Course code ZOOL310

ZOOL310 Behavioural and Population Ecology

Norsk emneinformasjon

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Showing course contents for the educational year 2020 - 2021 .

Course responsible: Ronny Steen
Teachers: Svein Dale
ECTS credits: 10
Faculty: Faculty of Environmental Sciences and Natural Resource Management
Teaching language: EN, NO
(NO=norsk, EN=Engelsk)
Limits of class size:
20
Teaching exam periods:
This course starts in Autumn parallel. This course has teaching/evaluation in Autumn parallel.
Course frequency: Annually
First time: Study year 2003-2004
Preferential right:
M-ECOL and M-NF
Course contents:
The content of the course is given by the content of the research articles that are selected for presentation. The articles are selected by the teachers. To secure that the collection of articles selected for the course is up to date, less than 20% of the articles used in one year are being used the next year. Each seminar lasts two hours, and includes the presentation and discussion of two articles. These two articles are on the same topic, and are selected to supplement each other, for instance by representing conflicting results and interpretations.
Learning outcome:

A candidate with fulfilled requirements should have the following learning outcome:

Knowledge:

The student should know how results from scientific studies in ecology are reported.

Skills:

On completion of the course, the student should be able to understand the content of research articles in international peer-reviewed journals on topics in behavioural ecology and population ecology. The student should also be able to evaluate the scientific value of such articles, and to present such articles critically to a group of professional colleagues.

General competense:

The student should be well aquainted with how scientific results in ecology are presented written and orally.

Learning activities:
Learning results should be achieved through seminars with a teacher present. Each research article is presented by one of the participants, and is discussed either throughout the presentation or after the presentation. Each seminar lasts two hours, and includes the presentation and discussion of two articles. These two articles are on the same topic, and are selected to supplement each other, for instance by representing conflicting results and interpretations. The first seminars are given by the teachers in order to give the students an idea on how the presentation may be done. Thereafter the seminars are given by the students. The discussions are directed by a teacher. To each paper the teachers have made c. 5 questions, and the students must deliver their written answers ahead of the seminar. Each student presents the number of articles that is needed in order to cover the whole curriculum. Usually, there are about 40 articles on the reading list, so if there are 12 students participating, each student has to present three articles.
Teaching support:
The student´s learning is supported through academic supervision during the seminars, and in the teacher´s office hours.
Syllabus:
Approx. 40 scientific articles on topics in behavioural ecology or population ecology published in leading international journals during the last five years.
Prerequisites:
ZOOL250 and ECOL200, and ZOOL210 or ZOOL220.
Recommended prerequisites:
BIO223
Mandatory activity:
First lecture. All the seminars with teacher present: approx. 40 hours.
Assessment:
The exam has two parts: 1) A final oral exam of about 40 minutes, which counts 4/5 of the grade. In this exam, the student will be examined in three scientific articles selected by the teachers. One of these articles has been presented by the student himself/herself in a seminar, while the two others have been presented by other students. 2) The last 1/5 represents the student´s oral and written presentations during the seminar, together with his/her activity during the discussions. It is not necessary that the student passes every evaluated element in the course to pass the entire course. A passing grade is based on the overall quality of the entire evaluated material.
Nominal workload:
Structured work: 40 hours. Preparation of own presentation: approx. 60 hours. Personal commitment: approx. 200 hours.
Entrance requirements:
Special requirements in Science
Reduction of credits:
-
Type of course:
Seminars with teacher present: approx. 40 hours.
Note:

Registration deadline for the course is 1. September. Seats in the course will be distributed right after this date.

Students that do not get a seat in the course can meet at the first lecture. Free seats will be distributed after the first lecture.

Examiner:
An external sensor grades the oral answers at the exam in knowledge and understanding.
Examination details: :