BOT210 Fungi, Lichens and Bryophytes – Ecology and Species Identification

The course provides the students with a broad introduction to the ecology of fungi, lichens and bryophytes, as well as knowledge of a selection of species and how these can be identified using macroscopic and microscopic characteristics.

The course starts with a week of intensive teaching in the last half of the August block with a focus on fungi. This week includes daily lectures (1 hour), one excursion (approx. 6 hours) and four laboratory exercises (3 hours per exercise). In the Autumn parallel the focus shifts to lichens and bryophytes, with one lecture (1 hour) and one laboratory exercise (3 hours) per week, as well as a total of two excursions (approx. 6 hours per excursion).

Topics covered in the lectures are the general structure and physiology of fungi, fungi and decomposition, the role of fungi in the carbon cycle, interactions between fungi and other organisms, rare and endangered fungi, the general structure and physiology of lichens, lichens and air pollution, lichens and adaptations to extreme environments, lichens and herbivory, rare and endangered lichens, the general structure and physiology of bryophytes, bryophytes as indicators of heavy metal pollution, the ecology of peat mosses and rare and endangered bryophytes.

Through laboratory exercises and excursions, the students gain knowledge about common species of fungi, lichens and bryophytes in Norway: common soil-inhabiting fungi in poor and rich forests, wood-inhabiting fungi, ascomycetes and the like, rich bark lichens (from ash, elm, maple, aspen, etc.), poor bark lichens (from conifers and birch), a selection of crustose lichens, old-growth forest lichens, bryophytes from base rich forests, bryophytes from oligotrophic forests, peat mosses and liverworts.

The course also includes writing of a term paper (group work with 3-4 students) with collection and identification of collected material, analyses of data and report writing.

Knowledge:

After completing the course, the candidate should have broad knowledge of common and some rare fungi, lichens and bryophytes and their ecology and importance in Norwegian ecosystems.

Skills:

The candidate should be able to identify Norwegian fungi, bryophytes and lichens using identification keys and floras. The candidate should also be able to use indicator species of fungi, lichens and bryophytes for assessing various environmental conditions. The candidate should be able to write a simple scientific report based on own data.

General competence:

After completing the course, the candidate should be able to communicate and discuss issues and solutions related to fungi, lichen and bryophyte ecology and have basic knowledge for further work with these species groups, for instance related to mapping and sustainable biodiversity management.