Content, progress and pedagogy of the module

Learning objectives

Knowledge

Students who complete the module must be able to

• explain terrestrial Danish nature types, including characteristic plant species, ecophysiology, status and threats

Skills

• identify Danish nature types
• prepare natural state assessments
• carry out vegetative plant species determination

Type of instruction

• Classes
• Exercises
• Group-based project assignment
• Article presentations
• Presentation of project assignments

Extent and expected workload

150 hours

Exam

Exams

Additional information

Knowledge of the different nature types that exist is essential for the biologist, environmental engineer and geographer who work in the Danish landscape with nature or resource management. Knowledge of the most important plant indicator species is an important tool and determining/keying habitat types via plant species and assessing the quality of the habitat type is essential on the course. The connection between nature types and the most important EU directives in the area of nature as well as Nature legislation gives the student the opportunity to include knowledge from the course in a management-oriented project.

It is assumed that the student already has or via self-studies will acquire knowledge of the following subjects (possibly through other course modules)

• Nature types related to streams or lakes, the characteristic species of aquatic plants in streams and lakes and their relationships to (a)biotic factors (limnology)
• Hydrology in soil, lakes and streams (limnology)
• EU directives
• Basic botany and understanding of adaptations of terrestrial plants to the environment (botany and plant physiology)
• Marine habitats (marine biology)