BB535: Terrestrial habitats: Vegetation analysis and management (5 ECTS)

STADS: 04014201

Level
Bachelor course

Teaching period
The course is offered in the spring semester.

Teacher responsible
Email: irina.goldberg@gmail.com

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

Comment:
Max 24 studerende.

Prerequisites:
None

Academic preconditions:
The curriculum from BB531 must be known. This course is not open for students, who have passed BB519 already.

Course introduction
The objective of the course is to give the students theoretical and practical knowledge of the terrestrial plant communities in the natural habitats protected by EC Habitats Directive (so called “habitat types”) and NATURA 2000 Network, and of the National Monitoring and Assessment Programme for the Aquatic and Terrestrial Environment (NOVANA). Moreover the course gives the students the knowledge of the role of the biotic and abiotic factors as well as conservation measures, i.a. nature management and restoration that the Danish Government’s “NATURA 2000 plans” might comprise to counteract threats and ensure attainment of favourable conservation status.

Expected learning outcome
At the end of the course it is expected that the students can:

• explain the objective and contents of EC Habitats Directive and the European NATURA 2000 network
• explain the criteria for favourable conservation status of natural habitats and species 
• explain the planning of nature management according to nature and environment legislations 
• explain how the natural habitats can be protected, managed and restored 
• identify and describe the plant species characteristic for the protected habitat types;
• describe the dominating biotic and abiotic conditions that influence plant communities’ development;
• explain the methods of monitoring of the terrestrial habitat types and carry out the field study of plant communities according to NOVANA-programme;
• use the internet based data on mapping, monitoring and protection of habitat types in Denmark

Subject overview
During the field excursions different habitat types will be visited. On each site the plant species characteristic for the habitat type will be presented, the vegetation will be analysed by estimating species’ frequency and cover, and the abiotic factors will be studied by simple field methods. Based on the field results and plant species’ Ellenberg values, the plant communities and ecological conditions will be described. Finally the threats will be estimated, and the administrative and practical actions that can ensure attainment of favourable conservation status of the protected habitats will be planned.

Literature

Ingen lærebøger; udgivelser, som kan hentes på nettet plus kursusnoter.

Website
This course uses e-learn (blackboard).

Prerequisites for participating in the exam
None

Assessment and marking:
A general evaluation of satisfactory participation, presentation of the study results at the end of the course as well as approval of report. Passed/not passed. Internal censorship by the teacher. (04014202)

Expected working hours
The teaching method is based on three phase model.
Intro phase: 2 hours
Skills training phase: 48 hours, hereof:
 - Tutorials: 2 hours
 - Excursion: 46 hours

Educational activities Study phase: 50 hours

Language
This course is taught in Danish.

Course enrollment
See deadline of enrolment.

Tuition fees for single courses
See fees for single courses.