Syllabus

BI1369 Forest Ecosystem Ecology, 15.0 Credits

Subjects

Education cycle

Modules

Advanced study in the main field

Grading scale

Language

Prior knowledge

Objectives

The overall aim of this course is to provide understanding of fundamental biotic and abiotic

properties and processes in forest ecosystems. Students will receive in-depth knowledge of factors that control the structure, functioning and dynamics of forests across spatial and temporal scales. Both terrestrial and aquatic environments and linkages and feedbacks between the two sub-systems will be covered. The course will further provide an overview of analytical approaches commonly used to address patterns and processes in forest ecosystems, including analyses of ecological data and experimental designs. This course will also provide useful skills on critical reading and scientific writing.

After successful completion of the course, the students will be able to:

• Synthetize how climatic and other abiotic factors (e.g., hydrology, topography, soil properties) affect forest ecosystem dynamics including elemental cycling, soil and freshwater processes and communities, and vegetation dynamics.

• Describe how carbon, nutrients and other elements cycle in forest ecosystems, and how they link to biotic communities. List several methods for how we obtain data for measuring elements in soils, water, vegetation and air.

• Explain the effects of trophic interactions, competition, and other biotic drivers on forest vegetation and associated ecosystem processes.

• Explain and synthetize the drivers of species diversity and composition in forested landscapes and clarify the role of biodiversity for ecosystem functioning, with focus on boreal forests and waters.

• Explain and discuss how freshwater systems are linked to forested parts of the landscape and describe feedbacks between terrestrial and aquatic environments.

• Explain and discuss how multiple global change factors are affecting forested ecosystems and the services they provide, including carbon cycling, clean water, and biodiversity.

• Critically evaluate and synthesize scientific literature and apply a scientific approach for problem solving by formulating and testing hypotheses.

• Design experiments and sampling strategies to test ecological questions; understand and apply the most commonly used statistical approaches to analyze ecological data; and utilize the R statistical platform.

Content

This course broadly addresses the functioning of forest ecosystems and primarily focuses on the boreal region. We will also cover fundamental principles that are relevant to all forested ecosystems and discuss examples from temperate and tropical regions. The course will cover and draw examples from natural as well as managed forests. However, forest management and silviculture effects on forest ecosystem processes are covered in depth in other courses within the program.

The first part of the course examines the abiotic components of the forested ecosystems, namely, carbon, water and other vital elements (nutrients, minerals, metals). The major elemental and water cycles will be presented and the scientific methods and technical approaches for measuring these cycles will be discussed. The students will work on a number of exercises using real data and global change scenarios to address the human influences in boreal forests landscapes. In the second part of the course, we will focus on how the abiotic components links to biotic communities in soils, on land and in water. The students will learn about what drives the dynamics, species composition and diversity in forested ecosystems. The first two parts of the course are conducted in the form of lectures, readings, and individual and group assignments with emphasis on current ecological issues. The third part of the course covers methods and approaches to study and analyze forest ecosystems and ecological data. This part involves group projects, using greenhouse and laboratory experiments and statistical analysis of data. Hands-on training in scientific writing, literature discussion and oral presentation is also an important part of the course. Seminars and exercises are mandatory.

Grading form

Formats and requirements for examination

Approved participation in compulsory seminars and exercises, and approved completion of oral and written assignments.

• If a student has failed an examination, the examiner has the right to issue supplementary assignments. This applies if it is possible and there are grounds to do so.
• The examiner can provide an adapted assessment to students entitled to study support for students with disabilities following a decision by the university. Examiners may also issue an adapted examination or provide an alternative way for the students to take the exam.
• If this syllabus is withdrawn, SLU may introduce transitional provisions for examining students admitted based on this syllabus and who have not yet passed the course.
• For the examination of a degree project (independent project), the examiner may also allow the student to add supplemental information after the deadline for submission. Read more in the Education Planning and Administration Handbook.

Other information

• The right to participate in teaching and/or supervision only applies for the course instance the student was admitted to and registered on.

• If there are special reasons, students are entitled to participate in components with compulsory attendance when the course is given again. Read more in the Education Planning and Administration Handbook.

Additional information

Responsible department

Department of Forest ecology and Management