Entry requirements

General entry requirements

Learning outcomes

After this course, the student should

• be able to identify and describe common vertebrates, insects and other invertebrate animals of the Nordic fauna with examples of behaviour, environmental adaptations (autecology) and reproductive strategies
• be able to identify and describe Nordic vascular plants, mosses and lichens with examples of environmental adaptations (autecology) and reproductive strategies (e.g. pollination and dispersal innovations)
• be able to use details of form and structure (morphology) in combination with identification keys and descriptive literature to determine names of animals and plants
• be able to apply basic methodology for inventorying animals and plants
• have basic knowledge about the occurrence of species in natural ecosystems (plant and animal communities)
• know of and be able to apply different techniques for collecting and preserving animals and plants
• have acquired knowledge about outdoor teaching

Content

This course teaches basic species knowledge of the Swedish flora and fauna and is composed of the sub-courses floristics, faunistics and a project. The course is taught mainly through examination of live specimens in the field and preserved collections in museums, integrated with literature studies and group work practicing identification of animals and plants. The individual project will emphasise either inventorying methodology or outdoor teaching. It includes planning of the project, literature study, documentation (i.e. collection and preservation of specimens) and a written report. All parts of the course, including field trips, examinations and the individual project, are compulsory. This is a summer course extending from June to July.

Instruction

This course is taught mainly in the field but also incorporates preserved museum collections. Lessons include individual work, group activities and the use of identification keys and descriptive literature.

Assessment

The examination comprises the presentation of an individual project (2 credits) in addition to separate examinations for the flora and fauna parts (4 credits each) including species knowledge, family knowledge and skills in identification with identification literature.