Applied Ecosystem Ecology

Program:	Master programme in Biology
Level:	Advanced level
Course code:	1BG305
Credits:	15 c
More info:	Course syllabus
Schedule and course material:	Schedule Studium

The course should give an understanding of the use of catchments as the basis for environmental protection and management, as well as for planning of society. This includes knowledge in performing and evaluating calculations of transport of different substances in catchments, a general knowledge of the natural structure and functioning of terrestrial as well as aquatic ecosystems, and interactions between the different ecosystems within a catchment.

Fieldwork is included in the studies, and we are using GPS equipment and geographical information systems (GIS). The GIS education is integrated in the other course contents; e.g. we produce maps that analyse pH and nutrient content in the lakes of Sweden. As final examination of GIS you get an individual GIS task, where you help researchers at the Evolutionary Biology Center to produce maps that illustrate/analyse results from ongoing research.

Anthropogenic threats to aquatic ecosystems are also included in the course contents; hydromophological alterations, pollutants, introduction of non-native species, and exploitation of species populations. In the final exercise, you evaluate different catchments, in order to identify areas that are suitable for protection in the European Natura 2000 network.

For more information, please contact:
Sebastian Sobek (sebastian.sobek@ebc.uu.se)