BI445 Ecology

Contents and structure

This basic course in ecology introduce ecological concepts and theories and should increase students knowledge about the living nature. This introduction will also contribute to raise the understanding on how nature influence people and societies and how we humans and our activities may influence the living nature. This ecology course should also be a basis for more advanced or specialised courses in ecology at bachelor or master level. The course in sectioned according to the text book and deals with

• Natural history and Evolution
• Adaptations to the Environment
• Population ecology
• Ecological interactions
• Communities and Ecosystems
• Large-scale ecology

In each section we aim at highlighting both general ecological principles and theory that are relevant in both a Norwegian and in an applied context. As such this course is spanning from basic to the applied aspects of ecology that are relevant for students in environmental sciences.

The practical part of the course should give the students insight in basic relationsships in nature, and enable them to do their own measurements, data sampling and processing.

Learning Outcome

Knowledge

The students should gain knowledge in:

• basic ecology, and ecological processes and functions.
• the importance of biological diversity.
• global change ecology.
• applied ecology.

Skills

The student have skills in:

• using ecology to understand the living nature.
• writing and use terms of ecology to explain or explore various ecology related issues.
• using ecological knowledge to solve fundamental and applied ecological questions.

General competence 

The student are able to:

• communicate ecological knowledge, analyses and conclusions.
• apply ecological knowledge in natural resource management and planning.
• understand the importance of ecological knowledge to solve local and global challenges in the Anthropocene.

Entry requirements

None

Recommended previous knowledge

None

Teaching methods

Lectures, lab, field work, discussion groups and other studentactive excersises

Compulsory learning activities

Participation in all labwork and approved lab report

Two days of fieldwork and participation at sum-up

Assessment

Written home exam (FlowMulti), 4 hours

Grading: A-F

Examination support material

Notes and curriculum literature

More about examination support material