course-details-portlet

BI2034 - Community Ecology and Eco Systems

About

Examination arrangement

Examination arrangement: Assignment and Written examination
Grade: Letters

Evaluation Weighting Duration Grade deviation Examination aids
Skriftlig eksamen 60/100 4 timer
Oppgave 40/100

Course content

The course introduces community ecological theory and analysis methods and ecosystem processes and services. Central themes are patterns in species richness and biodiversity, methods to describe patterns on community level, ecosystem functions, predation and other interspecific interactions, disturbance effects, succession, and food webs. The links between community and ecosystem processes and services will be described with theory and examples. The course gives a background for conservation biology with examples on management in different landscapes and ecosystems. The students work in groups and during a field course they gather data, during exercises they process their data with different mathematical methods and discuss central themes in community ecology.

Learning outcome

Knowledge:
After completing the course the students should:
Have knowledge about different drivers for community composition.
Know the basic theories about mechanisms important to species distribution and abundance
Have a general understanding if the links between community composition and ecosystem functions.
Be able to understand and interpret methods used to describe patterns in occurrence and distribution of species in natural communities.

Skills:
The student can:
Apply different diversity indices
Understand patterns based on uni- and multivariate analyses
Explain central theories and discuss important ecological mechanisms that influence ecosystems and community ecological patterns in nature.

General competence:
The student can:
To some extent plan, carry out, analyse and report a scientific project

Learning methods and activities

Learning methods and activities
Lectures: 30 hours
Seminars: 22 hours
Written and oral presentation of group project and active seminar participation
4-days field course during the first week of the semester
4 hours labwork in addition

Mandatory activities
Approved presentation of project work
Seminar and exercise participation
Approved field course participation
Compulsory assignments APPROVED

Compulsory assignments

  • APPROVED
  • Approved fieldcourse
  • APPROVED

Credit reductions

Course code Reduction From To
MNKBI230 6.0
MNKBI234 7.5
More on the course
Facts

Version: 1
Credits:  7.5 SP
Study level: Intermediate course, level II

Coursework

Term no.: 1
Teaching semester:  AUTUMN 2015

Language of instruction: English

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Subject area(s)
  • Biodiversity
  • Biology
  • Botany
  • Zoology
  • Ecology
Contact information
Course coordinator: Lecturer(s):

Department with academic responsibility
Department of Biology

Examination

Examination arrangement: Assignment and Written examination

Term Status code Evaluation Weighting Examination aids Date Time Examination system Room *
Autumn ORD Oppgave 40/100
Room Building Number of candidates
Autumn ORD Skriftlig eksamen 60/100 2015-12-11 09:00
Room Building Number of candidates
Spring ORD Oppgave 40/100
Room Building Number of candidates
Spring ORD Skriftlig eksamen 60/100 2016-05-28 09:00
Room Building Number of candidates
  • * The location (room) for a written examination is published 3 days before examination date. If more than one room is listed, you will find your room at Studentweb.
Examination

For more information regarding registration for examination and examination procedures, see "Innsida - Exams"

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