UTM1140 Wildlife ecology
- Number of credits7,5
- Teaching semester2026 Spring
- Language of instructionEnglish
- CampusEvenstad
This course will introduce you to the terrestrial wildlife (amphibians, reptiles, birds, mammals) of Scandinavia and will cover key adaptation of these species to their environment. Moreover, we will cover broad ecological concepts applied to these species (and various examples from other areas), ranging from physiological adaptations, feeding ecology, social and spatial organization, population ecology, to interspecific interactions. Finally, this course will provide a first introduction to wildlife management.
The course is divided in 6 modules covering central aspects of species knowledge and wildlife ecology applied to these species:
- Introduction to Scandinavian ecosystems and to terrestrial vertebrates.
- Adaptations by wildlife to live in variable and cold environments, including foraging ecology and nutrition.
- Space use and social interactions (group size, mating systems, reproductive strategies).
- Life history theory and population dynamics.
- Interspecific interactions.
- Introduction to wildlife management.
Generally, the course consists of lectures (ca. 2/3rd of the time) and student work, such as excursions, poster presentations, group presentations, and discussion exercises (1/3rd of the time).
Learning Outcome
Candidates with fulfilled qualifications will have the following learning outcome:
The candidate:
- Has a general understanding of the wildlife species inhabiting Scandinavian ecosystems, their adaptations and ecology.
- Has broad knowledge concerning questions related to wildlife ecology and management.
- Has detailed knowledge regarding the biology and ecology of selected species.
- Has basic knowledge on the use of practical tools and methods for studying and managing wildlife.
The candidate
- Can identify various wildlife species inhabiting Scandinavia.
- Can formulate relevant questions to study wildlife ecology, especially in a Scandinavian context.
- Can apply ecological knowledge to assess management strategies and processes, and can find, evaluate, and refer to relevant research.
The candidate
- Has good insight in important concepts and central questions in research and management of wildlife.
- Can communicate their knowledge of wildlife ecology and be familiar with innovation processes within this field.
- Lectures
- Reading and discussing scientific papers
- Group discussions
- Seminars where groups of students present selected topics
- Poster presentations
- Excursions
- Attendance at minimum 4 out of 5 seminars.
- Minimum 80 % participation in deliverables (1 poster presentation, 2 presentations, 2 group discussions).
- Active participation throughout the course, i.e. presence in 80% of lectures and participation in course discussions.
| Form of assessment | Grading scale | Grouping | Duration of assessment | Support materials | Proportion | Comment |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Written examination with invigilation | ECTS - A-F | Individual | 100 |