Overordnede kursusmål
The goal of the course is that the student obtains a scientific
understanding of the structure and functioning of terrestrial
(land-based) ecosystems using examples ranging from the Arctic to
the Tropics to demonstrate how they react under differing
conditions. It will provide the basic principles and will be
related to ecosystem services provided for the human society and to
the perturbation of ecosystems by anthropogenic activities. Some
emphasis will be given to specific topics of high relevance to
environmental engineering such as soil properties, biogeochemical
cycles, air pollution effects on vegetation, and bio-monitoring,
bio-remediation and environmental assessment.
Læringsmål
En studerende, der fuldt ud har opfyldt kursets mål, vil kunne:
- Analyse questions about ecosystem behaviour based on a set of
principles for terrestrial ecosystems.
- Analyse how ecosystems develop and change over temporal and
spatial scales.
- Apply simple mathematical models as predictive tools of
ecosystem behaviour.
- Conduct, analyse and report results of lab-and field-based
investigations.
- Compare element cycle characteristics of ecosystems of major
biomes in different climates.
- Evaluate the ecosystem services of a given ecosystem.
- Evaluate the resilience and reaction of ecosystems to
perturbation, whether natural or man-made.
- Setup criteria for impact assessment in terrestrial
ecosystems.
Kursusindhold
The focus of the course will be mainly on atmosphere-vegetation-
soil- microorganisms. Topics covered include: Ecosystem structure,
soil characteristics, energy and water, plant production, soil
organic matter, organisms and ecosystem processes, ecosystem
modeling, biogeochemical cycles, global change, ecosystem services,
ecosystem resilience, environmental impact assessment. Two
practical exercises are included: soil sampling and analysis, and
measurements of plant-atmosphere relations.
Litteraturhenvisninger
Ågren, G.I. and Andersson, F.O.: Terrestrial Ecosystem Ecology –
Principles and Applications, Cambridge University Press, 2012.
Notes
Manuals for practical exercises.
Sidst opdateret
22. december, 2016
