BOT230 Plant Ecology and Diversity

Credits (ECTS):10

Course responsible:Gustaf Mikael Olsson

Campus / Online:Taught campus Ås

Teaching language:Norsk

Limits of class size:No

Course frequency:Annually

Nominal workload:Structured lectures: 90 hours. The students" own contributions in the form of field work, field reports, reading and writing of a semester thesis etc.: 160 hours.

Teaching and exam period:This course starts in the August block and has evaluation in in the autumn parallel,

About this course

The August block starts with a one-week field course where students gain in-depth knowledge of alpine plant ecology, the species diversity in the mountains, and forest ecology. The last two weeks in the August block take place on Ås, with field exercises and student presentations within key topics in plant ecology.

The autumn parallel is based on lectures and compulsory seminar activity. Here, the textbook The Ecology of Plants will be reviewed, and emphasis will be placed on ecological theory, reproductive biology and plant diversity. During the autumn parallel, the individual student will also write a semester assignment that deals with a self-chosen issue within the field of plant ecology - here, for example, there will be good opportunities to focus on the diversity and geographical distribution of higher plants.

Learning outcome

Knowledge

Students will have good insight into the reproductive and population ecology of higher plants, and they will be able to integrate ecological theory and field methodology. The students will also have increased their species knowledge and have a good understanding of the processes that regulate the distribution of plants and the structure and diversity of plant communities. In connection with this, the student will have knowledge of how plants and soil communities interact.

Skills

The student will have an understanding of ecological theory and be able to use different methods to study plant ecology and plant diversity. The student should also be able to write academic reports and present such reports orally.

General competence

Students will have a good knowledge base for further studies in ecology and nature management. This competence will also be relevant for students in other plant-related subjects.

  • Field cours, field exercises, and report writing in the August block. Lectures, seminars, and an independent semester assignment in the autumn parallel.
  • The candidate's learning can be supported during office hours.
  • BOT100 and ECOL100.
  • The course is evaluated on the basis of a semester assignment.
  • An external examiner approves the term paper.
  • Approved attendance of field course and field exercises in the August block. Approved seminars in the autumn parallel.
  • The course will not be given the study year 23/24.
  • Exercises and demonstrations in the field: 80 hours. Lectures: 10 hours. Seminars and in class presentation of results from the field-exercises: ca. 40 hours.
  • Passed / Not Passed
  • Minimum requirements for entrance to higher education in Norway (generell studiekompetanse)