Northern Biodiversity Hotspots: Field course in identification and taxonomy of vascular plants
About the course
Master course for biology students.
Students apply for a seat by contacting course responsible, Galina Gusarova, before June 8th (due to planning of logistics). Students that have not been granted a seat by course responsible before the deadline cannot participate in the course.
Students granted a seat must register in Studentweb before start of the course (early August).
Maximum number of students is 15 (PhD and Master).
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.
During the year 2026 we offer plant identification course "Flora of Skibotn and surroundings" which will take place 10-14 August 2026 at the Skibotn field station, Troms, Norway. Skibotn area has a remarkably high vascular plant species number for such northern latitudes (68-69 degrees N) challenging the general concept that species richness decreases as latitude increases. 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 and learn diagnostic characters of plant taxa. The field course is preceded by a self-study period where students read about main groups of vascular plants and prepare a lecture to be given during the course.
The course is run with financial support from the national graduate school Photosyntech in collaboration with ForBio - Research school in Biosystematics.
See additional information about course registration on Photosyntech:
Field course: northern biodiversity hotspots, flora of Skibotn and surroundings - Photosyntech
and ForBio webpages:
https://www.forbio.uio.no/events/courses/2026/Skibotn_field_course2026.html
Objectives of the course
After completing the course the student:
will have knowledge of
- the vascular plants that can be found in the area with focus on rare and threatened species, and their identification
- morphological characteristics of plants used in their identification
- limitations of morphology in identifying plants.
- the environmental factors that contribute to increased terrestrial plant diversity and richness in the north
will possess skills in how to
- identify vascular plants using identification keys
- identify valuable habitats with rare and threatened species
will have increased general competence in
- being out in the field
- working in a group with international people
- giving a presentation
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-8024 Northern Biodiversity Hotspots: Field course in identification and taxonomy of vascular plants 5 ects
Teaching methods
In total 150 hours consisting of:
30h fieldwork + 25h laboratory work, + 10h lectures + 80h for pre-course self-study individually and in groups + 5 hours for oral examination during the field course.
Students should read provided materials during the pre-course individual study period and prepare own lecture on a selected topic (from the list provided). Additionally, students should participate actively during field excursions and laboratory work.
Safety training will be provided on site before field excursions and laboratory work.
Language of instruction and examination
Language of instruction is primarily English, but Norwegian (or other Scandinavia language) is also used when needed. Exam takes place in English.Schedule
The schedules are normally finalized and published well in advance of the start of the semester, often a few weeks beforehand. This gives students the opportunity to organize their studies and prepare for upcoming activities.
It is recommended to check the schedule regularly, as changes may occur.
Examination
| Oral exam | Duration: 30 Minutes |
Grade: Passed / Not Passed |
To take an examination, the student must have passed the following coursework requirements
| Group work | Grade: Approved – not approved |
Everything you need to know about before, during, and after the exam; registration, absence, appeals, and diplomas: UiT Exams homepage
More info about the coursework requirements
Coordinating and leading a group work presentation in a student-led seminar during the field course is a work requirement.
Approved work requirements are valid for three years.
