Høst 2024

BIO-3505 Ecological Interactions - 10 stp

The course is administrated by

Institutt for arktisk og marin biologi

Type of course

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

First lecture is mandatory.

The course is available as a singular course.

Course overlap

BIO-308 Fish ecology - ecological interactions 10 ects

Course contents

The course deals with ecological interactions. 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 preparation of a term poster with presentation to a given topic gives the students experience to apply taught contents and develop communication skills.

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.

Recommended prerequisite equivalent to BIO-2017 Økologi.

Objective 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 and communities including 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

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

English

Teaching methods

Lectures and seminars.