3 ECTS credits
75 h study time
Offer 1 with catalog number 4003907ENR for all students in the 2nd semester of odd academic years (e.g. 2013-2014) at a (E) Master - advanced level.
The course comprises two totally independent parts, one describing vegetation science as a science and a methodology, another with a concise overview of world vegetation.
1. Understanding of potential and shortcomings of vegetation science and its applicability in management and governance;
2. Overview of world vegetation, with special attention for the ecological and biogeographical causes of its establishment
Part I
- history of vegetation science, 'superorganism', 'continuum' views;
- concepts of vegetation establishment, r-K, S-C-R-concepts;
- vegetation dynamics and modelling;
- sampling methods, data treatment and interpretation (physionomic and floristic approaches, surveillance and monitoring, classification, ordination algorithms).
Part II
- world biomes (vegetation-aspects) in a climatological perspective, zonobiomes, orobiomes and azonal vegetation with attention paid to soil types.
- composition of world vegetation and adaptation patterns and fauna relations.
Students are requested to prepare a presentation on one of the zonobiomes (I-IX).
Previous knowledge
The bachelor level training in plant science and/or ecology is required. A course 'biogeography' may be helpful, but it is not required for this course.
Study Material
Figures and articles used will be available through PointCarré.
Complementary study material (indicative) :
Kent M 2012 Vegetation description and analysis - a practical approach. Wiley-Blackwell. ISBN-9780471490920, ISBN-9780471490937
Breckle S W 2002 Walter's Vegetation of the Earth. The Ecological Systems of the Geo-Biosphere. Springer Verlag. ISBN: 978-3-540-43315-6.
With a series of photographs (approx. 150) world vegetation is illustrated.
This course explicitly contributes to the following competences of the Biology curriculum:
General
- Evaluate the societal relevance (I)
- Evaluate the scientific relevance (II)
Field specific
- Problem solving as a thinking process (IV)
- Plan and conduct research in an autonomous way (V)
- Extrapolation between different scientific fields (VI)
A student receives adequate tools to describe and analyse a vegetation and must be able to situate a geographical or climatological reference to a vegetation type in its world context.
The final grade is composed based on the following categories:
Oral Exam determines 100% of the final mark.
Within the Oral Exam category, the following assignments need to be completed:
Example of an (oral) examination :
- On a given map and/or climate diagram : which vegetation type expected ?
- Discuss continuum vs. superorganism concepts in vegetation science.
- Discuss data treatment for a classification-algorithm.
This offer is part of the following study plans:
Master of Biology: Ecology and Biodiversity (only offered in Dutch)
Master of Biology: Education (only offered in Dutch)
Master of Biology: Human Ecology
Master of Biology: Ecology and Biodiversity
Master of Teaching in Science and Technology: biologie (120 ECTS, Etterbeek) (only offered in Dutch)