autumn 2020
BIO-3505 Ecological Interactions - 10 ECTS

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Application deadline

Concerns only admission to singular courses: Applicants from Nordic countries: 1 June for the autumn semester and 1 December for the spring semester. Exchange students and Fulbright students: 1 October for the spring semester and 15 April for the autumn semester.  

Type of course

Master course for biology students - principally aimed at MSc-students specializing in Freshwater Ecology. The course is limited to 12 students due to the capacity of the field course. Students from freshwater ecology and other Master disciplines at the department (AMB)  will be prioritized. The admission will take place during the first lecture. First lecture is mandatory.

The course is available as a singular course.

Admission requirements

Local admission, application code 9371 - - Master`s level singular course.

Admission requires a Bachelor`s degree (180 ECTS) or equivalent qualification, with a major in biology of minimum 80 ECTS.

Course overlap

If you pass the examination in this course, you will get an reduction in credits (as stated below), if you previously have passed the following courses:

BIO-308 Fish ecology - ecological interactions 10 stp

Course content

The course deals with ecological interactions with special emphasize on aquatic systems and freshwater fish. Ecological niche, competition, predation, parasitism and food webs are central topics, and essential principles and theories in relation to these concepts and interactions are addressed. The dynamic aspects of the interactions are focused, also considering effects of species introductions and other  biomanipulations and ecological impacts. Lessons include a combination of lectures presenting basic theory and seminars for discussions of relevant literature. The seminars are compulsory and based on thorough preparations from the students. A field course gives the students hands-on experience with ecological studies in subarctic lake systems.

Recommended prerequisites

BIO-1005 Ecology and Evolution, BIO-2503 Freshwater Ecology

Objectives of the course

A candidate that has successfully completed Bio-3505 Ecological interactions has:

Knowledge:

  • Has thorough knowledge and insight to central topics in population and community ecology
  • Has advanced knowledge and in-depth understanding of ecological interactions with special emphasis on competition, predation and parasitism and their interrelationships

Skills:

  • Can explain and describe the use of key ecological concepts and theory related to competitive exclusion principle, ecological niche, biodiversity, biological invasions, food webs and trophic Cascades
  • Can critically evaluate, interpret and contextualize scientific literature and studies
  • Can analyze and deal critically with various sources of information in population and community ecology and use them to structure and formulate scholarly arguments
  • Can formulate and raise pertinent and critical questions about trophic ecology and interactions in freshwater and other ecological communities

General competence:

  • Can integrate, summarize and discuss scientific topics in plenary sessions
  • Can analyze and give oral and written presentations of problems concerning ecology and interactions
  • Can communicate about academic issues, analyses and conclusions in ecology

Language of instruction and examination

English

Teaching methods

Lectures, seminars and field course. 

Assessment

Term thesis and oral examination. The final grade for the course is based upon a complete evaluation of the Term thesis and the oral exam. A graded scale of five marks from A to E for pass and F for fail.

Re-sit exam:

There will be a re-sit examination for students that did not pass the previous ordinary examination.  

  • About the course
  • Campus: Tromsø |
  • ECTS: 10
  • Course code: BIO-3505