BB507: Danish Ecosystems and their development (5 ECTS)

STADS: 04000701

Level
Bachelor course

Teaching period
The course is offered in the spring semester.
Spring semester. 4th quarter.

Teacher responsible
Email: foa@biology.sdu.dk
Email: hsj@biology.sdu.dk

Timetable
Show entire timetable
Show personal time table for this course.

Comment:
Der indgår en ½-dags ekskursion i uge 18 0g en 3-dages ekskursion mandag, tirsdag og onsdag i uge 19 (tre hele dage - internat). 09.-11. maj 2011

Prerequisites:
None

Academic preconditions:
None, but it is recommended to have followed courses in botany and zoology.

Course introduction
To give the students knowledge about important Danish ecosystems and their flora and fauna. Emphasis will also be on the development and the future of the ecosystems. A number of common environmental problems will be discussed and demonstrated during the course. The course includes a 3-days excursion, during which a number of ecosystems will be visited.

Expected learning outcome
At the end of the course, the student is expected to:

• Explain the main points of the development of Danish landscapes and ecosystems since the last glaciation
  
• Identify and describe the most important Danish ecosystems
  
• Explain the most important ecological factors that may influence the ecosystem’s development
  
• Explain the legislative basis for conservation and management of the Danish nature
  
• Explain the principles for practical management and reestablishment of ecosystems
  
• Be able to make literature searches about the characteristics of ecosystems and their management

Subject overview
The formation and development of the most important Danish ecosystems will be discussed in lectures and seminars. For each ecosystem, focus will be on how man has changed nature (e.g. channelization of streams, draining, land reclamation, increased nitrogen deposition and climate change). Management and reestablishment of the ecosystems will also be discussed. The following areas will be subject for the theoretical part of the course, although the choice of ecosystems may vary from year to year: Formation of the Danish landscape, protected ecosystems, lakes, river valleys, iron ochre pollution from agricultural areas and from lignite mining areas, meadows, bogs, The Wadden Sea, coastal dunes, forests, heathland, grassland and the cultivated land. There will be a ½-day and a 3-days excursion. On the excursions a number of different ecosystems will be visited. For each locality we will discuss the development and the environmental influences. Environmental problems, like iron ochre pollution, will be demonstrated.

The ½-day excursion will be to a locality where landscape and nature development may be observed.

The 3-days excursion will deal with:

1) The stream and its valley
The river Skjern Å will be followed from its start to its mouth at Ringkøbing Fjord. Along the river we will notice the following man-made changes: Lignite mining, iron ochre pollution, channelization of rivers, and freshwater aquaculture. The re-establishment of the river system and the importance of riverine wetlands will be described. Furthermore, a locality, where restoration of a lake and/or a wetland har been carried out, will be visited.

2) The Wadden Sea.
The characteristic physical features of the Wadden Sea will be described. The importance of plants and animals for the cycling of organic matter and nutrients and the development of the Wadden Sea will be adressed. The function of the Wadden Sea as an important resting place for birds will be discussed. At the Wadden Sea effects of embankment and land reclamation will be demonstrated.

3) Forest and bog.
The forest Draved Skov is one of the few natural forests left in Denmark The development of the forest has been studied by pollen analysis (the principle of this analysis will be described). The bog Kongsmosen is located nearby the forest. The following threats to forests and bogs will be addressed: burning, lowering of the groundwater table, forestation of the bogs, air pollution.

Literature

• Henrik Vejre og Thomas Vikstrom : Guide til det danske landskab, Rhodos 1995 (optrykt som kompendium af SDU .
• Udleverede noter.

Website
This course uses e-learn (blackboard).

Prerequisites for participating in the exam
None

Assessment and marking:
a) Active participation and approval of reports. Written 2-hour test with short questions (including some multiple choice questions) at the end of the course. Pass/Fail, evaluation by the teachers.

Expected working hours
The teaching method is based on three phase model.

Forelæsninger og studenterseminarer (18 t), og ekskursioner (28 t).
Educational activities

Language
This course is taught in Danish.

Course enrollment
See deadline of enrolment.

Tuition fees for single courses
See fees for single courses.