NIGK25005U Practical Insect Ecology

Volume 2025/2026
Content

This course explores the ecological roles and interactions of insects within various ecosystems, highlighting their diversity, life cycles, and behaviors. Emphasis is placed on their importance in ecological processes such as pollination, nutrient cycling, decomposition, and food webs. Students will study in the field how insect communities are structured and shaped by biotic and abiotic factors, including climate change, habitat loss, and other environmental pressures. The course also demonstrates advanced molecular techniques, such as DNA megabarcoding and metabarcoding and camera trapping, to identify and monitor insect diversity at large scales. Historical museum collections are utilized to connect modern ecological data with historical records, providing insights into how insect populations and distributions have evolved over time. Through lectures, hands-on fieldwork, laboratory activities, and data analysis exercises, students will gain practical skills in insect identification, molecular techniques, and ecological research methods.

Learning Outcome

Knowledge:

  • Key concepts, theories, and principles in insect ecology
  • The diversity, distribution, and life cycles of insects across different ecosystems
  • The ecological roles of insects in processes such as pollination, decomposition, and nutrient cycling
  • The role of historical museum collections in understanding insect distribution, and ecological roles over time
  • The integration of molecular techniques (e.g., DNA megabarcoding and metabarcoding) with traditional ecological methods to monitor and conserve insect diversity
  • The impact of biotic and abiotic environmental factors on shaping insect populations and communities in different ecosystems
  • The interaction between insects and other organisms, including plants, predators, and parasites, and their influence on ecosystem dynamics

 

Skills:

  • Formulate hypotheses and design a practical experiment focused on insect ecology, with combined components of research both in the field and in the laboratory
  • Apply relevant experimental design, sampling techniques, and equipment used in insect ecology studies
  • Determine insect species  based on morphology using keys and online tools. This is followed by a verification using DNA barcoding.
  • Able to use insect trait databases to obtain additional data on insect species
  • Analyze and interpret community structures in various habitats, based on collected insect species (e.g., indicator species)
  • Communicate scientific findings effectively through a written report, using self collected and analyzed data supported by the scientific literature

 

Competences:

  • Demonstrate an understanding of insect roles and interactions within complex ecosystems
  • Conduct and advise on research and decision making based on evaluation of insect communities
  • Evaluate the effects of environmental changes on insect distribution, density, diversity at local, regional, and global scales
  • Report and present the results of insect ecological analyses, making them accessible for research and practical application

See absalon

It is recommended to have completed a Bachelor in Biology or Nature Management or similar.
This and the ‘Entomology’ course at the NHMD complement each other, so for students wanting more knowledge on insects both are recommended.
The course begins with the first week in Copenhagen, providing an introduction to the ecological roles and significance of insects within ecosystems, as well as in DNA barcoding techniques and the use of historical museum collections. During this time, students are assigned to teams and tasked with designing an experiment using established insect collecting methods.

This is followed by an extended weekend at a Danish field station, where students will visit various terrestrial ecosystems. During this weekend, students initiate their projects by collecting insects and recording biotic and abiotic factors relevant to the habitats, such as plant diversity, soil conditions, and temperature.

In the second week, students will identify the collected insects using morphological keys and online tools, which will be verified with DNA barcoding methods. They will compile and analyze their data, with the guidance of instructors, to assess insect diversity and community structure within the habitats. This work forms the basis for a comprehensive report to be written by each team, integrating their statistical finding and ecological assessment with current literature.
During the course, there will be an extended weekend excursion to a field station at a location yet to be decided within Denmark. Students have to cover 200 DKK per day of the costs associated with accommodation, meals and transport.
  • Category
  • Hours
  • Lectures
  • 20
  • Preparation
  • 125
  • Practical exercises
  • 16
  • Excursions
  • 40
  • Exam
  • 5
  • Total
  • 206
Oral
Continuous feedback during the course of the semester

Students will receive oral feedback from the teachers in connection with presentations and report writing. They will also receive oral feedback on their project work and final presentation from peers and teachers.

Credit
7,5 ECTS
Type of assessment
Written assignment, During course
Oral examination, 25 minutes
Type of assessment details
Students hand in a written report of max. 15 pages (group work allowed). The course is concluded with a 25 min. oral examination. The report is prepared during the course and will be delivered to the course responsible at least one week before the final exam.

Description of Examination: The individual oral exam consists of a short presentation of the report (5-7 min) followed by a discussion on the report topic (5-7 min). In addition, the student will draw a question related to the course lectures and exercises, present and discuss this (10 min). The oral examination is without preparation time.

A combined grade is given after the oral exam.
Exam registration requirements

Approved participation in the fieldwork.

Aid
All aids allowed
Marking scale
7-point grading scale
Censorship form
No external censorship
Several internal examiners
Re-exam

Same as the ordinary exam.

Resubmission of written assignment one week before the oral reexamination. A combined grade will be given after the oral exam.

 

If the exam registration requirements has not been fulfilled the student must retake the course.

Criteria for exam assesment

See learning outcome