3541.20 - Climate Change and the Effect on Plants and Animals


Course number
3541.20
Title
Climate Change and the Effect on Plants and Animals
ECTS
7.5
Prerequisites
A) Enrolled in the BSc degree in biology at the University of the Faroe Islands or B) Students admitted for a single course need the necessary pre-requisites in general biology and ecology, such as: General Biology; Plants and Animals on the Faroe Islands; Terrestrial Ecology; Marine Biology. Earth, air, and sea I.
Purpose
The purpose of the course is to give an overview of the climate system and the effects of anthropogenic climate change on plants and animals in marine and terrestrial ecosystems.
Content
The main components and processes of the climate system are discussed as well as the effects of human activities on climate. The effects of changed climate on individuals, populations, communities, and ecosystems. Phenological change of species, migration, adaptation, Physiological and behavioural response of organisms, Demography, Relative competitive abilities of species.
Learning and teaching approaches
Lectures, based on current literature and scientific publications, students assignments and presentations
Learning outcomes
On completion of the course, the successful student should be able to: • Read and communicate scientific publications on subjects concerning the climate system and its effects on plants and animals. • Understand the climate system and the main processes linking its components. • Understand the main effects of climate change on terrestrial plants and animals. • Understand the main effects of climate change on marine plants and animals. • Identify the effect of climate change on shift of vegetation zones. • Identify the effect of climate change on plant community composition. • Identify the effect of climate change on animal community composition. • Identify the effect of climate change on the competitive ability of plants. • Identify the effect of climate change on the competitive ability of animals. • Understand what stresses global change puts on animals and plants and what possibilities plant- and animal communities have in a changing climate. • Understand and explain what phenology is and its importance to animals and plants. • Understand and explain phenological changes in various animal- and plant species caused by climate change. • Understand and explain the effect of phenological changes on migration and adaptation.
Assessment method
Oral exam composed as seminars
Examination
Internal
Marking scale
P-
Bibliography
Bogi Hansen, 2011: Veðurlagsbroytingar, Nám. Excepts from IPCC-2014 Climate Change 2014: the Fifth Assessment Report of the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change Scientific papers
Contact
Anni Djurhuus