Entry requirements

The Evolution and Diversity of Organisms, 15 credits, and participation in Molecular Biology and Genetics, 10 credits, Life and Interactions of Microorganisms, 5 credits, Quantitative Biology, 5 credits, and Mathematics and Statistics for Biologists, 10 credits.

Learning outcomes

On completion of the course, the student should be able to:

• summarise the relationships between organisms and the environment
• account for basic processes and theories in ecology and population genetics
• describe the links between ecology and evolution
• account for structure and function of terrestrial and aquatic ecosystems
• discuss the connection between ecology and environmental and nature conservation issues
• apply basic methods to examine ecological questions through field studies i.e. planning, implementation, statistical analysis, written and oral presentation
• reason about ethical issues related to animal testing, research and environmental issues.

Content

• Applied exercises in experimental design and statistical analysis.
• Introduction and application of GPS and GIS.
• The organisms and the environment: Abiotic factors and resources, basic soil science, global and Swedish biogeography.
• Ecology at individual level: Life history strategies, behavioural ecology
• Population ecology and population genetics: Population dynamics, natural and sexual selection, genetic variation, genotype frequencies, inbreeding and evolutionary consequences of different reproductive systems.
• Community ecology: Niche theory, interspecific interactions, dynamics of plant and animal communities.
• Ecosystem ecology: Biogeochemical cycles, energy flow and food webs.
• Human and nature: Ecological and population genetic applications within nature conservation and environmental protection

Instruction

The course consists of lectures, seminars, computer exercises and field studies. Participation in practical exercises, field studies and seminars are compulsory.

Assessment

To pass the course, passed results of experimental design (2 credits), field course (5 credits), and written examination of the theory part (8 credits), are required.

If there are special reasons for doing so, an examiner may make an exception from the method of assessment indicated and allow a student to be assessed by another method. An example of special reasons might be a certificate regarding special pedagogical support from the disability coordinator of the university.