Study Guide@lith
 

Linköping Institute of Technology

 
 
Valid for year : 2017
 
NBID53 Methods in Ecology, 15 ECTS credits.
/Methods in Ecology/

For:   ECO  

 

Prel. scheduled hours: 115
Rec. self-study hours: 285

  Area of Education: Science

Main field of studies: Biology

  Advancement level (G1, G2, A): A

Aim:
The aim is that the students should achieve a deeper understanding of the structure and function of terrestrial and aquatic ecosystems, of ecological theories and methods, and how to plan, perform and report ecological experiments and comparative studies. Having successfully passed the course, the students should be able to:
  • Critically read scientific articles, identify ecological problems and formulate appropriate hypotheses
  • Plan and perform ecological experiments, comparative studies and monitoring
  • Understand ecological processes that regulate species composition and influence nutrient dynamics in lakes and wetlands
  • Understand how soil processes, climate and biological interactions, for instance between plants and herbivores, influence biodiversity and species structure of organism communities in forests and grasslands
  • Successfully communicate science, written and oral
  • Contribute to successful cooperation in project groups
  • Improve her/his skills in both written and oral communication of scientific papers in the areas of relevance for the course.
  • Make scientific judgments from primary data.


Prerequisites: (valid for students admitted to programmes within which the course is offered)
120 ECTS including 90 ECTS in Biology and a second course in Ecology.

Note: Admission requirements for non-programme students usually also include admission requirements for the programme and threshhold requirements for progression within the programme, or corresponding.

Organisation:
The education includes lectures, literature seminars, laboratory work and field practice. Literature seminars, laboratory work and field practice are compulsory. Extra costs due to travelling and living must be paid by the student.

Course contents:
Ecological theory and methods are exemplified with present research within a number of selected areas, such as ecosystem dynamics in wetlands and shallow lakes, ecology of grasslands and forests, and origin and maintenance of biodiversity at the population and species levels. Modules of study are carried out in close cooperation with research projects dealing with these issues.

Course literature:

Gotelli, N.J. & Ellison, A.M. 2004. A Primer of Ecological Statistics. Second Edition. Sinauer Associates. Scientific articles provided by the teachers.


Examination:
Sseminars and Literature Course
Project
Written and oral presentations of scientific articles
9 ECTS
3 ECTS
3 ECTS
 



Course language is Swedish/English.
Department offering the course: IFM.
Director of Studies: Agneta Johansson
Examiner: Anders Hargeby
Link to the course homepage at the department


Course Syllabus in Swedish

Linköping Institute of Technology

 


Contact: TFK , val@tfk.liu.se
Last updated: 04/09/2015