BIOS4120 – Norwegian nature - typification, description and mapping of natural variation based on "Natur i Norge" (NiN)
Course description
Schedule, syllabus and examination date
Course content
This course gives an overview of how variation in Norwegian nature is systematised and natural variation is mapped by use of to Natur i Norge (NiN), the system for typification and description issued by the Norwegian Biodiversity Information Centre. The theoretical foundation for NiN (variation in nature as variation along environmental gradients) is explained and the theory and practice of nature mapping by NiN is introduced.
The course is established as a result of the authorities’ efforts for enhancement of competence in, and capacity for, mapping of variation in Norway using the NiN system.
Learning outcome
After completing the course you should have achieved the following competence:
Knowledge of the ecological theory on which the Natur i Norge (NiN) system is founded, and understanding of the ecological processes that give rise to variation in species composition.
Understand the theory used in NiN to systematise variation in nature, and the principles used in NiN for typification and description of nature.?
Be aware of how variation within each nature type is described, and know how to recognize the most common nature types in the field.
Know the theory behind mapping of nature, with a focus on map quality.
Understand the mapping process and the challenges related to mapping of nature.
Be able to map nature and create digital nature-type maps both in field and on a computer.
Knowledge of recent research in variation in nature types and mapping of nature in Norway.
Admission to the course
Students admitted at UiO must?apply for courses?in Studentweb. Students enrolled in other Master's Degree Programmes can, on the application, be admitted to the course if this is cleared by their own study programme.
Nordic citizens and applicants residing in the Nordic countries may?apply to take this course as a single course student.
If you are not already enrolled as a student at UiO, please see our information about?admission requirements and procedures for international applicants.
All students who take this course have to have valid student status and pay the semester fee for both semesters.?Single course students must apply for single course studies?for both semesters.
There are 20 seats on this subject. Applicants are ranked by the following criteria:
1. Master students at the MN faculty who have the course as part of the approved curriculum.?Master's students at the Department of Biosciences are given priority.
2. Students with admission to single courses on master’s level and exchange students
3. Applicants are ranked by credits in each group; all applicants within 1st rank before applicants in 2nd etc. If admission is limited to a fixed number of participants, admission will be decided by drawing lots for students who are ranked equally
Recommended previous knowledge
BIOS2200 – Botanical Diversity and BIOS2100 – General Ecology?or corresponding?knowledge.?
Basic ecological knowledge and good knowledge of vascular plants are required. Knowledge of bryophytes and lichens is useful. Skills in geographic information systems (GIS) are very useful for the part of the course that addresses nature-type mapping.
Overlapping courses
- 10 credits overlap with BIO4120 – Norwegian nature – typification, description and mapping of natural variation based on ‘Natur i Norge’ (NiN) (continued).
Teaching
This is an intensive course and the?teaching is concentrated into three blocks. In 2025 the weeks 19 (Monday - Friday), 26?(Monday - Saturday) ?and 36 (Monday - Saturday). Changes might occur, please contact the responsible professor if knowing the dates is?crucial for your planning. The blocks contain:
Block 1: Lectures?and a half-day excursion to the vicinity of Oslo (5 days).
Block 2: Excursion (6 days):??stlandet, Jotunheimen the west coast.
Block 3: Excursion focusing on practical nature-type mapping, and one days work with map data?(6 days).
You have to meet on at least 80% of the lectures and excursions for participation to be approved.
The students are expected to hand in a report from the second excursion, containing a nature-type map with metainformation, created in GIS. The map shall be submitted on a digital platform with opportunities for further editing. The report must be approved in order to be allowed to take the exam.
Participation in the excursion (week 26) and the mapping excersice (week 36) is mandatory.?
Attendance at the first lecture is mandatory, also for those on the waiting list. You will lose your seat on the course if notice is not given to the student administration?studieinfo@ibv.uio.no?before the first lecture.
As?the?teaching involves laboratory and/or fieldwork, you should consider taking out separate travel and personal risk insurance.?Read about your insurance cover as a student.
Cost of taking the course
Participation on the excursions is mandatory. The excursions has a fee on 150 NOK per day.
Examination
A final oral exam which counts 100% towards the final?grade.
To attend the exam the mandatory parts of lectures, report and field course must be approved.
Examination attempts
It will also be counted as one of the three attempts to sit the exam for this course, if you sit the exam for one of the following courses: emne: BIO4120
Examination support material
No examination support material is allowed.
Grading scale
Grades are awarded with letter values in?a descending scale where A is the best grade, E the lowest pass grade and F is 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.