AB-336 Arctic Mycology (10 ECTS)

Grade:	Letter grade (A through F)
Course Cost:	Fieldwork, NOK 600 (3 days x NOK 200 per overnight stay)
Course Capacity Min/Max:	9/18 students (AB-336/836 in total)
Language of instruction:	English
Examination support material:	Bilingual dictionary between English and mother tongue

How to apply

Course requirements

Enrolment in a relevant master programme.

Academic content

Fungi are one of the most species-rich groups of organisms in the Arctic, and have significant impacts on Arctic ecosystem processes. However, knowledge of Arctic fungi is still scarce, making Arctic mycology an exciting topic. Through lectures, exercises and fieldwork, the course will cover topics such as:
1) Arctic fungal diversity, including taxonomic identification through field recognition, classical microscopy and recent molecular technology, 2) Arctic fungal ecology, including how mycorrhizal, saprotrophic and pathogenic fungi drive nutrient and energy cycling in the Arctic, 3) fungal physiology and 4) mutualistic relationships, such as the lichen symbiosis.

Learning outcomes

Upon completing the course, the students will:

Knowledge

Have an insight into the diversity, function, and ecology of Arctic fungi, and fungal symbioses and their importance in the Arctic ecosystem. Know and be able to explain current mycological methods and research questions.

Skills

Be able to identify fungi both in the laboratory and in the field. Have skills in study design, data analysis and technical report writing

General competences

Have gained competence in problem solving related to Arctic mycological research, in the field, in the lab and at a theoretical level. Have competence in both creative and critical thinking in relation to the development of research projects, methodology, and evaluation of one’s own and published data.

Learning activities

The course extends over 4 weeks including compulsory safety training, and is run in combination with AB-836.

Learning activities includes lectures, seminars, laboratory work, day trips and excursions involving overnight stays. Within the context of a “hands-on” project, students will be trained in study design, data evaluation and technical report writing.

Summary

Total lecture hours: 20 hours
Exercises/seminars: 8 hours
Laboratory work: 8–10 days
Excursions: 3–4 days

Compulsory learning activities

All compulsory learning activities must be approved in order to sit the exam.

Excursions
Laboratory work
Report writing

Assessment

All assessments must be passed in order to pass the course.
One final grade will be reported, based on an average of the grades from the written report and the oral exam.

Method	Percentage of final grade
Written report	70%
Oral exam	30%