11837 - Sustainable Management of Tropical Agroecosystems Modulübersicht

Module Number: 11837 - module is no longer offered from WS 2021/22
Module Title:Sustainable Management of Tropical Agroecosystems
  Nachhaltige Bewirtschaftung tropischer Agrarökosysteme
Department: Faculty 2 - Environment and Natural Sciences
Responsible Staff Member:
  • Dr. rer. nat. Leßmann, Dieter
  • Professor Camargue, Juan Carlos
Language of Teaching / Examination:English
Duration:1 semester
Frequency of Offer: On special announcement
Credits: 6
Learning Outcome:Considering the current state of natural resources in tropical regions with their advanced level of deterioration, the problems of global warming and social imbalance, it is a high priority challenge to develop and promote strategies that focus on the proper and sustainable management of agroecosystems in these regions. The aim of this course is to provide students with the knowledge that is necessary as basis for a sustainable management of tropical agroecosystems. It is expected that students will become able to analyse the challenges for managing agroecosystems under the changing climate and to know different approaches for carrying out research and monitoring within them, as well as to assess technologies to improve their conditions. Soil properties and interactions between agroecosystem components will be used for understanding their potential and limitations. Soil indicators, ecosystems services and approaches for obtaining proper information as well as tools for planning tropical agroecosystems will be assessed. Each issue will be addressed through case studies and examples at different scales where students will have the possibility to analyse the process of decision-making for the proper sustainable management.
Contents:
  1. TROPICAL CONTEXT AND AGROECOSYSTEMS: Tropical context and state of natural resources. Climate change and agriculture. Concept and study of agroecosystem (methods and approaches).
  2. AGROECOSYSTEMS, COMPONENTS AND INTERACTIONS. Tropical soils, potential and limitations. Interactions within agroecosystems. Factors affecting productivity and sustainability.
  3. BASES FOR MANAGING AGROECOSYSTEMS. Definition of site conditions. Management, growth and productivity. Building indicators for making decisions.
  4. DECISION-MAKING AND MANAGING AGROECOSYSTEMS. Case   studies: Landscape analyses for monitoring changes in agroecosystems, ecosystems services assessment, analyses of sustainability, the role of agroecosystems in ecological restoration and reconversion processes.
Recommended Prerequisites:None
Mandatory Prerequisites:None
Forms of Teaching and Proportion:
  • Lecture / 2 Hours per Week per Semester
  • Seminar / 1 Hours per Week per Semester
  • Research paper/essay / 15 Hours
  • Self organised studies / 120 Hours
Teaching Materials and Literature:
  • Materials supplied via moodle. Notes covering the topics of the lecture, key scientific articles and book chapters; scientific articles will be delivered to the participants of the seminar.
  • Relevant textbooks and further reading:
  • Kreb, Charles J. (1999). Ecologycal methodology. 2nd ed. Addisson-Welsey Educational Publisher, Inc.
  • Götz Schroth, Gustavo A.B. da Fonseca, Celia A. Harvey, Heraldo L. Vasconcelos, and Anne-Marie N. Izac (Editors) (2004). Agroforestry and Biodiversity Conservation in Tropical Landscapes. Island Press.
  • Götz Schroth and F.L. Sinclair (Editors) (2003). Trees, Crops and Soil Fertility. Concepts and Research Methods. CABI Publish.
  • Kimmins, J.P. (1996). Forest Ecology. A Foundation for Sustainable Management. 2nd ed. Prentice-Hall, Inc.
Module Examination:Continuous Assessment (MCA)
Assessment Mode for Module Examination:
  • written exam, 80 min. (50 %)
  • seminar presentation, 15 min. (25 %)
  • essay (25 %)
Evaluation of Module Examination:Performance Verification – graded
Limited Number of Participants:None
Part of the Study Programme:
  • no assignment
Remarks:No offer in WS 2018/19!

Complementary Module in ERM Master
Module Components:240570 LE/SE Sustainable Management of Tropical Agroecosystems
Components to be offered in the Current Semester:
  • no assignment