NNMB16001U Field Course in Ecology and Evolution of East Africa
Volume 2016/2017
Content
- A general introduction to rainforests and savannah ecosystems with particular focus on East Africa.
- Biodiversity surveys, monitoring and conservation issues.
- Morphological and biological characteristics of the major ‘key’ groups of animals and plants in the East African rainforest and savanna ecosystems.
- Tropical fieldwork and field techniques are demonstrated and practiced.
Learning Outcome
Knowledge:
At the end of the course, the student is expected to be able to:
- Describe rainforest and savanna ecosystems in general terms.
- Outline the major challenges involved in the conservation of tropical ecosystems and their species.
- Describe how to carry out practical fieldwork under tropical conditions.
- Mention and briefly describe the morphology and biology of the major ‘key’ groups of animals and plants in the East African rainforest and savanna ecosystems.
Skills:
At the end of the course, the student is expected to be able to:
- Explain how to collect occurrence data in the field and how to analyze such data.
- Outline the roles of key animal and plant groups in rainforest and savanna ecosystems and explain how they interact.
Competencies:
At the end of the course, the student is expected to be able to:
- Elaborate on conservational priorities for tropical ecosystems.
- Discuss the processes that generate biological diversity in rainforest and savanna ecosystems.
- Compare different field techniques and assess their suitability and cost-efficiency.
Recommended Academic Qualifications
Students are expected to
have knowledge about East Africa at a level equivalent to the
bachelor course “East Africa”.
Teaching and learning methods
A mixture of lectures, field
and lab exercises, and field excursions. Evaluation based on
participation and written assignment (one week).
Remarks
This is recommended as an
optional summer field course for students aiming at a MSc thesis
project in tropical biology.
The field course will take place at the Udzungwa Ecological Monitoring Centre at the foothills of the Udzungwa Mountains National Park, southern Tanzania. There is a course fee covering transportation costs within Tanzania, park fees, teaching, teaching material, food and accommodation. Course fee does not cover travel costs to and from Tanzania. Students will be required to have their own visa and international travel health insurance. The course is physically demanding (trekking in connection with fieldwork).
Notice that the students participating in this course must expect expenditures around DKK 10,000.
The students also need a visa which the student can acquire in the airport (the fee is $50). The turist visa is valid for three months.
The field course will take place at the Udzungwa Ecological Monitoring Centre at the foothills of the Udzungwa Mountains National Park, southern Tanzania. There is a course fee covering transportation costs within Tanzania, park fees, teaching, teaching material, food and accommodation. Course fee does not cover travel costs to and from Tanzania. Students will be required to have their own visa and international travel health insurance. The course is physically demanding (trekking in connection with fieldwork).
Notice that the students participating in this course must expect expenditures around DKK 10,000.
The students also need a visa which the student can acquire in the airport (the fee is $50). The turist visa is valid for three months.
Workload
- Category
- Hours
- Course Preparation
- 26
- Exam Preparation
- 40
- Excursions
- 38
- Field Work
- 30
- Lectures
- 42
- Practical exercises
- 30
- Total
- 206
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Exam
- Credit
- 7,5 ECTS
- Type of assessment
- Written assignmentThe course will be completed with each student doing a 5 page written assignment after returning from the field part. The titles for the assignments will be given to the students before they return to Denmark, and the students will have one week (40 hours) to write the essay. The essay is weighted 100% of the grade.
- Exam registration requirements
Active participation in the field part of the course.
- Aid
- All aids allowed
- Marking scale
- 7-point grading scale
- Censorship form
- No external censorship
Flere interne censorer
- Re-exam
As the ordinary exam.
If the student has not fullfilled the exam registration requriments the student must take the course again next year.
Criteria for exam assesment
See Learning Outcome
Course information
- Language
- English
- Course code
- NNMB16001U
- Credit
- 7,5 ECTS
- Level
- Bachelor
- Duration
- 1 block
3 weeks (2 weeks in the field followed by a 1 week written assignment)
- Placement
- Summer
Block 5
- Schedule
- July or August
- Course capacity
- 16 students
- Continuing and further education
- Study board
- Study Board of Biology and Animal Science
Contracting department
- The Natural History Museum of Denmark
Course responsibles
- Nikolaj Scharff (8-7378686d66776b6b4578737233707a336970)
- Eline Lorenzen (13-7077747970777a7d70798570794b7e80796f397680396f76)
- Thomas Pape (5-76726372674275706f306d7730666d)
- Anders P. Tøttrup (9-67767a757a7a787b764679747334717b346a71)
Lecturers
teachers from SNM and MUSE - Science Museum in Trento, Italy.
Saved on the
09-03-2016