Northern Biodiversity Hotspots: taxonomy field courses

Intensive course extending over one week. The course can be taken as a singular course.

Due to the planning of the field course during summer you need to apply here: Apply for BIO-3024 

Application deadline: 1st of June

The course is limited to 15 students.

Biodiversity loss, often referred to as biodiversity crisis, is a global environmental problem causing international concern and demanding urgent counteracting measures. Biodiversity is commonly defined in terms of a number of species present in a particular environment, or in total in the world. This makes species not only one of the fundamental biological concepts but also a focus of global conservation efforts. That is why practical experience with morphology-based species identification is in high demand in both basic and applied biological research.

This course draws on the expertise of scientists from the Arctic University Museum, UiT as well as taxonomic experts from other research institutes to provide training in the identification of species and in field survey techniques. It will take place in Skibotn area with remarkably high species number for such northern latitudes (68-69 degrees N) challenging the general concept that species richness decreases as latitude increases. The course content will alternate between the years to cover the diversity of various groups of organisms, this year the course programme is focused on Flora of Skibotn and surroundings. Daily excursions to both lowland and mountain habitats will be combined with practical work in the class to identify the collected materials using the identification keys (in Norwegian and English) and learn diagnostic characters of plant taxa.

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.

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-8024 Northern Biodiversity Hotspots: taxonomy field courses 5 stp

Language of instruction and examination

This course is open for inbound exchange student who meets the admission requirements. Please see the Admission requirements" section.

Do you have questions about this module? Please check the following website to contact the course coordinator for exchange students at the faculty: https://en.uit.no/education/art?p_document_id=510412

Oral exam. Examination will include identification of collected specimens using published keys in Norwegian or English. Grades: Passed/Failed.

Re-sit exam:

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