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Arctic Biology (AB)
Despite the apparent harshness of the High Arctic, many organisms are well adapted to this environment. The fauna and flora of Svalbard includes more than 1,800 marine invertebrate species, 1,200 terrestrial or freshwater invertebrate species and over 170 higher plant species in addition to the 21 mammal and 28 bird species.
UNIS emphasizes the biological studies (taxonomy, diversity, ecology, physiology) of the fauna and flora of Svalbard related to the physical and chemical environment. Easy access to key habitats gives students and staff at UNIS a unique opportunity to identify and quantify environmental threats in addition to basic knowledge of the Arctic.
Field activities are undertaken year-round in combination with regular classroom lectures and laboratory exercises. This integrated approach provides students with a first hand experience of the biological processes and the natural history of the terrestrial, limnic and marine flora and fauna in an Arctic environment.
Undergraduate Programme/Courses
Please note: These undergraduate courses can not be combined with graduate courses
Prerequisites: 45 ECTS in biology (¾ of a year of university level biology)
| Course overview: |
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AB-201 Terrestrial Arctic Biology, 15 ECTS, autumn semester 2011 |
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AB-202 Marine Arctic Biology, 15 ECTS, autumn semester 2011 |
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AB-203 Arctic Environmental Management, 15 ECTS, spring semester 2012 |
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AB-204 Arctic Ecology and Population Biology, 15 ECTS, spring semester 2012 |
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AB-205 Seminar series on impacts of climate change in the Arctic, 5 ECTS. autumn semesters (cannot be applied for separately - open only to full-time bachelor students at UNIS) |
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AB-206 Introduction to Svalbard's terrestrial flora and fauna, 5 ECTS, summer 2012 |
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Recommended combinations:
Autumn |
Spring |
AB-201 |
AB-203* |
AB-202 |
AB-204 |
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AB-205* |
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AT-207* |
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| AT-209* |
| * = Interdisciplinary courses |
Recommended workload is 30 ECTS per semester.
Graduate Courses (Ph.D. courses – also suitable for M.Sc.)
Please note: These courses run every second year
Prerequisites: Enrolment in a master- or Ph.D. program (exceptionally undergraduate students may be considered).
| Course overview: |
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AB-320 Marine Zooplankton & Sympagic Fauna of Svalbard Waters, 10 ECTS,
autumn 2012 |
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AB-321 Marine Benthic Fauna of Svalbard, 10 ECTS, autumn 2011 |
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AB-322 Flux of Matter and Energy from Sea to Land, 10 ECTS, summer 2012 |
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AB-323 Light Climate and Primary Production in the Arctic, 10 ECTS, spring 2012 |
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AB-325 Biotelemetric Methods, 10 ECTS, To be announced |
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AB-326 Arctic Plant Ecology, 10 ECTS, summer 2011 |
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AB-327 Arctic Microbiology, 10 ECTS, summer 2012 |
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AB-329 Arctic Winter Ecology, 10 ECTS, To be announced |
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AB-330 Ecosystems in Ice Covered Waters , 10 ECTS, spring 2012 |
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