Functional Biodiversity
Course content
Biological diversity (genetic, species, and ecosystem level variation) is key to sustaining the integrity of natural ecosystems and their ecosystem services to humankind. Therefore, the global biodiversity crisis and the underlying continuous loss of species is of great concern to society.
The course explores the important relationship between biodiversity and ecosystem functioning. It examines the roles that different groups micro- and macroorganisms play within ecosystems and how their interactions (e.g. predator/prey, herbivore/plant, competitors, symbionts) contribute to maintaining the health and productivity of these systems.
The course includes a thorough introduction to the main concepts of biodiversity and functional biodiversity, a research-based assessment of the importance of functional biodiversity to how natural ecosystems function, and a practical introduction to quantify and analyse functional biodiversity in a real-life setting. In addition, the course emphasizes how functional biodiversity benefits ecosystem services, and provides solutions to maintain and increase functional biodiversity in managed landscapes.
Students in this course will study the diversity of genes, species, and ecosystems and how they function together to create a sustainable environment. The course covers the ecological, evolutionary, and biogeochemical processes that underpin the functioning of ecosystems and the importance of maintaining/conserving biodiversity to support these processes.
Through lectures by leading researchers, hands-on activities, case studies, field trips/excursions, students will learn how to measure and evaluate the functional biodiversity of different ecosystems. They will also examine the ways in which human activities can positively (e.g. organic farming, grazing) or negatively (e.g. habitat destruction, pollution and climate change) impact biodiversity and ecosystem functioning.
Overall, the course aims to provide students with a deeper understanding of the importance of functional biodiversity for the health of natural and man-made ecosystems and the planet as a whole, and to equip them with the knowledge and the skills to contribute to the conservation and management of (functional) biodiversity in their future careers.
MSc Programme in Biotechnology
MSc Programme in Environmental Science
Knowledge:
- Gain conceptual understanding of various aspects of biodiversity and ecosystem functioning
- Application of functional trait approach to understand how (a)biotic environment affects biodiversity patterns (e.g. community structure and species richness; “response traits”.
- Describe how functional traits may explain how organisms affect the functioning of ecosystems they occur in (“effect traits”).
Skills:
- Measurements of functional traits in main organismic groups using state-of-art protocols
- Calculation of main functional biodiversity indices using R statistical software
- Analysis of functional biodiversity drivers based on real-life data from a land-use intensity gradient
- Extend knowledge on multispecies interactions to ecosystem functioning in natural ecosystem
Compentences:
- Communicate verbally and in writing how functional biodiversity studies are conducted and how their results are interpreted (primary literature).
- Reflect on and evaluate real-life biologically-based solutions to maintain and increase functional biodiversity in managed landscapes e.g. agricultural and urban ecosystems.
- Apply the theory of functional biodiversity to generate science based solutions to real-life problems in applied plant science.
● Each session consists of one to two lectures, supplemented
with group discussions
● Combination of quantitative and theoretical exercises
● Hands-on sessions using R for data processing and visualization.
● Critical reading of articles, followed by discussions to evaluate
and critique existing research (journal club).
● Two organized excursions to provide practical exposure.
● Four one-hour written quizzes covering key sections of the
curriculum. Quiz results will be released the day after each quiz,
allowing students to review and retake them to enhance learning
outcomes.
● Student project: Each student selects a current research question
in functional biodiversity and completes the following tasks: (1)
prepares a brief synopsis outlining the topic and planned report
content, (2) delivers an oral presentation in class, and (3)
submits an individually assessed written report during the
examination week.
● In all these activities, our main teaching form is based on
dialogue, discussions, and a critical but supporting approach to
complex scientific and applied ecological
challenges.
See Absalon for literature provided by the course teachers.
Introductory course in ecology, botany and zoology.
- Oral feedback through discussions in groups and in plenum during the course
- Peer feedback (students give each other feedback on their presentations)
- Oral and written individual teacher feedback to students during project development, experiments, and for final report.
- Teacher and peer feedback to project report, experimental results and presentation.
- Collective oral feedback to the results of the four smaller exams during course.
- Individual feedback if requested.
- ECTS
- 7,5 ECTS
- Type of assessment
-
On-site written exam, 4 hours under invigilation
- Type of assessment details
- A four-hour written exam without aids covering key sections of the curriculum.
- Examination prerequisites
-
Timely submission of the final project report (individual).
- Aid
- No aids allowed
- Marking scale
- 7-point grading scale
- Censorship form
- No external censorship
Several internal examiners
- Re-exam
-
Re-exam as the ordinary exam.
If the requirement is not met - the missing project report need to be handed in 3 weeks before the re-exam. Contact course responsible for details.
If the number of students for re-exam is less than 10, it will be a 20 min oral exam with 20 min preparation, with no aids allowed. Oral examination based on curriculum.
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.
Single subject courses (day)
- Category
- Hours
- Lectures
- 34
- Preparation
- 80
- Theory exercises
- 25
- Excursions
- 16
- Project work
- 35
- Guidance
- 12
- Exam
- 4
- English
- 206
Kursusinformation
- Language
- English
- Course number
- NPLK25002U
- ECTS
- 7,5 ECTS
- Programme level
- Full Degree Master
- Duration
-
1 block
- Placement
- Block 3
- Schedulegroup
-
C
- Capacity
- 30
The number of places might be reduced if you register in the late-registration period (BSc and MSc) or as a credit or single subject student. - Studyboard
- Study Board of Natural Resources, Environment and Animal Science
Contracting department
- Department of Plant and Environmental Sciences
Contracting faculty
- Faculty of Science
Course Coordinator
- Sergey Rosbakh (7-7774786766706d4575716a7333707a336970)
Er du BA- eller KA-studerende?
Kursusinformation for indskrevne studerende