Registration ends 07.4.2026 at 23:59 h

Agriculture plays a pivotal role in shaping terrestrial ecosystems globally. Practices of intensive agriculture are amongst the main causes to the globally observed biodiversity decline. Measuring and characterizing biodiversity is key to understanding the causal mechanisms of the decline and developing effective agri-environmental schemes to halt and reverse biodiversity loss in agricultural landscapes. In order to make this possible, the following questions will be addressed in the course:
- What exactly is biodiversity?
- How can biodiversity be measured?
- How can complex communities / assemblages of living beings be characterized and compared?

In addition to these theoretical ecological aspects, the topic will also be examined from a sociopolitical and ethical perspective.
- What are the socio-political consequences of biodiversity loss?
- Why do we need biodiversity?

This course offers an exploration of the intricate relationship between biodiversity and agriculture, engaging students across diverse fields to critically examine the ecological but also socioecological, political and ethical implications of ecological research.

Fieldwork will be a cornerstone of this learning experience, where students will engage in hands-on data collection on selected insect groups within agricultural settings. In the course the importance of data quality and integrity that is needed to inform scientific and political discussions will be emphasized. In this context, students will be introduced to essential statistical methods using 'R', including power analyses and multivariate statistics. This will enable participants to gain evidence-based findings as basis for discussions about the ecological impact of agricultural practices.

By participating in this course, students will be able to:
- critically evaluate the impacts of agricultural practices on biodiversity and propose ecological solutions rooted in ecological principles.
- employ appropriate research methods to analyze the complex relationship between agriculture and biodiversity.
- understand the sociopolitical factors influencing agricultural policy and conservation efforts.
- gain a deeper appreciation for the ethical implications of agricultural practices.

Further information on teaching evaluation: https://www.leuphana.de/en/teaching/quality-management/evaluation/course-evaluation.html