BI435 Landscape Ecology

Contents and structure

In this course you learn about ideas, perspectives, and questions from landscape ecology, and how one can use landscape ecology in land use planning and natural resource management. Important recurring themes are: scale-dependence, landscape structure, landscape dynamics, fragmentation, and connectivity. The course contents can be grouped as: (1) knowledge about fundamental ecological processes and patterns in landscapes, (2) tools for describing and understanding these, and (3) strategies to preserve natural values through land use planning and natural resource management.

Learning Outcome

Knowledge

The student:

• can describe how spatial pattern affects ecological processes in animals and plants, at different spatial and temporal scales.
• can compare natural and anthropogenic causes of landscape pattern and dynamics.

Skills

The student:

• can analyze landscape pattern and dynamics quantitatively.
• can interpret results from landscape ecological studies.
• can apply ecological principles and evidence in land use planning and natural resource management.

General competence

The student:

• can present and draw on quantitative evidence to support claims in writing
• can reflect on landscapes as complex biological systems, and the challenges this complexity creates in land use planning and natural resource management.

Entry requirements

There are no formal prerequisites.

Recommended previous knowledge

Basic knowledge in ecology, geographic information systems (GIS), and statistics is recommended.

Teaching methods

Lectures, exercises, presentation of scientific articles, project-based learning, field trip.

Compulsory learning activities

• attendance during project work, field trip, and theme day(s)
• approved presentation of a scientific article
• approved project assignment

The compulsory learning activities must be approved by set deadlines in order to sit the exam.

Assessment

Written examination, 4 hours

Grading: A-F, where F corresponds to not passed.

Examination support material

None

More about examination support material