course-details-portlet

BI1003

Ecology, Behaviour, Evolution and Sustainability

Choose study year
Credits 15
Level Foundation courses, level I
Course start Autumn 2024
Duration 1 semester
Language of instruction Norwegian
Location Trondheim
Examination arrangement School exam

About

About the course

Course content

The course provides a comprehensive introduction to ecology, behaviour and evolution, the relationship between the three disciplines, and how they can help us handle today's environmental challenges, in Norway and globally.

Learning outcome

Knowledge:

After completion of the course, the candidate should have:

  • solid fundamental knowledge of evolution, ecology and behaviour, and of connections between the three disciplines
  • a good understanding of evolution and natural selection as the basis for ecological and behavioural phenomena and processes
  • solid knowledge about global environmental challenges, biodiversity and conservation biology, including how the disciplines of the course can help us handle these challenges
  • a good understanding of major concepts and methods within the subject area

Skills:

at completion of the course, the candidate can:

  • efficiently search for relevant scientific literature on a subject
  • communicate scientific knowledge both in written and oral form, to academic and lay audiences
  • use knowledge from ecology, behaviour and evolution to analyse and address global and local environmental challenges

General competence:

after completion of the course, the candidate should:

  • understand the major theories, concepts, principles and processes of ecology, behaviour and evolution
  • understand the role of the disciplines in science and society

Learning methods and activities

The course includes a range of learning and teaching activities: in-class teaching sessions ('lectures'), a literature-based project (in groups), an excursion, a poster presentation, and symposia with contributions from invited scientists, teachers and students. The course has a strong emphasis on student-active learning, which is the core of the projects, the excursion and the symposia. In-class teaching also includes interactive elements, among students, and between teacher and students. Focus on environmental challenges and sustainability provide a framework for the whole course.

Compulsory assignments

  • Approved project work

Further on evaluation

In case of fail or improvement of grade a new final exam is held during the exam period both spring and fall semester. Mandatory activities that have previously been approved will be valid as long as the course does not undergo major changes. The written exam can be changed to an oral exam in the semester when the course is not taught.

Required previous knowledge

None

Course materials

The course uses textbooks of general biology, ecology and animal behaviour. Titles and other information is given in the course plan for the teaching term in question. The project work is based on scientific literature from journals, books and other sources, primarily searched for by the students.

Credit reductions

Course code Reduction From
MNKBI103 15 sp
MNKBI130 9 sp
ZO140 6 sp
This course has academic overlap with the courses in the table above. If you take overlapping courses, you will receive a credit reduction in the course where you have the lowest grade. If the grades are the same, the reduction will be applied to the course completed most recently.

Other pages about the course

Subject areas

  • Biology

Contact information

Course coordinator

Lecturers

Department with academic responsibility

Department of Biology