Biodiversity and Ecosystem Functions

44M0568

Master

Englisch

5.0

nur Sommersemester

1 Semester

This course addresses the different levels of biodiversity with a main focus on the diversity of species and ecosystems. Ecosystem functions and ecosystem services will be analysed and evaluated for different landscapes and ecosystem types.

The course starts with introductory lectures and seminars. During the vegetation period, field work with identification of species (plants and selected animal species groups) and habitat types will be carried out. The collected data will be analysed, described and discussed taking into account the actual scientific literature.

• What is biodiversity?
• What are ecosystem functions and ecosystem services in different types of landscapes?
• Relations between biodiversity and ecosystem services
• How can biodiversity and ecosystem services be protected?
• Practical part with field work, data analysis and scientific evaluation and discussion

Der Arbeitsaufwand für das Modul umfasst insgesamt 150 Stunden (siehe auch "ECTS-Leistungspunkte und Benotung").

• Referat (mit schriftlicher Ausarbeitung) oder
• Hausarbeit oder
• mündliche Prüfung

• regelmäßige Teilnahme

Main examination type:

scientific talk and report

regular participation in the course

Deviations from this will be announced in the first four weeks after the start of lectures.

Talk and report: ca. 20–30 minute presentation with 5–10 pages written analysis

Basic knowledge in ecology.

Students who have studied this module successfully have knowledge about different aspects of biodiversity, ecosystem functions and ecosystem services

 Students are able to do scientific literature research as a basis. They are able to analyse species diversity in different landscapes and ecosystem types and to evaluate the results of their assessment.

Students are able to interprete both, literature data and data they collected during their field work taking into account the background of the international scientific knowledge about the respective subject.

Students who have completed this course successfully are able to transfer their knowledge and methodological competences concerning biodiversity and ecosystem functions to study and evaluate other landscapes and ecosystem types.

The students know the actual scientific literature and are able to formulate own research questions in order to analyse biodiversity and ecosystem functions in new contexts.

Students are able to communicate about biodiversity and ecosystem functions at a scientific level.

Students are able to use the scientific terminology as well as to present their research results in front of different stakeholder groups.

• Vogel, Sebastian

N. N.