Transcript The Department of Ecology and Environmental Science

Department of Ecology
and Environmental
Science
The Department of Ecology and
Environmental Science,
Umeå University, Sweden
Department of Ecology
and Environmental
Science
The Department
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The Department of Ecology and Environmental Science offers seven
different study programmes and a wide range of independent courses for
approx 500 full-time students. Also Master's programmes in Biology and
Geoecology are offered for foreign students. The Department of Ecology
and Environmental Science pursues a broad range of exciting research
projects. These can coarsely be classified into the broad disciplines of
ecology, environmental change, physical geography and taxonomy.
The Department provides all education through master´s degree in
biology, physical geography and environmental health.
Department of Ecology
and Environmental
Science
The Staff
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Professor Kristin Palmqvist, Head of Department
14 Professors
40 Senior researchers
30 Teachers
50 PhD students
10 Post docs
25 Technical and administrative personnel
Total 170
Department of Ecology
and Environmental
Science
Education
– Undergraduate study programmes
• Biology and Geoecology
• Environmental Health
• Geographical Information System, GIS
• ”Naturguideprogrammet” Outdoor tourism in Kiruna
– Master’s Degree
• Ecology
• Geoecology
• European Master's in Ecological Management of
Catchments
• Environmental Health (from 2010)
Department of Ecology
and Environmental
Science
Examples of courses offered in English
Arctic geoecology 15 ECTS
Alpine Geoecology 15 ECTS
Alpine Ecosystems 15 ECTS
Analysis of Environmental Changes 15
ECTS
Analysis of Ecological Data 15 ECTS
Conservation Biology 15 ECTS
Biodiversity 15 ECTS
Brackish Water 7,5 ECTS
Evolutionary Biology 15 ECTS
Master´s Degree Thesis in Biology 15
ECTS
Master´s Degree Thesis in Biology
30 ECTS
Microbial Ecology 15 ECTS
Population and Community Dynamics
15 ECTS
Project in Ecology 15 ECTS
Freshwater Ecology 15 ECTS
Forest Ecology 15 ECTS
Field Methods in Geoecology 15 ECTS
Northern Aquatic Systems 15 ECTS
GIS 15 ECTS
Theoretical Geoecology 15 ECTS
Theoretical Geography 15 ECTS
Department of Ecology
and Environmental
Science
Student exchange
• Student exchange can be within a formal exchange
agreement – (Bilateral Agreements, Erasmus, Nordplus,
North2North, Linneaus-Palme)
• or outside of formal exchange agreement (Free
Movers) Undergraduate or Master Program student
Department of Ecology
and Environmental
Science
Examples of countries with a formal
agreement with the department
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Germany
Great Britain
Turkey
Italy
The Netherlands
Spain
Belgium
France
Austria
Finland
Ireland
Portugal
Department of Ecology
and Environmental
Science
International cooperation
• The Department has been/is also involved in commissioned
education in various countries such as
• The Baltic States
• Poland
• Ukraine
• Vietnam
• Czech republic
• Russia, etc
Department of Ecology
and Environmental
Science
Research areas
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Biodiversity
Population Dynamics
Ecosystem Processes
Evolution and adaptions
Environmental Impact Climate Change
Department of Ecology
and Environmental
Science
Biodiversity
The research focuses on finding and explaining patterns in species composition and
biodiversity in a variety of habitats. We study natural patterns as well as
changes caused by human activities, such as forestry, river regulation and
climate impacts. Part of this research focuses on conservation biology, and part
is directed towards systematics. Another studied perspective on biodiversity is
the relationship between species richness and ecosystem functioning.
Department of Ecology
and Environmental
Science
Population Dynamics
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The number of individuals, or the
density, of a species is rarely constant
over time. Fluctuations could be
caused by biotic factors, such as
nutrient/food availability, competition,
parasitism, and predation, or by
variations in abiotic factors, such as
temperature and precipitation.
Population dynamics research often
involves theoretical modelling as well
as experiments and field studies, and
gives rise to knowledge that is
necessary for predicting the effects of
environmental change on natural
ecosystems.
Department of Ecology
and Environmental
Science
Ecosystem Processes
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A large part of the research
concerns biogeochemical
processes in soil and water, for
instance, the role of bacteria in
carbon cycling in unproductive
lakes, the role of bacteria in
marine food webs, the effect of
climate on the water quality in
boreal streams, and the effects of
nutrient load on aquatic and
terrestrial ecosystems. We also
investigate the ways in which
arctic vegetation is influenced by
climate, nutrient availability and
reindeer grazing, and how aquatic
insects contribute to nutrient flow
within and between aquatic and
terrestrial ecosystems.
Department of Ecology
and Environmental
Science
Evolution and Adaptations
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Evolution favors individuals that
are well adapted to their
environment. Since environments
differs over both small and large
geographic scales, species living
in subdivided populations often
evolve adaptations to local
conditions. We are interested in
the evolution of traits involved in
local adaptation, such as
phenology, resistance to parasites
and pathogens and phenotypic
plasticity. Other areas of interest
are speciation, systematics, and
environmental effects of the use
of genetically modified organisms.
Department of Ecology
and Environmental
Science
Environmental Impact and Climate Change
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Many human activities leave their
traces in air, soil, water, and on
organisms and ecosystems. We
investigate changes in acidity, nutrient
richness, heavy metal concentrations
and climate, over the entire postglacial period. We also study the
effects of pollution, climate change
and different kinds of land use on the
dispersal ability, distribution and
abundance of species. Furthermore,
scientists at the department conduct
environmental monitoring of the Gulf
of Bothnia, and monitoring of small
mammal populations in Northern
Sweden, within the Swedish National
Environmental Monitoring Programme.
Department of Ecology
and Environmental
Science
Research Groups
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Spatial Ecology
Aquatic Ecology
Landscape Ecology
Physical Geography
Evolutionary Ecology
Reindeer Grazing Ecology
Vole and Lemming Dynamics
Nutrient and Climate Change
Environmental Change
Assessment
Department of Ecology
and Environmental
Science
www.emg.umu.se