نظرة عامة على البرنامج

---

Program Overview

The University of Copenhagen offers a comprehensive program in plant ecology, focusing on the scientific study of biotic and abiotic interactions that determine the abundance, distribution, and patterns of diversity of populations and communities.

Course Content

The course, titled "Plants in Populations and Communities," explores the ecological and evolutionary processes that regulate these interactions at population and community levels. A major focus of the course is to use ecological theory and methods to understand basic and applied questions in plant ecology with relevance to sustainability objectives in both agricultural and natural ecosystems.

Learning Outcomes

Students in the course will learn about the ecological processes and interactions that affect dynamics and composition of plant populations and communities, their abundance and distribution, and how these can be investigated scientifically. They will become familiar with major concepts, questions, and controversies in modern plant ecology and be able to discuss these critically.

Knowledge

• Scientific knowledge about processes and interactions that determine the abundance and distribution of plants in populations and communities
• Appreciate the interplay of ecological and evolutionary factors in determining dynamic patterns of plant distribution and abundance
• Understand the role of abiotic (environmental) factors and biotic interactions such as competition, herbivory, parasitism, and symbiosis in shaping plant population and community dynamics
• Appreciate interactions between plant ecological patterns and human disturbance in natural and agri-environmental systems

Skills

• Use plant ecological theory to develop and test hypotheses about impacts of land use and environmental change on the diversity and function of plant populations and communities
• Apply plant ecological principles to applied problems in nature and landscape management and plant production
• Quantitative skills (including use of R open-source statistics packages) required for the collection and analysis of field data on plant community composition and dynamics

Competences

• Understand and criticize research, concepts, and theories in major areas of plant ecology and its applications
• Understand and use models and hypotheses to explain ecological patterns and processes, and evaluate these critically
• Discuss scientific aspects of applied problems concerning plant populations and communities

Teaching and Learning Methods

• One to two lectures per day, including discussions
• Quantitative and theoretical exercises
• Reading articles and critical examination of the literature, including discussions
• Two all-day excursions, including field data collection
• Analysis and review of methods for data collection
• An indoor plant experiment in groups, including data analysis, interpretation, presentation, and discussion
• Quizzes
• Four one-hour written examinations in specified parts of the curriculum
• Student project and report: Each student decides on a current research question in plant ecology, including literature searching, critical reading, synthesis, and reference management

Literature

• Gurevitch J, Scheiner SM, and Fox GA: The Ecology of Plants. Third Edition. Sinauer Associates
• Scientific articles provided by the course teachers

Recommended Prerequisites

• Introductory courses in ecology and botany
• Academic qualifications equivalent to a BSc degree are recommended

Feedback

• Oral
• Individual
• Collective
• Continuous feedback during the course of the semester
• Peer feedback (students give each other feedback)
• Individual teacher feedback to students during project development, experiments, and for the final report
• Teacher and peer feedback to project report, experimental results, and presentation

Exam

• ECTS: 7.5 ECTS
• Type of assessment: Continuous assessment
• Type of assessment details: Continuous assessment, including 1) four smaller written exams during the course (1 hour each) (60%); 2) an individual written report on a chosen subject (40%)
• Examination prerequisites: Attendance and completion of a minimum 75% of the in-course assessed tests, participation in the research project seminar, and timely submission of the final project report
• Aid: Only certain aids allowed (see description below)
• No materials at 1) written exams
• All materials allowed for 2) individual written report
• Marking scale: 7-point grading scale
• Censorship form: No external censorship
• Several internal examiners

Re-exam

• For the re-exam, passed parts can be re-used
• If missing project report: Hand in report at the end of examination week; contact course responsible for details
• If missing exam(s): Oral examination based on the curriculum of the missing part
• The four exam(s) 60%, project report 40%
• If the requirement for exam registration is not met: Oral examination (60%), based on the curriculum and individual report (40%)

Criteria for Exam Assessment

Look at the learning outcome

Course Type

Single subject courses (day)

Workload

• Category: Lectures
• Hours: 28
• Class Instruction: 8
• Preparation: 64
• Theory exercises: 20
• Excursions: 16
• Project work: 60
• Guidance: 4
• Exam: 6
• English: 206

Kursusinformation

• Language: English
• Course number: NPLK21001U
• ECTS: 7.5 ECTS
• Programme level: Full Degree Master
• Duration: 1 block
• Placement: Block 1
• Schedule group: C
• Capacity: 30
• The number of places might be reduced if you register in the late-registration period (BSc and MSc) or as a credit or single subject student

Study Board

• Study Board of Natural Resources, Environment and Animal Science

Contracting Department

• Department of Plant and Environmental Sciences

Contracting Faculty

• Faculty of Science

Course Coordinator

• Paul Neve

Teacher

• Sergey Rosbakh
• Ditte Marie Christiansen
• Jacob Weiner

Timetable

• 25E-B1-1; Hold 01;; Plants in Populations and Communities

Are You BA- or KA-Student?

Are you a bachelor- or kandidat-student, then find the course in the course catalog for students.