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ECOL310 Global Change Ecology

Credits (ECTS):5

Course responsible:Milda Norkute, Simon Diederik Schowanek

Campus / Online:Taught campus Ås

Teaching language:Engelsk

Limits of class size:50

Course frequency:Annually

Nominal workload:Lectures: 10 hours. Group discussions: 20 hours. Reading of scientific articles, preparation for group discussions, and reading for exam: 95 hours.

Teaching and exam period:This course starts in Autumn parallel. This course has teaching/evaluation in Autumn parallel, .

About this course

This course explores the effects of global change on organisms, ecosystems, ecological processes and society. Upon completion, students will understand the different components of global change as well as the methodologies to study them. The course discusses a variety of global change topics, including: the Anthropocene, climate change, nutrient cycling, land-use change, pollution, non-native species, defaunation, etc. The course consists of weekly lectures and group activities where students discuss scientific articles.

Learning outcome

Knowledge

The student is familiar with the field of global change ecology, its theory, and its methodology. They can explain how global change affects various socio-ecological systems.

Skills

Upon completion of the course, students will have the ability to:

  • Read and understand scientific literature
  • Synthesize complex ecological knowledge in a written and oral format
  • Think critically about scientific research in the field of global change

General competence

The student is familiar with the scientific field of global change. They are able to critically evaluate scientific publications and discuss topics relevant to the field of global change.

  • Lectures, Discussion, and personal reading
  • Teachers are available for questions during lecture and group discussions.
  • ECOL200, or equal competence in general ecology
  • It is recommended that students take BOT100, BOT130, ZOOL100 and ECOL200 prior to taking this course. However, ECOL310 is open to motivated students with a basic understanding of biology, the natural world, and scientific principles.

  • Combined assessment with 2 elements:

    1. An oral examination (60% of the course grade)

    2. Group work (40% of the grade)

    The oral examination lasts 30 minutes, during which students receive questions related to the topics discussed in the course. The group work consists of weekly written assignments in which groups of students critically analyse scientific papers. Both elements must be passed to pass the course.



    Written hand-ins Grading: Letter grades Oral exam Grading: Letter grades
  • The oral exam will be conducted together with an external examiner.
  • First lecture, written reports and participation in group discussions.

  • Registration for the course no later than 31 August. After this, the 50 places in the course will be distributed.

    Students that have not received a place in the course can meet at the first lecture. Free seats will be distributed after the first lecture.

  • Lectures: 10 hours. Seminars and discussion groups: 20 hours.
  • Students who has the course compulsory (M-ECOL). Then students enrolled in a relevant master program (M-NF, M-MILJØ, M-SF, M-BIOL)
  • Special requirements in Science