Biodiversity and ecology, basic course

The course is the fourth course within a basic block in Biology / Molecular Biology comprising 60 credits, and it is divided into three sub-courses: Biodiversity and Systematics 10 credits, Ecology 5 credits, and Biodiversity and Ecology in field 3 credits.<br> <br> The first module deals with biodiversity and its evolutionary history. It provides insight into modern systematic working methods and ways of thinking, and broad knowledge of the most important groups in protists, land plants, fungi and animals. These are addressed from a phylogenetic perspective, and characteristic properties are presented. The role of systematics in society is also discussed.<br> <br> The second module covers ecological concepts and processes. The course highlights differences between different ecosystems and biomes, and it also addresses interactions between organisms as well as the effects of environmental pollution and climate change. Sustainable development and conservation biology are also included in the course.<br> <br> The final sub-course is conducted in the field, in a few different types of West Swedish habitats, which are studied from an ecological point of view while identifying commonly occurring species. The ecology part comes to demonstrate indicator species and typical species, and it also includes examples of sampling methodology and field analyzes. Under the species knowledge section, species identification literature and other identification tools are used.