Course code LAA370

LAA370 Landscape Ecology

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Showing course contents for the educational year 2016 - 2017 .

Course responsible: Wenche Elisabet Dramstad
Teachers: Gjest Guest
ECTS credits: 10
Faculty: Faculty of Landscape and Society
Teaching language: EN
(NO=norsk, EN=Engelsk)
Limits of class size:
Max. 40, min. 10 students.
Teaching exam periods:
This course starts in Spring parallel. This course has teaching/evaluation in Spring parallel.
Course frequency: The course is given every spring.
First time: Study year 2015-2016
Course contents:

Students will be introduced to landscape-ecological concepts through work with aerial photos, field and map data of real landscapes. They will learn about measuring and quantifying landscapes, how to define patches and quantify their characteristics such as size, shape, edge characteristics, pattern, connectedness etc.

Students will then examine the physics of processes such as habitat fragmentation by using simulations of logging processes in forest ecosystems.

Furthermore, students will learn about the ecological and human consequences of different landscape processes including fragmentation, connectivity, supplementation, heterogeneity, grain size, etc.

The role of landscape ecology in planning and management will be taught in seminars on the effects of landscape structure on populations and communities, barriers, corridors, fauna passages and the theory of metapopulations.

Early in the process, the students will start working on assignments that exemplify landscape-ecological concepts using specific examples related to the background theories and course literature.

Learning outcome:
- be able to undertake landscape-ecological analysis of mapped data or aerial photographs, - be able to identify the types of habitat and species that are vulnerable to habitat fragmentation, - be able to evaluate landscapes, to identify potential corridors and barriers to the movement of people and wildlife, - be able to create solutions for landscape planning problems based on landscape ecological principles, - be able to demonstrate an awareness of the limitations of generalising management solutions from one landscape to another.
Learning activities:
Students work individually and in groups on assignments of differing complexity and extent throughout the course. In addition there are weekly lectures and two full-day excursions. Students are expected to read scientific literature, and to present and discuss findings from the assignments.
Teaching support:
Supervision possible also outside lecturing hours if needed, but on appointment.
Syllabus:
The curriculum will be announced at the beginning of the course.
Recommended prerequisites:
Mandatory activity:
80 % attendance/participation. All hand-in assignments.
Assessment:
  • Mini projects: Pass/fail.
  • Oral exam in English: 51 %.
  • Term paper: 49 %.
Nominal workload:
75 hours of lectures and seminars, 105 hours of practical work (including computing), 120 hours of project work.
Entrance requirements:
Minimum requirements for entrance to higher education in Norway (generell studiekompetanse).
Type of course:
25 % lectures and seminars, 35 % self study, 40 % project work.
Note:
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Examiner:
Examination details: Continuous exam: A - E / Ikke bestått