| Department of Ecology
80 % Department of Agricultural Sciences 20 % | |||||||||||||||||
| Earliest Possible Year | MSc. 1 year to MSc. 2 year | ||||||||||||||||
| Duration | One block | ||||||||||||||||
| Credits | 7.5 (ECTS) | ||||||||||||||||
| Course Level | MSc | ||||||||||||||||
| Examination | Continuous Assessment written examination Written Exam in Lecturehall No aid allowed Description of Examination: At the end of each theme a short test will be given. Passing the course requires passing three of these four tests. In addition a written resumé of the student presentation is required. Weight: All stated requirements must be fulfilled to pass the course pass/fail, no second examiner | ||||||||||||||||
| Requirement For Attending Exam | Minimum 75% attendance, a satisfactory presentation on a selected topic, and participation in class discussions. | ||||||||||||||||
| Organisation of Teaching | The course is given at the Frederiksberg Campus of the University of Copenhagen, but may include 1 or 2 excursions. Detailed information will be given during the first session. | ||||||||||||||||
| Block Placement | Block 2 Week Structure: A | ||||||||||||||||
| Teaching Language | English | ||||||||||||||||
| Mandatory Prerequisites | This course assumes knowledge of the basic ecological principles corresponding to a course/textbook in general ecology. Students who not attending the first and second session will be stricken from the list ofparticipants. | ||||||||||||||||
| Restrictions | A maximum of 24 students can participate. Because presentations by students followed by discussions are major part of the course activities, a minimum of 16 students are necessary for the course to be offered. | ||||||||||||||||
| Areas of Competence the Course Will Address | |||||||||||||||||
| The students will obtain competences within Basic science: - gain detailed knowledge on four important topics in applied ecology by expanding principles from basic ecology and applying these to characterise ecological challenges. Applied science - evaluate the prerequisites of harvest theories and make judgement on their limitations. - comprehend the application ecotoxicological methods, their relative importance and how biological methods can be applied in remediation. - comprehend how to analyse complex production systems in terms of flows and indicators. - expand population ecological concerns into local and global consideration of biodiversity. Ethics and values - Reflect on how perception and values of the community determines the type of solutions and amendments chosen for a given ecological challenge. - Are able to discuss how community legislation, ownership, ethics and aesthetics influence solutions for current ecological challenges. | |||||||||||||||||
| Course Objectives | |||||||||||||||||
| The course aims to give a detailed knowledge on principles and working premises of applied ecology, which allows the students to make judgement on available management and intervention strategies for selected environmental challenges. In addition, the course provides an understanding of how ethical values, financial aspects ect. interplay in producing and shaping solutions to environmental problems. | |||||||||||||||||
| 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 populations. This theme deals with the possibilities of 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 an 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 organisms in remediation and the use of genetically modified organisms. 3) Ecological effects of global warming This theme presents and discusses the current state of knowledge and research on the effects of global warming on ecological precesses. Topics include the effects of climate change on plants and cropping systems, the consequences of climate change for natural and managed ecosystems, methods to counteract or adapt to climate change, and the possibilities ande consequences of using more renewable energies? 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 presentations are based on scientific literature, news paper article etc. or on analyses of information/data. | |||||||||||||||||
| Learning Outcome | |||||||||||||||||
| Stipulated in "Areas of Competence the Course Will Address" | |||||||||||||||||
| Course Litterature | |||||||||||||||||
| To be announced. | |||||||||||||||||
| 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 John R. Porter, jrp@life.ku.dk, Department of Agricultural Sciences/Environment, Resources and Technology, Phone: 35333377 Per Moestrup Jensen, pmj@life.ku.dk, Department of Agriculture and Ecology/Section of Zoology, Phone: 35332673 | |||||||||||||||||
| Study Board | |||||||||||||||||
| Study Committee NSN | |||||||||||||||||
| Course Scope | |||||||||||||||||
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