NCP-30306 Plant, Vegetation and Systems Ecology

Course

Credits 6.00

Language of instruction:

English

Assumed knowledge on:

NCP-21803 Ecology of Communities, Ecosystems and Landscapes; Theory or CSA-20806 Population and Systems Ecology and NCP-22303 Ecology of Communities, Ecosystems and Landscapes: Field Excursions.

Contents:

Note: This course has a maximum number of participants. The deadline for registration is one week earlier than usual. See 2014/2015 Academic Year (www.wageningenur.nl/en/Education-Programmes/Current-Students/Agenda-Calendar-Academic-Year.htm) -> Registration for Courses 2014-2015.

In Wageningen (week 1):
- lectures and tutorials on sampling, analysing and interpretation of vegetation and abiotic data.
On island of Terschelling (weeks 2 & 3):
- excursions to various ecosystems and landscapes with elucidation of ecological relations and discussion of possible research projects;
- literature study on vegetation composition, ecology and dynamics of coastal ecosystems;
- formulation and set-up of student research projects in small groups;
- conduct own ecological field research in small groups.
In Wageningen (week 4):
- data analysis;
- present results (power point);
- write report in style scientific paper.

Learning outcomes:

After successful completion of this course students are expected to be able to:
- develop, present and criticize a set-up for ecological field research;
- carry out ecological field research on plants and their interaction with their (biotic and/or abiotic) environment;
- apply univariate and multivariate statistical methods to analyse field data;
- assess landscape processes, using plant species composition;
- synthesise and interpret ecological field data;
- present the outcome of the research to a professional audience (power point);
- write a report in the style of a scientific paper.

Activities:

- lectures;
- fieldwork and deskwork.

Examination:

Grades are based on:
- individual and group participation (40%);
- paper (40%);
- oral presentation (20%).
You need a 5.5 or higher for each evaluation criterion to pass the course.

Literature:

Information about compulsory literature will be given before the course. Manuals will be available at the course.