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.

Nordic applicants: Admission requirements are generell studiekompetanse + REALFA.

Application code: 9336

International applicants: Higher Education Entrance Qualification and certified language requirements in English. 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  

All applicants: The course requires basic knowledge in biology and ecology at university level. Basic knowledge in chemistry and mathematics is an advantage.

Students that have completed Bio-2006 should be able to:  

• 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 through their field experience the role of plant functional types in a northern ecosystem
• Explain various ways of defining biodiversity
• 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

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

Note! All students need to enroll for the field course in addition to ordinary course registration.Information about enrollment and deadline will be published later this spring