BIOS5312 – Alpine Ecology
Course description
Schedule, syllabus and examination date
Course content
This course introduces the alpine environment and ecosystem to advanced biology students. We put emphasis on adaptations of various alpine and arctic organisms (from fungi and plants to invertebrates and vertebrates) to low temperatures, high UV radiation, varying snow conditions, seasonality and other factors in the alpine environment. We focus on physiological, morphological and life-history adaptations, as well as population dynamics, and discuss observed and predicted effects of climate change on the organisms and their populations.
Learning outcome
After completing the course you should
- Have a good understanding of what characterizes subalpine and alpine environments
- Know what factors that affect the biodiversity and community structure in alpine areas
- Understand key physiological, morphological and life-history adaptations of different organisms to alpine environments
- Know what animals and plants that are dominating the alpine zones
- Have an understanding of how climate fluctuations and change affect populations and communities of alpine organisms
- Have training in obtaining knowledge from scientific articles and presenting their essence, and be able to discuss this with others
Admission to the course
The course is held in collaboration with University of Bergen (UiB) at Finse Alpine Research Center, and is organized by UiB in odd years and UiO in even years. We aim for an even distribution of UiB and UiO students each year (maximum 26 students in total). We also welcome students from other universities to apply for the course. The course will have field trip in week 34, and will therefore have an early deadline for registration. 2022 deadline: June 15th
Students admitted at UiO must?apply for courses?in Studentweb. Norwegian and Nordic citizens and applicants residing in the Nordic countries, not already enrolled as a student at UiO, must apply to take this course as a single course student. Deadline: June 15th.
In addition, all students must also apply for the course through the online form: https://nettskjema.no/a/263027.
If you apply for master studies from autumn 2022, you need to document your enrolment to a master’s program to studieinfo@ibv.uio.no, before August 1.
The courses BIOS5312 and BIOS9312 have joint admission. Applicants are ranked by the following criteria:
1. PhD candidates from UiO and UiB.
2. Master students from UiO and UiB.
3. Other PhD candidates with status as visiting PhD candidate.
4. Other master students with admission to single courses on master’s level.
Applicants are ranked by credits in each group; all applicants within 1st rank before applicants in 2nd etc. Admission will be decided by drawing lots for students who are ranked equally.
Recommended previous knowledge
Bachelor degree in biology or similar. Good basic knowledge in ecology and evolution.
Overlapping courses
- 5 credits overlap with BIOS9312 – Alpine Ecology.
Teaching
One week intensive teaching by invited lecturers, field demonstrations and group work at Finse Alpine Research Centre during the second half of August. Students will be given a reading list of scientific articles for self-study.
Cost of taking the course
The field course has a fee on 150 NOK per day, 750 NOK in total.
Cover accommodation, meals and travel by train Oslo - Finse, return (or cheaper tickets). Other travel expenses will not be reimbursed.
Examination
Oral exam counting 100% of the grade.
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: BIOS9312 – Alpine Ecology.
Examination support material
No support material is allowed.
Grading scale
Grades are given on a scale from A to F, where A is the best grade and F is a fail. Read more about the grading system.
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.