13822 - Biodiversity of Terrestrial Arthropods Modulübersicht

Module Number: 13822
Module Title:Biodiversity of Terrestrial Arthropods
  Biodiversität terrestrischer Arthropoden
Department: Faculty 2 - Environment and Natural Sciences
Responsible Staff Member:
  • Prof. Dr. rer. nat. Birkhofer, Klaus
Language of Teaching / Examination:English
Duration:1 semester
Frequency of Offer: Every summer semester
Credits: 6
Learning Outcome:

The module Biodiversity of Terrestrial Arthropods provides an overview of the taxonomy and ecology of arthropods in terrestrial ecosystems with a mandatory 5-day excursion during the semesters excursion week and student projects.
 
Part "Biodiversity: Lecture"
The lectures introduce the taxonomy of terrestrial invertebrates with diagnostics for major orders and highlight the ecology of selected case taxa. Students will learn about

  • Phylogenetic relationships of major terrestrial invertebrate orders
  • Identification and diagnostics of major terrestrial invertebrate orders
  • Ecology of major terrestrial invertebrate orders

Part "Biodiversity: Seminar"
The seminars are based on student presentations of an assigned scientific publication focusing on the ecology of selected terrestrial invertebrate taxa. Students will learn about

  • Interpretation of scientific articles
  • Ecology of a selected case taxon
  • Summarizing and presenting scientific results

Part "Biodiversity: Excursion"
Students will learn:

  • Ecological field work methods with a focus on biodiversity assessment
  • Identification of arthropods and use of taxonomic determination keys
Contents:

The courses will take students to an ecological field station in Brandenburg for five days during the semesters excursion week. A small fee of 10€ will be collected from all participating students to cover some of the costs.

Part "Biodiversity: Lecture"

  • Terrestrial arthropod taxonomy
  • Terrestrial arthropod ecology

Part "Biodiversity: Seminar"

  • Threats to terrestrial arthropod biodiversity
  • Status of terrestrial arthropod biodiversity
  • Solutions to biodiversity loss in terrestrial arthropod communities

Part "Biodiversity: Excursion"

  • Field methods to sample biodiversity with a focus on terrestrial arthropods
  • Diagnostic criteria to identify major terrestrial arthropod orders in the field and laboratory
Recommended Prerequisites:

For international study programmes and master students module ”41217 General and Applied Ecology” or for BSc students module ”41102 Ecology”. For German study programmes module „14324 Terrestrische Ökologie” or module „41203 Allgemeine Ökologie".

Mandatory Prerequisites:None
Forms of Teaching and Proportion:
  • Lecture / 1 Hours per Week per Semester
  • Seminar / 1 Hours per Week per Semester
  • Excursion / 32 Hours
  • Self organised studies / 118 Hours
Teaching Materials and Literature:Part "Biodiversity: Lecture"
The class is organized as a weekly lecture introducing major orders of terrestrial arthropods. Lecture-like presentations are complemented by discussions. Self-organized work, in particular acquiring more detailed knowledge of the taxonomic groups is required.
 
E-books
Piper R, What Insects Do, and Why
Schowalter TD, Insect ecology: an ecosystem approach
Beutel RG & Friedrich F, Insect morphology and phylogeny
Resh VH, Encyclopaedia of insects
New TR, Insect species conservation: Ecology, biodiversity, and conservation
Samways MJ, Insect diversity conservation
 
Part "Biodiversity: Seminar"
A scientific paper focusing on the ecology of a major order of terrestrial invertebrates is assigned to students. The content of the paper will then be presented as an oral presentation in the seminar by the students following the lecture. All seminar topics and material is provided.


Part " Biodiversity: Excursion"
Students will write a report on an assigned excursion. Participation in these half-day ecological excursions is mandatory. All material for the excursions is provided.

E-books
 
Brock PD, Britain's Insects: A Field Guide to the Insects of Great Britain and Ireland
Santos JC, Measuring arthropod biodiversity: a handbook of sampling methods
Module Examination:Continuous Assessment (MCA)
Assessment Mode for Module Examination:

Part "Biodiversity: Seminar"
One oral presentation, 25 min + 20 min discussion (50%)
 
Part " Biodiversity: Excursion "
One written report summarising the results from the 5-day excursion (50%)

Evaluation of Module Examination:Performance Verification – graded
Limited Number of Participants:None
Part of the Study Programme:
  • Bachelor (research-oriented) / Environmental and Resource Management / PO 2015
  • Master (research-oriented) - Double Degree / Environmental and Resource Management / PO 2021
  • Master (research-oriented) / Environmental and Resource Management / PO 2021
Remarks:

The courses will take students to an ecological field station in Brandenburg for five days during the semesters excursion week. A small fee of 10 € will be collected from all participating students to cover some of the costs.

Module Components:
  • 240795 Lecture/Seminar Biodiversity
  • 240798 Excursion Biodiversity
Components to be offered in the Current Semester: