Content, progress and pedagogy of the module

The aim of the module is to qualify the student to understand how global changes affect biological systems at different levels of spatial, temporal and biological scales, and providing examples of ecological impacts of global change at organismal, species, population and community levels. Global change impacts on human well-being and society in relation to food production and pest and disease threats, and biological mitigations strategies are also addressed.

Learning objectives

Knowledge

Students who have passed the module should be able to

• explain how greenhouse gas emission is linked to climate change, and how climate changes affect greenhouse gas emissions
• describe how climate historically has changed and impacted life on earth
• explain the role of evolution and phenotypic plasticity in relation to global change
• account for the factors that constraints evolutionary processes
• discuss how global changes can influence populations and community dynamics
• describe different methods for studying the impacts of global change on biological systems
• explain how a changing climate impact human well-being, e.g regarding food production
• provide examples of biological mitigation strategies and strategies to ensure a more sustainable food production 

Skills

• interpret literature on global change biology
• collect, analyze, interpret, and present scientific literature
• engage in a scientific dialog about current topics in global change biology
• apply ecological models to quantify relations between global changes and effects on ecosystems

Type of instruction

• Lectures, supplemented with project work, exercises, oral or written presentation seminars

Extent and expected workload

150 hours

Exam

Prerequisite for enrollment for the exam

• Active participation in the teaching is a prerequisite for students to be allowed to take the module exam.
  The prerequisite for the reexam is handing in a written report.
  

Exams