| Department of Ecology | |||||||||||||||||||
| Earliest Possible Year | |||||||||||||||||||
| Duration | 1 semester | ||||||||||||||||||
| Credits | 14 (ECTS) | ||||||||||||||||||
| Course Level | BSc | ||||||||||||||||||
| Examination | evaluation of project report Aid allowed Description of Examination: pass/fail, internal examiner oral presentation of report | ||||||||||||||||||
| Organisation of Teaching | Summer (4/4-05 - 10/6-05) | ||||||||||||||||||
| Block Placement | outside schedule | ||||||||||||||||||
| Teaching Language | English may be conducted in Danish/Swedish | ||||||||||||||||||
| Optional Prerequisites | 120121 Introduction to Horticulture 120211 120311 Genetics, Botany and Breeding of Horticultural Plants | ||||||||||||||||||
| Course Objectives | |||||||||||||||||||
| After having followed the course the students will have: - A basic understanding on ecological principles and microbiology techniques - An understanding of human created production systems as well as natural systems - Knowledge on the influence of production systems on surrounding ecosystems and the environment in general - Acquaintance with the analyses of environmental impacts and resource use - Familiarity with soil biology - An ability to analyze ecological problems | |||||||||||||||||||
| Course Contents | |||||||||||||||||||
| The course's topics are: - Organisms and the sur-rounding world; variation and adaptation to biotic and abiotic factors - The process of evolutionary adaptation, including the role of environmental heterogeneity and co-evolution - Population ecology and population dynamics: population structure, growth, and cycles - Food chains: Resources and consumers, food webs (predation, parasitism, herbivory, competition - Systems ecology: ecosystem definition, flux of energy and matter, decomposition, function and structure of fields and natural systems - Plant community ecology: succession and the niche - Microbiology: methods for isolating, quanti-fication and identification (classical and molecular techniques) - Fauna and micro fauna of the earth. Symbiosis, predation, antibiosis, rhizosphere - Decomposing organic matter, composting - Training in sterile technique with emphasis on beneficial organisms, and including statistical methods - Project methodology (1-2 ECTS Microbiology) | |||||||||||||||||||
| Teaching And Learning Methods | |||||||||||||||||||
| Project Based Learning (PBL) supplemented by excursions, laboratory exercises, and lectures divided into three blocks: 1) microbiology, 2) basic ecology, and 3) final project. 1.Micro biology (7 work days). A combination of exercises in sterile techniques including demonstrations and mini projects. Collection and propagation of soil organisms from different surroundings with different human impacts. 2.Basic ecology (20 work days). Course introduction with introductory lessons followed by four weeks with minor project problems that are solved in small groups. The problems are related to previous work in the course. Presentation of group work will be through seminars. Presented material (Posters, tables and overheads) will be collected. Each of the chosen problems will be summarised at a seminar where teachers help to clarify main aspects and to see the problem in greater perspective. 3.Final project (15 work days). The last three weeks are reserved for a final larger project, which includes a field study. The students will have greater freedom to choose topics than earlier in the course. The project shall be presented orally and as a report on the web. | |||||||||||||||||||
| Course Litterature | |||||||||||||||||||
| The PBL pedagogic starting point implies that the students seek out their own literature and other pieces of information. However, as basis for theory and to allow continued study of ecology at other universities a basic textbook will be used. | |||||||||||||||||||
| Course Coordinator | |||||||||||||||||||
| Jacob Weiner, jw@life.ku.dk, Department of Agriculture and Ecology/Section of Botany, Phone: 35332822 Fredrik Schlyter, Fredrik.Schlyter@vv.slu.se, Department of Agricultural Sciences/DSH guests, Phone: 6-415303 Holger Philipsen, hp@life.ku.dk, Department of Agriculture and Ecology/Section of Zoology, Phone: 35332687 Per Moestrup Jensen, pmj@life.ku.dk, Department of Agriculture and Ecology/Section of Zoology, Phone: 35332673 | |||||||||||||||||||
| Study Board | |||||||||||||||||||
| Study Committee DSH | |||||||||||||||||||
| Course Scope | |||||||||||||||||||
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