Program Overview

Program Overview

The University of Copenhagen offers a course in Landscape and Restoration Ecology, which is part of the MSc Programme in Environmental Science, MSc Programme in Landscape Architecture, and MSc Programme in Nature Management.

Course Description

The Landscape and Restoration Ecology course covers various topics, including:

• Landscape attributes: geology, terrain, hydrology, land cover, and the technosphere
• Landscape patterns and structure: types of configuration of ecotopes and elements on the earth surface
• Landscape function: fluxes of energy, matter, and genes
• Multifunctional landscapes: ecological function, land use-related functions and services, transcending functions - designated and perceived landscapes
• Structural-functional interrelationships: species dispersal in landscapes, island biogeography: patch-corridor-matrix as a landscape model
• Landscape dynamics and change: causes behind changes, stability, resistance, and resilience
• Restoration ecology: basic concepts, forms of degradation, restoration goals, trajectory, monitoring, and evaluation, restoration policy
• Ecological restoration: forests, mires, heat-lands, meadows, invasive species, manipulation of the environment, e.g., soils, manipulation of biota, e.g., re-introduction

Learning Outcomes

The course provides important input to the management of ecosystems and landscapes. After completing the course, participants will:

• Know the basic concepts and main theories of landscape ecology
• Know general theories and basic concepts of restoration ecology
• Know and have been trained in the most common practical methods in landscape ecology and ecological restoration
• Comprehend the landscape as a composition of landscape attributes
• Understand landscape patterns – i.e., origin of landscapes
• Understand the impact of man on the development of landscapes
• Understand the impact of natural conditions on the landscape
• Understand human impact on ecosystems, their transition, and methods of restoration
• Understand the trajectory concepts of ecosystem development
• Synthesize attributes into unique ecotopes, aggregate ecotopes into chores, and segregate landscapes into chores and ecotopes
• Transfer the Island-bio-geography model and ecological input-output models to concrete landscapes
• Comprehend landscape change, detect and describe changes in landscape patterns, and relate landscape changes to specific attributes
• Comprehend the concepts of landscape function and multifunctionality
• Comprehend the linking of structures with fluxes of matter, energy, and genetic information
• Analyze how damaged ecosystems can be restored and suggest tools for the restoration process
• Manage small restoration projects
• Suggest methods for monitoring and evaluation of restored ecosystems

Literature

The course uses textbooks on Landscape Ecology and Restoration Ecology, as well as selected scientific papers.

Recommended Academic Qualifications

Students should have basic knowledge in systems ecology, and academic qualifications equivalent to a BSc degree are recommended.

Teaching and Learning Methods

The course is given as a combination of lectures, exercises, and field work. The exercises are performed in small groups under supervision from the course responsibles.

Workload

The workload for the course is:

• Lectures: 38 hours
• Preparation: 102 hours
• Theory exercises: 42 hours
• Excursions: 24 hours
• Total: 206 hours

Assessment

The course is assessed through an oral examination, 20 minutes, with a 7-point grading scale. The students draw a question related to the curriculum, with 20 minutes preparation time. Active participation in at least 75% of exercise activities is required.

Course Information

• Language: English
• Course code: NIGK14052U
• Credit: 7.5 ECTS
• Level: Full Degree Master
• Duration: 1 block
• Placement: Block 2
• Schedule: B
• Course capacity: No limitation – unless you register in the late-registration period (BSc and MSc) or as a credit or single subject student.

Study Board

The study board for the course is the Study Board of Geosciences and Management.

Contracting Department

The contracting department for the course is the Department of Geoscience and Natural Resource Management.

Contracting Faculty

The contracting faculty for the course is the Faculty of Science.

Course Coordinators

The course coordinators are Peter Stubkjær Andersen and Karsten Raulund-Rasmussen.

Lecturers

The lecturers for the course are Peter Stubkjær Andersen and Karsten Raulund-Rasmussen.