BI1374, Sustainability Ecology: Food, forests, cities and climate., 7.5 Hp
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Syllabus

Finalized by: PN-NJ, 2022-11-16
Valid from : Autumn semester 2023 (2023-08-28)

Level

First cycle (G1N)

Main field of study

Biology, Environmental Science

Grading Scale

The grade requirements within the course grading system are set out in specific criteria. These criteria must be available by the course start at the latest.

Course language

Swedish

Entry Requirements

Objectives

The course aims at providing basic knowledge about the role of ecology in understanding and solving the global challenges facing society, especially regarding land use, biodiversity, food production, agriculture and forestry.

On completion of the course, the student should be able to:

• Describe the basic ecological processes that form the basis for the production of food, biofuels and the delivery of other ecosystem services.
• Describe and give examples of how global environmental changes affect ecological processes.
• Describe the links between production, ecosystem services, biodiversity and climate.
• Describe and give examples of how global environmental changes affect ecological processes and what role knowledge concerning different ecological processes plays in order to solve global challenges and achieve different sustainability goals.
• Describe and understand conflicts between different societal goals from an ecological perspective.

Content

Teaching on basic ecological processes and concepts, ecological dimensions of sustainability goals, sustainable use of biological natural resources, land use and environmental impact in the form of lectures, exercises and discussions in seminars. The questions are highlighted from different interests and perspectives, both spatially (from local to global) and temporal (from history to the future).

Excursions to different habitats and production systems (forests, agriculture, urban green spaces) near the university will be used to highlight and facilitate understanding of basic ecological processes and to better understand land use conflicts in practice.

In introductory lectures, sustainability goals and basic ecological concepts, such as population, ecosystems, evolution, nutrients, ecosystem services and ecosystems are presented based on production systems. During lectures, seminars, exercises and case studies, synergies and trade-offs (goal conflicts) between food production, forest utilization, urbanization, biodiversity, ecosystem services and climate effects are discussed and explained based on different land use perspectives. Lectures, seminars and project work concerning conflicts between different societal goals, and how multifunctional production systems can be developed with due knowledge in ecological processes.

Compulsory parts of the course are excursions, exercises, projects and seminars.

Examination Formats and Requirements for Passing the Course

Approved written examination on basic ecological processes and sustainability goals. Approved individual case studies in the form of a poster, approved accounting of exercises and participation in compulsory seminars and excursions.

Responsible Department/Equivalent

Department of Ecology

Supplementary information

Module set

Title	Credits	Code
Single module	7.5	0101

Other Information

Some lectures, exercises and excursions may be in English.