| Department of Ecology
75 % Department of Agricultural Sciences 25 % | |||||||||||||||
| Earliest Possible Year | |||||||||||||||
| Duration | 1 semester | ||||||||||||||
| Credits | 6 (ECTS) | ||||||||||||||
| Course Level | Joint BSc and MSc | ||||||||||||||
| Examination | evaluation of participation No aid allowed Description of Examination: pass/fail, internal examiner Attendance by 80%, presentation of selected topics and participation in class discussions are required to pass the course. Four tests will be given during the course. | ||||||||||||||
| Organisation of Teaching | Lectures and excersises: 1 module per week and 5-6 exersizes of 2-4 hours duration. | ||||||||||||||
| Block Placement | E7, fall Wedensdays afternoons. Further details on the specific dates will be given during the course. | ||||||||||||||
| Teaching Language | English may be conducted in Danish | ||||||||||||||
| Optional Prerequisites | 045541 Ecology This course assumes knowlegde of the basic ecological principles corresponding to a course/textbook in general ecology | ||||||||||||||
| Restrictions | 28 | ||||||||||||||
| Course Objectives | |||||||||||||||
| The objective of Applied Ecology is to provide insight into how ecological theories and principles can be applied to adressing environmental problems. The course is divided into 4 themes with relatively direct relations to political and economic aspects. Critical analysis of scientific literature and its presentation is an important goal of the course. | |||||||||||||||
| Course Contents | |||||||||||||||
| In each of the 4 themes the basic theoretical aspects are presented in lectures. Further discussions of the associated problems involved are covered by presentations by the students. The 4 themes deal with: 1) Harvesting population. This theme deals with the possibilities for a sustainable exploitation of free-living organisms and the problems associated with such efforts. The related issues are e.g., estimation of population size and stability of populations and models for maximum sustainable yield. 2) Application of bioremediation for removal of pollutants. This theme gives and overview of the methods dealing with efforts to avoid that polluted material like waste water sludge, has to be deposited permanently. The discussion deals with the possibilities in using tolerant organism in remediation and the use of genetically modified organisms. 3) Ecology of production systems. This theme present and discusses the different views in descriptions / characterisations of the qualities of various agricultural systems. Special emphasis will be given to the effect of production; resource use and effect on the environment. The theme includes own studies on specific Danish and foreign system of differing types and intensities. It is the aim that the students can identify important goals and characteristics in agricultural systems, especially how ecological processes are used, modified or counteracted. 4) Biodiversity and Conservation Biology This theme deals with the current anthropogenic increase in biological diversity and what can be done about it at the local, regional and global scale. Issues adressed include ethical and economic aspects of biodiversity, biodiversity and ecosystem functioning, design of nature reserves, minimum viable population size, and efforts to maintain biodiversity in Denmark and Europe. | |||||||||||||||
| Teaching And Learning Methods | |||||||||||||||
| The curriculum is covered by lectures and student presentations. The students are thereby in part responsible for the quality of the studies. Student presentation are based on scientific littereature, new paper article etc. or on analyses of information/data. | |||||||||||||||
| Course Litterature | |||||||||||||||
| Information on textbook and other materials to be used, will be given at the at the course introduction. | |||||||||||||||
| Course Coordinator | |||||||||||||||
| Jacob Weiner, jw@life.ku.dk, Department of Agriculture and Ecology/Section of Botany, Phone: 35332822 Niels O G Jørgensen, nogj@life.ku.dk, Department of Agriculture and Ecology/Section of Genetics and Microbiology, Phone: 35332625 Vibeke Langer, vl@life.ku.dk, Department of Agricultural Sciences/Environment, Resources and Technology, Phone: 35332383 Per Moestrup Jensen, pmj@life.ku.dk, Department of Agriculture and Ecology/Section of Zoology, Phone: 35332673 | |||||||||||||||
| Study Board | |||||||||||||||
| Study Committee NSN | |||||||||||||||
| Course Scope | |||||||||||||||
| |||||||||||||||