BB543: Plant ecology

Comment

Scheduled Field trip: Field trip to Svanninge Bjerge takes place in week 23 and 33. The student is charged a small amount that covers the expenses for meals while on the field trip.

Limited seats

The course has limited seats and in case of too many applications, priority is given to the timely registration by date of registration.

The course has limited entry. The following criterias are taken into consideration when seats are assigned.

Students with the most ECTS from their BSc. in Biology
Other students with the most ECTS (enrolled in a programme in the subject area of Natural Sciences

The academic enviroments at The faculty of Science manages the prioritisation and at waiting list is established and will then made aware from the faculty. The waiting list will not be transferred to the following year.

Entry requirements

None

Academic preconditions

Students taking the course are expected to:

Have knowledge of basic ecological theory and plant systematics
Be able to use plant identification literature to determine plant species with some aid

Participant limit

Course introduction

The aim of the course is to familiarize the student with plant ecological theory as well as to enable the student to carry out (terrestrial) plant ecological field projects, which is important in regard to understand drivers of biodiversity, and to conduct theoretical work as well as field work in academic or applied settings.

The course builds on the knowledge of botany and ecology acquired previous courses in the biology curriculum (BB531, BB510, BB512) and gives an academic basis for conducting bachelor or masters projects in plant ecology.

In relation to the competence profile of the degree it is the explicit focus of the course to:

Give the competence to independently participate in collaboration with a professional approach.
Give skills to conduct experimental investigations, critically evaluate biological theories, and express, evaluate and solve biological problems.
Give knowledge and understanding of biological theories, methodologies and practice.

Expected learning outcome

The learning objectives of the course is that the student demonstrates the ability to:

use the acquired knowledge for species determination of reproductive and (when possible) vegetative plants by means of key and floras, and explain the criteria used for such determinations
independently design, conduct and interpret plant ecological field studies in relation to ecological theory

Content

The following main topics are contained in the course:

Plant demography
Plant life history
Plant reproductive biology
Population interactions
Plant ecology at community, landscape and global scales

Literature

See itslearning for syllabus lists and additional literature references.

Examination regulations

Exam element a)

Timing

Spring

Prerequisites

Type	Prerequisite name	Prerequisite course
Examination part	Prerequisites for participating in the exam a)	N100045101, BB543: Plant ecology
Examination part	Prerequisites for participating in the exam b)	N100045101, BB543: Plant ecology

Tests

Compulsory assignments

EKA

N100045102

Assessment

Second examiner: None

Grading

Pass/Fail

Identification

Full name and SDU username

Language

Normally, the same as teaching language

Examination aids

To be announced during the course

ECTS value

Additional information

Prerequisites for participating in the exam a)

Timing

Spring

Tests

Active participation during weekend 1

EKA

N100045112

Assessment

Second examiner: None

Grading

Pass/Fail

Identification

Full name and SDU username

Language

Normally, the same as teaching language

Examination aids

To be announced during the course

ECTS value

Additional information

The prerequisite examination is a prerequisite for participation in exam element a).

Prerequisites for participating in the exam b)

Timing

Spring

Tests

Active participation during weekend 2

EKA

N100045122

Assessment

Second examiner: None

Grading

Pass/Fail

Identification

Full name and SDU username

Language

Normally, the same as teaching language

Examination aids

To be announced during the course

ECTS value

Additional information

The prerequisite examination is a prerequisite for participation in exam element a).

Indicative number of lessons

52 hours per semester

Teaching Method

At the faculty of science, teaching is organized after the three-phase model ie. intro, training and study phase.

Intro phase (lectures, class lessons) - 12 hours
Training phase: 40 hours, including 4 hours tutorials and 36 hours excursion

The course is divided into three parts, two intensive weekends, one in spring and one in late summer, between which the students will conduct an extensive individual field project. The two weekends will contain lectures, tutorials and excursions at and around the Biology field station in Svanninge Bjerge. Field work and tutorials will focus on some of the topics of the lectures to get a coherent practical and theoretical knowledge. The lectures will incorporate discussions of interpretations of data collected at the excursions around the field station as well as those conducted as part of the individual project. The individual project will focus on floristics (species identification and ecology) and is to be carried out at a natural location of the student’s choice.

Studyphase activities:

Reading assigned material
Analyses and written presentation of data collected for individual project

Teacher responsible

Name	E-mail	Department
Johan Dahlgren	dahlgren@biology.sdu.dk	CPop Biology

Timetable

Odense

Show full time table

Administrative Unit

Biologisk Institut

Team at Educational Law & Registration

NAT

Offered in

Odense

Recommended course of study

Profile	Education	Semester	Offer period

Transition rules

Transitional arrangements describe how a course replaces another course when changes are made to the course of study.

If a transitional arrangement has been made for a course, it will be stated in the list.

See transitional arrangements for all courses at the Faculty of Science.