Plants and Ecosystems

Recommended prerequisites: Bio-1005 Ecology and Evolution and Bio-2003 From individuals to ecosystems

Autotrophic organisms, and especially plants, have a central role in their terrestrial ecosystems because they are producers of food for all terrestrial herbivores as well as for soil organisms and several organisms internal to them like e.g. endophytes and N-fixating bacteria. Also, plants are important to ecosystems for both creating and modifying habitat conditions. This course will give theoretical and empirical insight to the central role of autotrophs in ecosystems, and how ecosystem management and climate change may modify this role. Most examples will be from northern ecosystems. The course is relevant to those who want more general ecological knowledge and for those who want knowledge about the use and the management of natural resources.

The language of instruction is English and all of the syllabus material is in English. Examination questions will be given in English, but may be answered either in English or a Scandinavian language. When only Scandinavian students attend, language of instruction is Scandinavian.

Teaching will be based on a 4-day field course, lectures (24 hours), colloquiums (12 hours) and thematic journals (3). Students will write a project report based on data gathered under the field course.