Learning outcome

After completing course, the students should have the following qualification regarding knowledge, skill and general competence:

• Have knowledge about important environmental conditions in alpine areas in Scandinavia
• Have knowledge about the main vegetation types and their distribution in Scandinavia
• Have knowledge about the distribution and occurrence of the main animals and bird species in Scandinavia
• Be able to identify common alpine plants
• Be able to perform vegetation analyses of alpine communities
• Be able to perform studies to evaluate population sizes of small rodents and grouse
• Experience with gill-net finhing to evaluate trout growth and population size

Course Description

The following topics will be covered:

• Knowledge about alpine plants and alpine ecosystems
• Alpine soils, their classification and development
• Effects of temperature and snow for alpine plants
• Biotic impacts on alpine vegetation
• Primary succession in glacier forelands
• Physiological adaptions of alpine plants
• Alpine vegetation production and phenology
• Aquatic ecology
• Terrestrial animal/bird populations

Assessment Methods

Species indentification exam 25 %, written 4-hour final examination 75%.

The students may be charged for som expenses for transport and housing during excursions

Minor adjustments may occur during the academic year, subject to the decision of the Dean