use image recognition tools and other aids to identify species.
• Be familiar with various data collection methods used in ecology and be able to plan which methods to use to answer different scientific questions.
• Present scientific material both in writing and orally.
• Write a scientific report following the IMRaD structure.

General Competence:

• Evaluate claims based on the scientific literature in relevant areas.

Autumn.

This course has a limited capacity, enrolment is based on application in the spring semester.