|
AB-329
Arctic Winter Ecology (10 ECTS)
Ph.D. course, also suitable for M.Sc.
Objective:
The course aims to provide Master and Ph.D. students in biology with a comprehensive introduction to processes and mechanisms among organisms living in seasonal, northern and arctic environments.
Emphasis is placed on winter survival, adaptations, the impact of the physical environment on ecosystems and living organisms, and their expressed anatomical and physiological characteristics. How these influence life history strategies, demography, population dynamics, ecosystem structures and function, and trophic interactions is discussed. The consequences of climate change for arctic ecosystems and organisms will be considered.
Content:
The course is structured in two modules:
• an introductory module addressing geophysical characteristics of seasonal, northern environments, energy flow in ecosystems, metabolic processes etc.
• a terrestrial module focusing on ecosystem function during winter: Vegetation structure, plant traits related to winter survival and plant-herbivore interactions. Terrestrial invertebrates, diversity and strategies for winter survival. Terrestrial vertebrates, anatomical and physiological properties, energy budgets and activity, feeding ecology, population dynamics, and social structures.
| |
Period: |
To be announced |
|
| |
Teaching: |
35 hrs lectures/seminars, 20 hrs demonstrations and exercises, field work and seminars |
|
| |
Evaluation: |
Written 4 hrs exam (graded) |
|
| |
Course responsible: |
To be announced |
|
| |
UNIS Contact person: |
Steve Coulson |
|
|
 |
|
|
AB-329 field site, at the old Aurora station in Adventdalen, February 2011.
|
