Introduction to Arctic Ecosystems
Course content
The course will provide a broad introduction to how terrestrial and aquatic ecosystems in the Arctic have developed, are structured and function in relation to environmental conditions. The course will also provide a deeper knowlegde and understanding of organisms (microbes, plants and animals), their life cycles, adaptations to arctic conditions and how they interact. Examples of how ecosystems respond to climate changes and to direct human activities (e.g., hunting, fishing, tourism and exploration of minerals) in Greenland will be demonstrated and debated.
The course addresses students and academics as well as non-academics from any disciplines but a prior understanding of basic life sciences at high-school levels will be an advantage. However, care will be taken to implement a good understanding of basic biological terminology and approaches to enable the students a profound understanding of the arctic ecological processes and paradigms at an academic level.
The course is structured with weekly lectures in combination with theoretical and hands-on exercises. Excursions and invited guest speakers will provide insight to management and monitoring aspects. The students will furthermore be challenged through own presentations (individually and in groups) of relevant arctic topics.
Knowledge:
- Basic terminology used in Arctic biology
- Arctic organisms and their living conditions
- Structure and function of terrestrial and aquatic ecosystems
- How climate changes and environmental hazardsaffect organisms and their interactions
- Strategies for management and monitoring in the Arctic ecosystem
- Research, educational and management actors
Skills:
- Describe the complex nature of terrestrial and aquatic Arctic ecosystem
- Explain important biological processes in Arctic ecosystems
- Understand the influences of climate changes on populations and ecosystems in the Arctic
- Extract knowledge from the literature and use it to pinpoint
specific questions related to e.g. sensibility of arctic ecosystems
to disturbances
Competences:
- Analyse, outline and present complex relationships between arctic ecosystems and their environments
- Facilitate a discussion on the consequences of natural and human activities on arctic ecosystems
- Formulate research, management and monitoring needs for the Arctic.
Lectures, theoretical/practical exercises, excursions, demonstrations, debates and mini-symposium
Text books, primary literature (papers), reports, official
documents etc.
See Absalon for further information.
An understanding of basic life sciences at high-school levels
will be an advantage.
Academic qualifications equivalent to a BSc degree is
recommended.
The course is aimed at students and academia with no prior
knowledge to the Arctic incl. Greenland and is intended to provide
a profound introduction of important facets of the Arctic
condition. The course should be useful for anyone performing
education, administration and managements in an Arctic region.
Students from Geosciences, Biotechnology and Natural sciences may
find the course as a supplement to their main specialization.
This course is part of the arctic coursework at UCPH. See more at
arctic.ku.dk.
- ECTS
- 7,5 ECTS
- Type of assessment
-
Written examination, 2 hours under invigilationThe exam consists of 20 multiple choice questions, 1 short essay and 2-4 other types of questions
- Aid
- All aids allowed
- Marking scale
- 7-point grading scale
- Censorship form
- No external censorship
One internal examiner
Criteria for exam assessment
In order to obtain the grade 12 the student should convincingly and accurately demonstrate the knowledge, skills and competences described under Learning Outcome.
- Category
- Hours
- Exam
- 2
- Preparation
- 76
- Lectures
- 40
- Project work
- 40
- Theory exercises
- 24
- Practical exercises
- 24
- English
- 206
Kursusinformation
- Language
- English
- Course number
- NBIK17002U
- ECTS
- 7,5 ECTS
- Programme level
- Full Degree Master
- Duration
-
1 block
- Schedulegroup
-
B
- Capacity
- 40
- Studyboard
- Study Board for the Biological Area
Contracting department
- Department of Biology
Contracting faculty
- Faculty of Science
Course Coordinator
- Kirsten Seestern Christoffersen (15-736b707a717b7c776e6e6d7a7b6d76486a717736737d366c73)
Teacher
Lectures from Dept. of Biology (UCPH), other institutions and private companies.
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