Norway's Nature - Natural Variation, Knowledge Systems, Mapping
Undergraduate course
- ECTS credits
- 10
- Teaching semesters Spring
- Course code
- BIO640
- Teaching language
- Norwegian
- Resources
- Schedule
Course description
Objectives and Content
The aim of the course Norway’s Nature is to give students a broad understanding of Norway's natural variation and the knowledge systems we use to map and assess state and trends in nature. The course provides practical competence and skills in mapping and assessing areas according to the habitat type system Nature in Norway (NiN), in line with the environmental authorities' competence requirements. The course is taught in three blocks. Block 1 provides an overview of the knowledge systems, including relevant theory and examples of use in society. Block 2 is a field excursion that provides skills in identifying and delimiting habitat types according to NiN. Block 3 provides practical experience with habitat mapping, data collection, reporting, and interpretation. Students submit a nature mapping report and write a Wiki article on a relevant topic of their own choosing.
Learning Outcomes
On completion of the course the student should have the following learning outcomes defined in terms of knowledge, skills and general competence:
Knowledge
The student
- has an overview of the most important knowledge systems about Norwegian nature, how they are structured, and how they are used in society
- has knowledge of the terrestrial habitat types in Norway, and how they are shaped by the environment, ecological processes, and human influence
- understands the structure of and the ecological theory behind the habitat type system Nature in Norway (NiN)
Skills
The student
- masters field mapping of vegetation using NiN
- can identify and delimit habitat types in the field at the nature system level and collect and process relevant field data, including species and vegetation data
- can recognize structuring environmental gradients in the different habitat types
- can produce, interpret, and evaluate digital habitat type maps
- can apply knowledge of habitat types to describe and categorize an area
- can use the Norwegian knowledge systems about nature to assess the ecological value and condition of an area
General competence
The student
- can describe and assess natural variation, condition and trends in nature
- can plan and carry out data collection in the field
- can assess and discuss the knowledge base behind society's decisions about nature
ECTS Credits
10 ECTS
Semester of Instruction
Spring
Teaching and learning methods
The course consist of seminars, field excursions, data labs, and independent work
- Seminar, 4 hours per week for 5 weeks (60 hours including preparation and follow-up).
- Field course: 5 days (80 hours including preparation and follow-up).
- Field mapping: 5 days (120 hours including preparation, data lab, and follow-up).
- Work on a project assignment, 40 hours
Compulsory Assignments and Attendance
Obligatorisk oppmøte på seminar (modul 1; 8 av 10 seminar)
Obligatorisk oppmøte på feltekskursjon (modul 2; 5 dagar pluss etterarbeid)
Obligatorisk deltaking i praktisk kartlegging (modul 3; 5 dagar pluss etterarbeid)
Produksjon og publisering av prosjektoppgåve (Wikipedia artikkel)
Godkjent obligatorisk aktivitet er gyldig i 6 påfølgande semester etter godkjenninga.
Forms of Assessment
The forms of assessment are:
- Mapping report, constitutes 40% of the grade
- Project paper, constitutes 30% of the grade
- Oral exam, constitutes 30% of the grade
Grading Scale
A-F
Examination Support Material
None