BENA2032 Field inventory of biota (3 cr)

Open the course unit brochure on Sisu

Study level:

Intermediate studies

Grading scale:

Pass - fail

Language:

Finnish

Responsible organisation:

Department of Biological and Environmental Science

Curriculum periods:

2020-2021, 2021-2022, 2022-2023, 2023-2024

Description

Focus is on the phrasing of questions for field surveys and sampling, planning and methods, as well as on the exploitation of results. Main sampling methods used in field inventories and utilization of GIS information are learnt during the course. Organisms are identified in the field in different habitat types focusing on typical and common species (particularly vertebrates and plants). Identification of the most common habitat types is practiced: forests, peatlands and other wetlands. Ecological population and community data collections are planned and carried out in different organism groups and the use of suitable sampling methods are practiced (tree measurements, vegetation surveys, invertebrate samplings, inventory methods for vertebrates taking into account both terrestrial and aquatic ecosystems). Collected samples are identified to required taxonomic level and reported.

Learning outcomes

After completing this course, the student should be able to

· plan - under supervision - a field inventory project stemming from inventory needs.

· plan - basing on the inventory question - what and how can be inventoried reliably and reproducibly, and to assess the reliability of inventory data.

· tell the main sampling methods and associated uncertainties.

· carry out the most important forest measurements and vegetation surveys as well as field sampling of different animal groups.

· identify and name the most common domestic plant and vertebrate species and invertebrate groups.

· describe the main steps of the field inventory project.

· explain the underlying ecological theory for habitat type classification and apply the theory when describing habitat types.

· describe major forest habitat types (biotopes) found in Finland, identify characteristic plant species of each habitat type in the field and name the habitat type according to the flora.

Additional information

Kurssin suoritukseen sisältyvät myös suullisen esitelmän pitäminen oman ryhmän vastuututkimuksesta sekä kirjallisen raportin kirjoittaminen muiden pienryhmän jäsenten kanssa. Seminaari on perjantaina 26.8.2022 Ambioticalla. Raportti palautetaan lopullisessa muodossaan syyskuun puoliväliin mennessä.

Description of prerequisites

BENP1001, BENP1002, BENP1004, BENA2031

Study materials

Course material are shared in Moodle.

Completion methods

Method 1

Time of teaching:

Period 4, Period 5

Select all marked parts

Parts of the completion methods

Participation in teaching (3 cr)

Type:

Participation in teaching