course-details-portlet

BI3036

Plant Ecology

Assessments and mandatory activities may be changed until September 20th.

Credits 7.5
Level Second degree level
Course start Spring 2026
Duration 1 semester
Language of instruction English
Location Trondheim
Examination arrangement Aggregate score

About

About the course

Course content

The course covers plant ecology at an advanced level. The course deals with plant life history and functional traits, demography, and interactions between plants, between plants and animals, and between plants and the remaining ecosystem.

Learning outcome

On completion of the course the students should be able to demonstrate knowledge of:

  • Advanced topics in plant life history and reproduction strategies (incl. seed and pollination ecology)
  • Functional traits related to population, community, and ecosystem level
  • Interactions between plants and the abiotic and biotic environment
  • Diversity and distribution of plants
  • Restoration of plant communities
  • Conservation of plants and plant communities
  • Plants and climate change

Skills:

  • The student can analyze the current theories, methods, and interpretations within the field of plant ecology, and work independently on practical and theoretical problem solving with respect to plant responses in terms of functional traits, life history, demography, and ecosystem interactions in different environments.

General competence:

  • The student can understand, present, discuss, and critically evaluate scientific advanced literature

Learning methods and activities

  • Lectures/Seminar: 40 hours, mandatory
  • Project work: The student must choose a topic within plant ecology and write a review article on the topic

Compulsory assignments

  • Approved

Further on evaluation

The course consists of two evaluation parts: an oral exam (60%) and project work (40%). Both parts are given individual grades and if both are assessed as passed the grades will be converted into one final grade.

Oral exam:

In case of fail or if the student wants to improve the grade, the oral exam can be retaken in both spring and autumn semester

Project work:

  • In case of fail, the student can resubmit an improved version for a new assessment.
  • In case the student wants to improve the grade for the project work, the student will have to follow the course again and submit a new project.

Credit reductions

Course code Reduction From
MNKBO332 7.5 sp Autumn 2008
MNKBO320 7.5 sp Autumn 2008
BO3032 7.5 sp Autumn 2008
This course has academic overlap with the courses in the table above. If you take overlapping courses, you will receive a credit reduction in the course where you have the lowest grade. If the grades are the same, the reduction will be applied to the course completed most recently.

Subject areas

  • Biodiversity
  • Biology
  • Botany
  • Ecology

Contact information

Course coordinator

Lecturers

Department with academic responsibility

Department of Biology

Timetable

Timetable

Calendar view
List view
Show detailed timetable in TP Download .ics file iCal

Examination

Examination

Examination arrangement: Aggregate score
Grade: Letter grades

Ordinary examination - Autumn 2025

Project work
Weighting 40/100 Exam system Inspera Assessment
Oral examination
Weighting 60/100 Examination aids Code D Duration 1 hours

Ordinary examination - Spring 2026

Project work
Weighting 40/100 Exam system Inspera Assessment
Oral examination
Weighting 60/100 Examination aids Code D Duration 1 hours

All about examinations at NTNU