Spring semester: Winter Ecosystems in the warming Arctic

Added value of completing the full course series

By taking all three courses in the semester — AB-329/829 Arctic Winter Ecology, AB-327/827 Arctic Microbiology, and the block Sea Ice Ecosystems (consisting of the annually alternating courses AB-330/830 Ecosystems in Ice Covered Waters [offered in odd years] and AB-323/823 Light and Primary Productivity in the Arctic  [offered in even years]) you will gain a unique and comprehensive understanding of Arctic ecosystems across seasons as the polar night recedes and summer arrives, biological scales, and environmental settings. Together, the three courses provide an integrated perspective that goes far beyond what is achieved in any single five week course.

You will connect insights from terrestrial winter ecology, microbial processes, and marine ice-covered ecosystems, allowing you to understand the ecology of the Arctic landscape—from microbes in permafrost and snow, to plants and animals on the tundra, to primary producers and nutrient cycles in and beneath the sea ice.

Through diverse Arctic fieldwork in terrestrial, freshwater and marine habitats, you will develop advanced practical skills in ecological and microbiological methods, data collection, analysis, and scientific communication. The overarching thematic foci of the courses are climate change impacts, adaptation mechanisms, and ecosystem dynamics.  

By successfully completing this semester package, you will strengthen your ability to critically evaluate and integrate complex environmental information, while building a strong interdisciplinary foundation preparing you for careers focused on Arctic and or environmental challenges.

Block 1: Setting the Arctic winter scene

AB-329/829 Arctic Winter Ecology provides an insight into Arctic winter ecology in the middle of the polar night. A personal experience of what the polar night is gained along with the abiotic challenges the flora and fauna face and survive. The role of the Arctic winter in structuring the biology observed in the summer is a key learning outcome along with the as well as the effects of changes in the winter environment as a consequence of climate change.

Block 2: The underpinning of the Arctic ecology

AB-327/827 Arctic Microbiology develops a comprehensive introduction to processes and mechanisms in the Arctic microbiology that are key to life in these regions. Completing the course will provide a comprehensive understanding of Arctic microbial biodiversity, current methods in Arctic microbiology,  and the role in creating the environment observed, for example, Arctic biogeochemistry and nutrient cycles, energy transfers, establishment and evolution) and hot topics in Arctic microbiology including effects of climate change, environmental change, human impact, biogeography and microbial diseases.

Block 3: Return of the light and the breaking of the polar night

AB-330/830 Ecosystems in Ice Covered Waters [offered in odd years] gives you theoretical and hands-on knowledge on Arctic sea ice ecosystems and the mechanisms regulating the timing of key biological processes such as the ice algal and phytoplankton blooms and secondary production. Particular focus is placed on sea ice biodiversity but also the trophic coupling and carbon flux between sea ice (=sympagic), pelagic and benthic ecosystems.

AB-323/823 Light and Primary Productivity in the Arctic [offered in even years] reviews the main key-environmental variables (light regime, temperature, nutrients, salinity and CO₂) affecting marine primary production in the Arctic. We focus on how phytoplankton, sea-ice microalgae and macroalgae are adapted and acclimatized to variations in the light regime (irradiance, its spectral composition and day length), affected by temperature, salinity and CO₂ concentration. You will also develop an understanding of micro- and macroalgal eco-physiology and biodiversity during midnight sun period (April – August) and polar night period (November – February).