MAOK4013 Wildlife population health
- EmnekodeMAOK4013
- Studiepoeng5
- Undervisningssemestre2026 Høst
- Undervisnings- og eksamensspråkEngelsk
- UndervisningsstedEvenstad
Wildlife population health introduces students to the principles of One Health, emphazising how the environment, human health, wildlife health and livestock health are interconnected. It will focus on the multiple dimensions of wildlife health at individual and population levels and how this is influenced by multiple anthropogenic and environmental factors, including toxins, nutrition, climate, infectious agents, and inherited and congenital defects, traumas, and injuries. This will be supported with a solid grounding in the practical aspects of studying and monitoring wildlife health, including approaches to sampling in the field and collaborating across disciplinary boundaries. Finally, attention will be paid to the challenges of communicating One Health issues to the public, wildlife managers and policy makers.
Læringsutbytte
After successful completion of the course, the student will have the following knowledge, skills, and general competence.
The student
- has advanced knowledge and understanding of the potential impact of disease on wildlife health and populations.
- has thorough knowledge of the relevant diseases and toxins as well as the animal health related factors that must be considered for evaluating population changes in Nordic ecosystems.
- has advanced knowledge of the basic principles of risk communication.
- is familiar with various methods for evaluating mortality and population alterations.
The student
- can define and recognize an outbreak and explain the course of action required for responding to outbreaks or population declines.
- can make a list of possible causes for population declines together with specialists and relate this to societal interests, and analyze and critically discuss existing theories for declines of wildlife populations.
- can design an outbreak investigation under supervision with applicable norms for research ethics.
- can perform basic sample collection on dead animals using proper personal protective equipment.
- can communicate effectively with media and the public and apply principles of risk communication when writing for a general audience.
- can participate safely in disease investigations.
General competence
The student
- can analyze relevant academic, professional, and ethical challenges.
- has a mastery of language and terminology relevant to wildlife diseases in Nordic countries.
Campus-based lectures, seminars, self-study and group work. Seminars will include presentation and discussion by student groups. Active participation is expected.
- Attendance in at least 80% of lectures.
- Participation in practical exercises (1-2)
| Form of assessment | Grading scale | Grouping | Duration of assessment | Support materials | Proportion | Comments |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Kombinasjonseksamen | ECTS - A-F |
- One group assignment, including an oral presentation and a written assignment (40%).
- A final 3-hour written exam with a combination of short and long questions (60%).
Performance is assessed using a grading scale from A-F, where E is the lowest passing grade. All examinations must be passed in order for the course to be assessed as passed.