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
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Comment:
Max: 24 studerende

Prerequisites:
None

Academic preconditions:
Students taking the course are expected to:

• The curriculum from BB531 must be known.

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.

The course builds on the knowledge acquired in the courses Ecology (BB510), and Plants, protists, and fungi (BB531), and gives an academic basis for further studies of environmental biology and the administration of natural resources.

In relation to the competence profile of the degree it is the explicit focus of the course to:

• Enter into academic collaborations and structure personal learning.
• Provide skills in conducting biological field investigations, critically evaluate biological theories, and express, evaluate and solve biological problems.
• Provide knowledge and understanding of scientific theories, methods, and current research topics in biology, and how these are employed in biological discussions.

Expected learning outcome
The learning objective of the course is that the student demonstrates the ability to:

• 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
There isn't any litterature for the course at the moment.

Website
This course uses e-learn (blackboard).

Prerequisites for participating in the exam
None

Assessment and marking:

1. A general evaluation of satisfactory participation, presentation of the study results at the end of the course as well as approval of report. (5 ECTS). 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

Educational activities

• Data analysis and writing of the report

Educational form
This is a field course giving the students hands-on experience in the identification and analysis of protected habitats.

Language
This course is taught in Danish.

Remarks
The course cannot be chosen by students who have passed BB519.

The course has limited seats and in case of too many applications, priority is given to the timely registration by date of registration.

Please note that the course includes a stay at the field station Svanninge Bjerge. A small fee will be charged, by a web pay link, that will cover the cost of meals during the field course.

Course enrollment
See deadline of enrolment.

Tuition fees for single courses
See fees for single courses.