Application deadline

Type of course

Master course for biology students - mandatory for MSc students specializing in Freshwater Ecology and open for all MSc students in biology.

Students from freshwater and marine ecology or other Master programs at the department (AMB) will be prioritized. The admission will take place during the first lecture. First lecture is mandatory. 

The course is limited to 16 students due to the capacity of the field course.

The course is also available as a singular course. 

Admission requirements

Local admission, application code 9371 - Master`s level singular course.

Admission requires a Bachelor`s degree (180 ECTS) or equivalent qualification, with a major in biology of minimum 80 ECTS.

Course content

The course deals with ecological interactions with special emphasize on aquatic (i.e., freshwater and marine) systems. Ecological niche, competition, predation, parasitism, and food webs are central topics, and key principles and theories in relation to these concepts and interactions are addressed. The dynamic aspects of the interactions are focused, also considering effects of species introductions and other biomanipulations and ecological impacts. Lessons include a combination of lectures presenting basic theory and seminars for discussions of relevant literature. The seminars are compulsory and based on thorough preparations from the students. A compulsory field course gives the students hands-on experience with ecological studies in subarctic lakes and intertidal rocky shores.  

The required safety training for the field course will be given as part of the teaching. 

Recommended prerequisites

Objectives of the course

Knowledge: 

• Has thorough knowledge and insight to central topics in population, community and food-web ecology 

• Has advanced knowledge and in-depth understanding of direct and indirect effects of ecological interactions  

• Has advanced knowledge on the ecological niche concept and competition  

• Has advanced knowledge on predation  

• Has advanced knowledge on parasitism  

• Has in-depth knowledge on the interrelationships of various ecological interactions

Skills: 

• Can explain and describe the use of key ecological concepts and theory related to competitive exclusion principle, apparent interactions, ecological niche, biodiversity, biological invasions, food webs and trophic cascades 

• Can critically evaluate, interpret and contextualize scientific literature and studies 

• Can analyze and deal critically with various sources of information in population and community ecology and use them to structure and formulate scholarly arguments 

• Can formulate and raise pertinent and critical questions about trophic ecology and species interactions shaping ecological communities (particularly in freshwater and marine ecosystems)

General competence: 

• Can integrate, summarize and discuss scientific topics in plenary sessions 

• Can analyze and give oral and written presentations of problems concerning ecology and interactions 

• Can communicate about academic issues, analyses and conclusions in ecology 

• Gain experience in providing and receiving feedback from peer review process 

Language of instruction and examination

Teaching methods