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Course content
The concept of “ecosystem functioning” has over the last two decades stimulated research focussed on what ecosystems do, as opposed to what they are composed of, and is increasingly important in policy and management because of its strong linkages with ecosystem services. Focussing on ecosystem functioning in inland waters (lakes and streams) and soils (forest and agricultural), this course will cover basic definitions, the relationship between ecosystem functioning and ecosystem services, and several currently topical themes in ecosystem functioning research. These include the roles of functional traits and calculation of functional diversity, underpinnings in metabolic theory, and an overview of biodiversity-ecosystem functioning research. Throughout, a range of practical methods for quantifying ecosystem functioning will be covered, as will the application of these methods in biomonitoring and environmental assessment.
Lecturers
Confirmed lecturers include the aquatic biologists Guy Woodward (Imperial College, London), André Frainer (SLU) and Brendan McKie (SLU) and the terrestrial biologists Katarina Hedlund (Lund), Matty Berg (University of Amsterdam), Janne Bengtsson (SLU) and Astrid Taylor (SLU).
Format
One week of five, full day sessions, each including lectures and discussion and other exercises