3541.15 - Global Change Biology

3541.15

Global Change Biology

7.5

Subjects in biology B.Sc. up to 6th. semester

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.

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 behavioral response of organisms, Demography Relative competitive abilities of species Productivity

Lectures, based on current literature and scientific publications, students assignments and presentations

By the end of the course the students are expected to 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 plants and animals  Identify the effect of changed climate on shift of vegetation zones, changes in community composition and changes in competitive ability of species  Recognize the phenological changes of species migration and adaptation

The students shall hand in three written summaries and present them orally in the subjects: 1) the climate system and climate change, 2) climate effects on marine ecosystems, 3) climate effects on terrestrial ecosystems. The summaries and presentations will be based on scientific publications

Internal

P-

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

Anna Maria Fosaa