Dates
| weekly | Monday | 14:15 - 15:45 | 06.04.2026 - 10.07.2026 | C HS 1 |
Curriculum context
grade [28896] Basic Concepts of Ecology
Lab report (for one out of the four lab exercises) (30%)
Oral presentation (during your chosen field exercise course) (30%)
Resit date: No resit date will be offered to this assessment, because it is didactically inseparably connected with one of the associated courses. A resit will only be possible, if the module is available again.
grade [28901] Basic Concepts of Ecology
Lab report (for one out of the four lab exercises) (30%)
Oral presentation (during your chosen field exercise course) (30%)
Resit date: No resit date will be offered to this assessment, because it is didactically inseparably connected with one of the associated courses. A resit will only be possible, if the module is available again.
Organizational information
Registration
Registration ends 07.4.2026 at 23:59 h
Persons
Content
Scientific basics of ecology (autecology, population ecology, community ecology and ecosystem research).
"Introduction to Ecology" is designed to provide bachelor students with a comprehensive understanding of ecological principles and processes. Throughout the course, students will:
1. Develop a fundamental understanding of ecology: Gain knowledge about key ecological concepts, including ecosystems, populations, communities, and the interactions between organisms and their environment.
2. Explore biotic and abiotic Interactions: Examine the intricate relationships between living organisms (biotic factors) and their non-living environment (abiotic factors), emphasizing the importance of these interactions in shaping ecosystems.
3. Study ecological patterns and processes: Analyze ecological patterns such as biodiversity, distribution of species, and ecological succession, while understanding the underlying processes that drive these patterns.
4. Investigate population dynamics: Explore the principles governing population growth, factors influencing population size, and the dynamics of population interactions, including competition, predation, and symbiosis.
5. Understand ecosystem functioning: Delve into the functioning of ecosystems, focusing on energy flow, nutrient cycling, and the roles of producers, consumers, and decomposers in maintaining ecological balance.
Across these topics, students will assess the influence of human activities on ecosystems, including habitat destruction, pollution, climate change, and resource exploitation. They will be fostering an awareness of the importance of ecological knowledge in addressing global issues.
By the end of the course, students will emerge with a solid foundation in ecology, equipped to comprehend and address complex ecological issues and contribute to sustainable solutions in their future academic and professional endeavors.
The module consists of the lecture, the lab exercises and the field exercises.
You have to subscribe in myStudy to all three parts of the module! Note that the lab exercises are the same for everyone (it doesn't matter in which group you are), but that the field exercises differ not only in their dates but also in their contents and locations (some are with overnight-stay, some are not).
The grade of the module consists of the results of a written test, lab reports and presentations. The details will be explained in the first lecture.
Important note (especially for students of Studium Individuale): You will need expertise in R to do the statistical data analyses with data from the field exercises and to analyse your data for the lab report. Therefore, participation in the module "Mathematics and Statistics" is essential.
Evaluation
Further information on teaching evaluation: https://www.leuphana.de/en/teaching/quality-management/feedback-instruments.html