Learning outcome

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

* The students will become familiar with the more common groups of plants and animals.

* The students will be introduced to species evolution, life-cycles, ecology, behaviour and conservation biology.

* Knowledge of systematic, taxonomy, the red list, the black list and the species database.

* Knowledge of important plant- and animal groups/species, including the red list- and the black list species, indicator species, and gain general knowledge about how to determine these different species.

* Knowledge of Norwegian ecosystems.

Course Description

Central topics:

* Plant- and animal species: systematic, morphology, growth, structure and reproduction.

* Evolution and development, ecology, behaviour and conservation biology.

* Red list- and black list species, medical plants, toxic plants, indicator species and the species database (species observations and species maps).

* Norwegian ecosystems.

Teaching and Learning Methods

Teaching will be given in the form of lectures, field excursions and mandatory lab. courses. The most important parts of the lectures will be available in an electronic form, as well as question to some topics.

Through lectures and lab. courses will 400 plan- and 400 animal species i Norway be introduced. It will be several excursions to learn different plan- and animal species (e.g. a forest trip to a beaver tarn and/or a beaver safari, bird trip and trips to botanical interesting localities around Bø).

Students need to participate on at least 80% of mandatory lab. courses and excursions. It will also be a 5 days mandatory field course in the beginning/middle of June.

A individual species test will be held where knowledge of the syllabus species will be checked and where students are allowed approved aid.

Participation on field courses will cost approx. 1000 NKR per student.

Assessment Methods

Grades will be assigned A-F for to required parts of the course: the species test will count for 60 % and the final 3-hour written examination will count for 40% of the final grade. Both of the course requirements must receive passing grades before the student may be assigned a final grade. Also, the laboratory course, the excursions and the field course must be passed to be able to be assigned a final grade.

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