Landscape Ecology

The course treats how changes in the landscape affect ecosystems and species distribution, how the composition, structure, and function of the landscape change, and how humans manage landscapes. The course highlights how landscape ecology, with its focus on spatial patterns, is important for various conservation issues. The course starts with a theoretical component in which landscape ecological concepts and theories are presented. Different approaches to gathering field data at the landscape level are compared. The course also addresses the basics of GIS and remote sensing for application in landscape ecology and relevant regulations related to landscape ecological issues. A large part of the course is devoted to conducting a landscape ecological study. In groups, students collect landscape ecological data using GIS and write a report that is presented in groups. To gain a deeper understanding, students read and critically review scientific articles and chapters from the course literature that are then discussed in seminar groups. The course comprises \- a theoretical component based on lectures on selected parts of the course literature \- practical exercises \- literature seminars where selected parts of the course literature or scientific articles are discussed \- a project in which landscape ecological data are processed, analyzed, and reported orally and in writing \- an individual written exam on landscape ecological theories.