Northern food web ecology
About the course
Ecosystems in northern terrestrial biomes "arctic tundra and boreal forest" are increasingly studied using the framework of food web to understand ecosystem structure and functioning. The food web framework builds on well-established ecological theory on trophic interactions (producer-consumer relations) between plants, herbivores and carnivores. Recent methodological developments have provided means to study such trophic interactions more comprehensively within entire ecological communities. The food web approach appears to be especially amenable in case of the relatively simple communities in northern terrestrial ecosystem that often are ruled by a few key interactions. Food webs have also recently shown to be a very fruitful way to study the role of human intervention in ecosystems (harvesting and provision of anthropogenic subsidies) and especially the impact of climate change in arctic ecosystems.
Admission requirements
Objectives of the course
- To demonstrate how a food web perspective is useful for describing and analyzing ecological dynamics emerging from the trophic interaction in ecosystems.
- To give the students a basic understanding of how basic mechanism in populations and communities leads to ecological dynamics through training in the use of simple models to understand such dynamics.
- To provide an overview of the structural characteristics of terrestrial food webs and how these vary in time and space in boreal and arctic biomes.
- To give an introduction to some modern empirical methods of studying trophic interactions.
- To learn what are the key processes and functions in northern terrestrial food webs by means of illustrious case studies.
- To train students in reading, presenting and discussing scientific research papers efficiently and critically: student seminars.
Credit reduction
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-3122 Northern populations and ecosystems 10 stp
- BIO-8016 Northern food web ecology 10 stp
Teaching methods
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.Recommended reading/syllabus
Syllabus and reading list will be announced prior to course start.Application deadline
Assessment
There is a compulsory project work connected to the model laboratory part of the course that needs to be completed before the exam. Each student is also required to lead a seminar during the seminar parts of the courses.
Oral exam. 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.
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