NNMK15003U Climate Change and Biodiversity

Volume 2016/2017
Education

MSc Programme in Climate Change

MSc Programme in Biology

Content

This course will explore the consequences of global change on biodiversity, with a focus on the effects of climate change on biodiversity and the functions and services it provides. In particular, we will address key questions such as

  • How do climate and climate change lead to changes in biodiversity on land, belowground, and in the oceans?
  • Does climate change interact with other global change drivers (e.g., invasive species, habitat alteration) to influence biodiversity?
  • What are the effects of changes in biodiversity for the functioning of ecosystems?
  • Do changes in biodiversity affect human wellbeing and society?

 

In order to address these questions, we will read and discuss the primary literature, participate in lectures and discussions, and engage in a series of exercises. 

 

Learning Outcome

Knowledge: 

By the end of this course, you will understand the fundamental concepts of biodiversity, its impact on the environment, and how climate change may impact biodiversity and thus ecosystem function.

Skills:

You will be able to: (1) read and interpret literature on climatic change, biodiversity and ecosystem function, (2) design a scientific field experiment to test biodiversity and climate change concepts, (3) understand how to collect, analyze, interpret, and present data, (4) engage in a scientific dialog about biodiversity and current topics in climate change and biodiversity.

Competences:

Students will understand what biodiversity is, how to measure biodiversity, how to interpret biodiversity data, and be able to present and discuss scientific information related to biodiversity. 

Readings will be from the primary literature and will be made available prior to class sessions.

 

 

Lectures, project work and practical exercises. The course will take place on campus and at field sites around Denmark. Students will design and implement an experiment, analyze the data, and report the data to the class. The course will culminate with students giving oral presentations and/or poster presentations of their research project.
  • Category
  • Hours
  • Colloquia
  • 3
  • Field Work
  • 20
  • Lectures
  • 8
  • Practical exercises
  • 60
  • Preparation
  • 55
  • Project work
  • 60
  • Total
  • 206
Credit
7,5 ECTS
Type of assessment
Portfolio
Portfolio assessment: 40% field project and report, 20% written exam (2 hours), 20% presentation, 20% exercises. The course is passed if the final grade is passed irrespective of the grading of the subparts. The subparts do not have to be passed in the same exam period.
Aid
All aids allowed
Marking scale
7-point grading scale
Censorship form
No external censorship
Several internal examiners
Re-exam

As ordinary exam.

Passed subparts can be reused in a re-examination.

Criteria for exam assesment

See Learning Outcome