First year at Dresden University of Technology: Module 1

Forest Ecology

 

Course objectives: (I) Understand the causality and consequences of rapidly changing dynamic equilibriums in the forest, with the inclusion of the interfaces to atmosphere and hydrosphere. (II) Analyze and evaluate possibilities and limits of control, utilization as well as regeneration (restoration, remediation) of tropical ecosystems and also for the protection of species. (lll) Understand measures, technologies, instructions and the like in the applied subjects. (IV) Identify causal-analytical problems for protection, sustainable use and regeneration of tropical forest ecosystems and landscapes.

 

Course contents: Physical-chemical determinants of productivity and regeneration of terrestrial systems: Mechanisms, process control and effect of environmental factors on individuals and communities as well as availability and use of resources, in particular water, nutrients, salinity and climatic factors in the tropics; Climate: Water and radiation as controlling factors of ecological processes; spatial-temporal variability of climatic factors and their interrelationships with ecosystems in the tropics; Forest as source and sink of atmospheric transports: Changes of the water and energy balances resulting from alterations in use, and effects on the climate; Causality of biological diversity: Evolution and co-evolution of the populations and communities, demographic processes and interactions, regulation in food webs. Ecosystem functions and their dynamics: Development of ecosystems (successions); biodiversity and ecosystem functions; Spatial patterns and functional diversity of landscapes.

 

Teaching and leaning methods: 2 hrs/wk Lecture, 1 hrs/wk Seminar, 1 hrs/wk Exercise

 

Examination: The credits are acquired when the module examination has been passed. The module examination consists of one seminar paper (30 hours) and an oral examination (20 minutes).

 

Competences acquired: The student is able to analyze and evaluate possibilities and limits of control, utilization as well as regeneration (restoration, remediation) of tropical ecosystems and also for the protection of species. By means of scientific knowledge of bio geo-ecology, the student understands measures, technologies, instructions and the like in the applied subjects. He or she can identify causal-analytical problems for protection, sustainable use and regeneration of tropical forest ecosystems and landscapes. The student has acquired the requisite scientific and management skills to direct his or her activities appropriately and develop respective ecological-scientific knowledge for the management of forest ecosystems and their competition with other forms of land use.