Plants and Ecosystems

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. fungal endophytes. Also, plants are important to ecosystems for both creating and modifying habitat conditions to all organisms of their ecosystems, including the plants themselves. This course will give theoretical and empirical insight to the central role of plants in ecosystems, and how ecosystem management and climate change may modify this role. Most examples will be from northern ecosystems.

Applicants from Nordic countries must have:Generell studiekompetanse, samt følgende spesielle opptakskrav:

Matematikk R1 eller matematikk S1+S2 og i tillegg ett av følgende programfag:

• Matematikk (R1+R2)
• Fysikk (1+2)
• Kjemi (1+2)
• Biologi (1+2)
• Informasjonsteknologi (1+2)
• Geofag (1+2)
• Teknologi og forskningslære (1+2)       

Application code: 9336 (Nordic applicants). It is a requirement that students have  some prior knowledge of biology and ecology, chemistry and mathematics. (Participants must have taken introductory level university courses, and achieved pass grades, in these subjects).

International applicants: Higher Education Entrance Qualification and certified language requirements in English. It is a requirement that students have  some prior knowledge of biology and ecology, chemistry and mathematics. A list of the requirements for the Higher Education Entrance Qualification in Norway can be found on the Norwegian Agency for Quality Assurance in Education website - nokut.no

• Read and understand scientific literature in the format of scientific papers
• Have knowledge of different types of scientific papers, i.e. review papers, meta-analysis papers, empirical papers and theoretical papers
• Have improved their ability to discuss and give both oral and written presentations of scientific topics
• Complete a small scientific project, including data sampling, data analysis and discussion in presented in the format of a scientific paper
• Explain various ways by which plants play active roles in ecosystems
• Explain ways by which plant role of ecosystems may change
• Explain how knowledge on plant role of ecosystems is essential to land use management

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:

• NAB-2005 Introduction to arctic agriculture and reindeer husbandry 7 stp
• NAB-2005 Nothern natural resource use 10 stp
• NAB-2005 Plants and the Ecosystem 10 stp

Language of instruction and examination

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.

The students will be assessed on the basis of the project (30%) and the oral exam (70%). A graded scale of five marks from A to E for pass and F for fail.

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