Course Objectives

The students will become familiar with the more common groups of animals. They will gain insight into the dynamic interplay between plant and animal species and the ecological conditions in the surrounding environment. Emphasis will be placed on understanding of metabolism, autocology and the main characteristics of the Norwegian ecological system. The students will be introduced to teamwork, literature research, scientific presentation and mediation.

Course Description

Central topics:

· Invertebrates and vertebrates: morphology, growth, structure, reproduction, systematics.

· General ecology, behavioural ecology and Norwegian eco-systems: forests, bogs, sea, lakes, cultural landscapes, waterways.

· Natural-scientific methods: Scientific reports, written and oral presentations.

Learning Methods

30 hours of lectures. 6 hours of seminars, including presentation of semester projects.

31-hour obligatory laboratory course. 200 common species in Norway will be studied. An individual zoological-species examination will be given, in which the student’s knowledge of these species will be tested. The students will be able to use approved aids during the test. There will be 4 days of field exercises: a trip in the woods to a beaver dam and/or a beaver safari in Bøelva, a “bird-song” expedition and a tour to the coast. During the spring semester, a semester project will be submitted for evaluation and presented orally. All students must participate.

Participation on field exercises will cost each student approximately 400 NKR.

Assessment Methods

Grades will be assigned for three required parts of the course: the species test will count for 20 %, the seminar project will count for 30 % and the final 3-hour written examination will count for 50% of the final grade. In order receive credit for the laboratory course, at least 8 of the 10 laboratory exercises must be completed. This condition must be met before one may take the species examination. The students must also participate in at least 2 of the 3 excursions. All three of the course requirements must receive passing grades before the student may be assigned a final grade.

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