BIOS2200 – Botanical Diversity
Course content
This course is an introduction to plant life in Norway and sees the plant diversity in broader systematical, biogeographical and ecological contexts. The focus is partly on how Norwegian biodiversity varies along ecological gradients and how this variation can be used to characterize habitat types. Additionally, the course sees the Norwegian species diversity in a phylogenetic / evolutionary context, focusing on the relationship between different species and families.
Learning outcome
After completion of the course, you
- will have knowledge of the most important plant species, genera and families in Norwegian nature
- can use the identification literature (flora) to determine plant species in Norwegian nature
- will have basic knowledge about variation in nature at different spatial scales and how it is put into system using the Nature Types in Norway (NiN) classification system
- can use your knowledge? about plant species and variation along ecological gradients to identify the main Nature Types in Norway
- will have a good understanding of evolutionary relationships among plant species
- can place plant species to the most important families and higher systematic groups within the phylogenetic tree of plants
Admission to the course
Students must apply for a spot on the course each semester by sending an email to studieinfo@ibv.uio.no within the registration deadline.
Priority will be given to students on the bachelor program in biosciences.
The course will have field courses in August, and will therefore have an early deadline for registration. 2024 deadline: May 3.
The course is only available to students with a valid enrollment per June 1.
Special admission requirements
In addition to fulfilling the?Higher Education Entrance Qualification, applicants have to meet the following special admission requirements:
- Mathematics R1 (or Mathematics S1 and S2)
And in addition one of these:
- Mathematics R2
- Physics (1+2)
- Chemistry (1+2)
- Biology (1+2)
- Information technology (1+2)
- Geosciences (1+2)
- Technology and theories of research (1+2)
Mathematics R2 was a requirement up until and including the study year 2021/2022, as part of a trial arrangement. From and including the study year 2022/2023, Mathematics R2 is no longer a requirement.
The special admission requirements may also be covered by?equivalent studies from Norwegian upper secondary school or by other equivalent studies?(in Norwegian).
Formal prerequisite knowledge
Following?courses must be taken before the first lab session and field excursion:?
Recommended previous knowledge
Teaching
The teaching will include:?
Lectures and demonstrations/practicals
Field courses 10 days (mandatory). Info about the field course.
Herbarium project (mandatory)
Mandatory course work must be approved before the student can attend the exam.
Approved mandatory assignments and activities are valid for 3 years.
As?the?teaching involves laboratory and/or fieldwork, you should consider taking out a separate travel and personal risk insurance.?Read about your insurance cover as a student.
A student who has completed compulsory instruction and coursework and has had these approved is not entitled to repeat that instruction and coursework. A student who has been admitted to a course, but who has not completed compulsory instruction and coursework or had these approved, is entitled to repeat that instruction and coursework, depending on available capacity.
Cost of taking the course
Field course: Students pay a fee of 150 kr/day with overnight stay. In total 8 days.?
Examination
One combined written and practical exam, which counts 100% towards the final grade.
This course has mandatory assignments that must be approved before you can sit the final exam.
Examination support material
No examination support material is allowed?for the plant systematics part of the exam. For the part of the exam dealing with species identification and NiN, relevant floras and a pdf with an overview of NiN mapping units will be available (in Norwegian).
Language of examination
You may write your examination paper in Norwegian, Swedish, Danish or English.
Grading scale
Grades are awarded on a scale from A to F, where A is the best grade and F is a fail. Read more about the grading system.
Resit an examination
This course offers both postponed and resit of examination. Read more:
More about examinations at UiO
- Use of sources and citations
- Special exam arrangements due to individual needs
- Withdrawal from an exam
- Illness at exams / postponed exams
- Explanation of grades and appeals
- Resitting an exam
- Cheating/attempted cheating
You will find further guides and resources at the web page on examinations at UiO.