Global Ecosystem Dynamics

Course content

This course covers ecosystem processes in natural, managed and urban ecosystems. The course includes exercises with analysis of ecosystem development over time in relation to biotic and abiotic processes, and human impact including land use and climate change. An interdisciplinary perspective is applied to assess interactions between local, regional and global driving forces and changes.

After taking the course, you will be able to identify and define how ecosystem processes are influenced by direct and indirect climate effects, and by different actors and their need of ecosystem services.

Teaching methods

The first part of the course consists of lectures and exercises, and the second part is a literature-based project that will be based on your own ideas and interests within global ecosystem dynamics.

Literature

The course is based on the e-book Climate change biology edited by Lee Hannah (2015).

The book consists of 20 chapters and covers basics concepts and terminology needed to understand the different course modules. The book tie the different parts of the course together and make reference to how they are linked. It is available for free at www.sciencedirect.com, and it is recommended to read the texts to make sure that you have basic understanding of the sections that relates to the course modules. However, the course literature is mainly composed of research papers and reports that together will the lectures, exercises and project work will provide in depth knowledge.