NBIK14018U Terrestrial Ecosystem Processes and Global Change

Volume 2024/2025
Education

MSc Programme in Biology
MSc Programme in Biology with a minor subject
MSc Programme in Environmental Science
 

Content

The aim of the course is to provide the participants with a comprehensive understanding of processes in terrestrial ecosystems, and of effects of global change on processes and organisms. The focus is on carbon, water and nutrient cycling between plants, soil organisms, soil, and atmosphere. This includes lessons in radiation and energy balance, photosynthesis, respiration, water use efficiency and measures of stress, at leaf, plant and canopy level. Belowground processes as plant nutrient uptake and microbial turnover, mobilization and immobilization of nutrients, plant-microbe-animal interactions, plant-soil-atmosphere interactions, rhizosphere processes and mycorrhizal function are also addressed, with focus on the importance of climate and anthropogenically induced climatic changes. Species/community effects on ecosystem processes and temporal dynamics are also addressed. Field and laboratory studies are performed and the results are presented orally and in reports. It is mandatory for the participants to present one or two journal papers with relation to the subjects taught in the lectures, including effects of global change on ecosystems.

Learning Outcome

Knowledge:

The participants will obtain comprehensive understanding of terrestrial ecosystem processes, and of effects of global change on pools, processes and organisms. The focus is on carbon, water and nutrient cycling between plants, soil and atmosphere. Carbon balance and its components photosynthesis and respiration is addressed and linked to water use efficiency and stress physiology and processes at leaf, plant and canopy level. Belowground processes as decomposition, plant nutrient uptake, mobilization and immobilization of nutrients, plant-microbe-animal interactions, rhizosphere processes and mycorrhizal function are also addressed, with focus on global change aspects.

Skills:

The participants will obtain insight into the cycling of carbon, water and nutrient cycling between plants, soil, soil organisms and atmosphere, and skills to dissiminate this knowledge to fellow students and non-specialists. This includes experience in relevant methods for data acquisition. Field and laboratory work is performed and the data are presented in a report which includes statistical analysis of data and discussion of results. It is mandatory for the participants to present one or two journal papers with relation to the subjects taught in the lectures.

Competences:

TThe student will achieve in-depth knowledge of carbon, water and nutrient cycling in terrestrial ecosystems and on potential effects of environmental changes on key ecosystem processes. The student will obtain the necessary theoretical insight to be able to understand and comment critically on issues such as effects of climatic change, nitrogen deposition and changed land use on ecosystem function and feedback processes to the environment.

See Absalon.

Academic qualifications equivalent to a BSc degree is recommended.
Lectures, seminars and exercises.
  • Category
  • Hours
  • Lectures
  • 24
  • Class Instruction
  • 14
  • Preparation
  • 131
  • Theory exercises
  • 1
  • Practical exercises
  • 10
  • Excursions
  • 8
  • Project work
  • 15
  • Exam
  • 3
  • Total
  • 206
Written
Oral
Individual
Collective
Continuous feedback during the course of the semester

Individual feedback to student presentations. Oral feedback to field/lab exercise report.

Credit
7,5 ECTS
Type of assessment
On-site written exam, 3 hours under invigilation
Type of assessment details
The on-site written exam is an ITX exam.
See important information about ITX-exams at Study Information, menu point: Exams -> Exam types and rules -> Written on-site exams (ITX)
Exam registration requirements

Active participation in the course is required. This includes mandatory presentation of one journal paper in seminar individually or in groups of two, participation in field work (1 day), laboratory work, and presentation and dissemination of one written report of the field and analytical work in groups of 3-5 students. At least 80% presence is required on the summed student presentation+field+lab+report presentation days.

Aid
All aids allowed

As the exam is an ITX-exam, the University will make computers available to students at the ITX-exam.

Students are not permitted to bring digital aids like computers, tablets, calculators, mobile phones etc.

Books, notes, and similar materials can be brought in paper form or uploaded before the exam and accessed digitally from the ITX computer. Read more about this at Study Information

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

Oral examination, 45 minutes without preparation, no aids allowed.

If the requirement is not fulfilled, a written report, which includes statistical analysis of data and discussion of results from field work relevant to the course, must have been made and approved no later than three weeks before the reexamination.

Criteria for exam assesment

In order to obtain the grade 12 the student should convincingly and accurately demonstrate the knowledge, skills and competences described under Learning Outcome.