LAD-21806 Habitat Analysis for Ecologists

Course

Credits 6.00

Language of instruction:

Dutch or English

Assumed knowledge on:

NCP-20503, LAD-10806

Continuation courses:

NCP-30306, SEG-20306

Contents:

A practical course in environmental research methods for vegetation ecologists. Abiotic site conditions and vegetation are analyzed at contrasting locations in forests. Groups of students investigate vegetation composition biomass production, soil profile, micro meteorology and hydrology in the field, both locally and in a regional landscape perspective. Some physical, chemical and biological soil characteristics are studied in the laboratory. Vegetation composition and productivity are compared with site characteristics to discover functional relationships and key factors and to gain insight in the mutual dependencies between vegetation and site conditions.

Learning outcomes:

At the end of the course students:
- can find and interpret existing information on site conditions for forest management and nature conservation;
- can estimate, measure and evaluate site conditions for ecological research with field and laboratory methods;
- have insight in the relations between landscape, site conditions, vegetation composition, productivity and management of (semi)natural ecosystems.

Activities:

Lectures, field work, lab work, oral presentation.

Examination:

Participation, attitude and quality of individual work 67%, written exam 33%.

Literature:

Work book available 1 week before the course at the WUR Shop.