6 ECTS credits
150 u studietijd
Aanbieding 1 met studiegidsnummer 4023907ENR voor alle studenten in het 1e semester met een verdiepend master niveau.
How do carbon (C ), nitrogen (N), phosphorus (P) and energy cycle through terrestrial ecosystems and their food webs, and how are these cycles affected by landscape factors and human activities? How does the balance (stoichiometry) between C, N and P influence plant growth, primary production, decomposition, as well as the competition between plant species and the occurrence of endangered and exotic invasive species? How is plant growth affected by soil microbes, herbivores and carnivores? And how can we apply the landscape of fear principle from African savanna to the recent re-introduction of wolves in Western Europe? Are exotic invasions a major cause for the loss of biodiversity in terrestrial ecosystems, and how does biodiversity itself influence exotic invasions and ecosystem functionality? How does climate change influence terrestrial ecosystems? And how do novel species interactions from range shifts compare to those resulting from exotic invasions? How does nature management impact terrestrial ecosystems and the conservation of biodiversity, and which factors need to be considered for the restoration of degraded ecosystems? This kind of questions are treated in the course ‘Terrestrial Ecology’, and various hypotheses, mechanisms and theoretical predictions, mainly from the field of Ecosystems Ecology, are presented to answer these questions. The theory, excursions and practical’s, provide insight in the functioning of terrestrial ecosystems, how they are threatened by human activities and global change, and how management can be applied for conservation and restoration.
The course focuses on ecology of terrestrial ecosystems and contains a theoretical and a practical part. The content of the course builds on the ecological knowledge obtained in the Bachelor courses ‘Plants & Fungi’ and ‘Ecology’, but these courses are not compulsory since the course is also open for students who did their bachelor study elsewhere.
The theoretical part deals with important topics of ecosystems ecology. The ecological theory, processes and mechanisms will be illustrated with examples from terrestrial ecosystems in Europe, Africa and South- and North America, and Australia. Many examples will be given from own long-term research in Europe, African savanna and the Brazilian Cerrado. The following topics will be covered:
The practical part consists of field excursions to two nature reserves where the results of successful nature restoration projects will be observed, as well as to experimental field sites. During these field visits some of the ecological processes discussed in the oral lectures will be studied by performing measurements and collecting data (4 days). The obtained ecological data will be processed and processed in small groups (1 day) and presented and discussed in the entire group (2 hours).
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Obtaining knowledge about a wide variety of theories and hypotheses in the field of terrestrial ecosystems ecology and learning to apply this knowledge to newly collected data.
Learning how to measure and quantify various variables about ecological processes in terrestrial plant communities and ecosystems, and understanding the difference between data collected by monitoring in natural ecosystems and data obtained from experimentally manipulated sites.
Analyzing, processing and presenting ecological data, and practicing with working and collaborating in groups.
De beoordeling bestaat uit volgende opdrachtcategorieën:
Examen Mondeling bepaalt 100% van het eindcijfer
Binnen de categorie Examen Mondeling dient men volgende opdrachten af te werken:
The theory presented and explained in the lectures and WPO will be examined in an oral exam. This exam is based on questions which can prepared just before the exam. The oral exam is only open for students that have actively participated in the practical part. Students who missed a part of the WPO must carry out a replacement task.
Deze aanbieding maakt deel uit van de volgende studieplannen:
Master in de biologie: ecologie en biodiversiteit
Master of Biology: Ecology and Biodiversity (enkel aangeboden in het Engels)
Master of Biology: AR Erasmus Mundus Joint Master Degree in Tropical Biodiversity and Ecosystems, start at Brussels (enkel aangeboden in het Engels)
Master of Biology: AR Erasmus Mundus Joint Master Degree in Tropical Biodiversity and Ecosystems, start at Paris (enkel aangeboden in het Engels)
Master of Biology: AR Erasmus Mundus Joint Master Degree in Tropical Biodiversity and Ecosystems, start at Cayenne (enkel aangeboden in het Engels)