Teaching

Current Courses

Univ.-Prof. Dr. rer. nat., Dipl.-Biologe Werner Härdtle

Biological Species Knowledge: Introduction to the Systematics and Taxonomy of Plants and Animals

Die Vorlesung dient der Einführung in die Systematik wichtiger Pflanzen- und Tiergruppen und weist folgende Inhalte auf:

• Einführung in Taxonomie und phylogenetische Systematik

• Vorstellung wichtiger Tierstämme und weiterer zoologischer Taxa (bis auf Ordnungs- und Familienniveau)

• Vorstellung pflanzlicher Organisationsformen und wichtiger Taxa der Cormophyta

• Sammeln und Konservieren biologischer Objekte

• Grundkenntnisse in Anlage und Erhalt von musealen Sammlungen zur Biodiversität

• Benutzung dichotomer Bestimmungsschlüssel

Ziel: Grundlagenkenntnisse in der Systematik wichtiger Pflanzen- und Tiergruppen (unterschiedliche taxonomische Ebenen).

Grundkenntnisse in der Anlage und dem Erhalt von musealen Sammlungen zur Biodiversität (Herbarien, zoologische Sammlungen).

Die Studierenden sollen Organismengruppen mit ihren ökologischen Ansprüchen bestimmten Lebensräumen zuordnen können und die Bedeutung von geschützten Arten erkennen.

Biodiversity - an introduction

Contents:

This course will provide an introduction to global and local patterns of biodiversity (of terrestrial and marine ecosystems), the biodiversity of different taxonomic groups and important ecosystem types, current hypotheses and mechanisms explaining biodiversity patterns, relationships between bodiversity, ecosystem funtioning an ecosystem services, global and local drivers of biodiversity loss as well as current regulations for biodiversity protection.

Inhalte:

Definition von Biodiversität, weltweite Verteilung, Verteilung auf taxonomische Gruppen, Erklärungsmodelle, Biodiversitäts-Hotspots, Artenvielfalt ausgewählter Lebensgemeinschaften und ausgewählter Lebensräume, Biodiversität und Ökosystemfunktionen, Gefährdung der biologischen Vielfalt, Konventionen zum Schutz der biologischen Vielfalt

Ziel: Students will understand the global patterns of biodiversity, mechanisms of biodiversity-ecosystem functioning relationships and currently acting drivers of biodiversity loss

Die Studierenden verstehen weltweite Muster der biologischen Vielfalt, können diese analysieren und interpretieren.

Biodiversity of selected habitats

Definition von Biodiversität, weltweite Verteilung, Verteilung auf taxonomische Gruppen, Erklärungsmodelle, Biodiversitäts-Hotspots, Artenvielfalt ausgewählter Lebensgemeinschaften und ausgewählter Lebensräume, Biodiversität und Ökosystemfunktionen, Gefährdung der biologischenVielfalt, Konventionen zum Schutz der biologischen Vielfalt

Ziel: Die Studierenden verstehen weltweite Muster der biologischen Vielfalt, können diese analysieren und interpretieren.

Ecosystem processes: Biogeochemical perspective (Exercises)

UPDATE 24.03.2020: COURSE WILL TAKE PLACE IN A VIRTUAL FORMAT AND START AS SCHEDULED IN MY STUDY (i.e. Thursday, 09.04.2020, 14.15, with a first introduction scheduled for 12.15; further information will be given timely prior to course start)

This module aims at an advanced understanding of (terrestrial) ecosystem processes from a biogeochemical point of view. Both lectures and lab exercises will have a particular focus on biogeochemical processes in soils as well as global change impacts on biogeochemical processes in terrestrial ecosystems.

Contents of the lab exercises:

- Soil reaction: acidity and alcalinity

- Soil organic matter

- Nitrogen and phosphorus economy of soils

- Macronutrient elements Ca, Mg and K

- Modelling ecosystem nutrients stores (above- and belowground)

- Exchange capacity of soils

- Soil water: characteristics and behaviour

- Soil classes and bulk density

Ziel: This module aims to deepen an understanding of (terrestrial) ecosystem processes from a biogeochemical point of view. The module in particular will highlight (interactive) processes between soils, plants and other components of terrestrial ecosystems. Lab exercises will complement lectures and will impart knowledge on current methods aiming at an analysis of soil ecological processes including an introduction to experimental approaches addressing an assessment of human impacts on processes and biogeochemical cycles in terrestrial ecosystems.

Students with a successful completion of this module will have an advanced knowledge of biogeochemical processes in ecosystems. This knowledge is an important prerequisite to meeting the many natural-resource challenges that will face humanity in the 21st century. Moreover, students will possess special skills to address current questions in (soil) ecological research and to set up experiments aiming at an analysis of biogeochemical processes in ecosystems.

Students will improve their scientific collaboration and their self-organisation, the presentation of scientific results, and will learn skills for the preparation of their master thesis.

Ecosystem processes: Biogeochemical perspective (Lecture)

UPDATE 24.03.2020: COURSE WILL TAKE PLACE IN A VIRTUAL FORMAT AND START AS SCHEDULED IN MY STUDY (i.e. Thursday, 09.04.2020, 12.15; further information will be given timely prior to course start)

This module aims at an advanced understanding of (terrestrial) ecosystem processes from a biogeochemical point of view. Both lectures and lab exercises will have a particular focus on biogeochemical processes in soils as well as global change impacts on biogeochemical processes in terrestrial ecosystems.

The main topics addressed are:

Lectures:

- Ecosystem processes: a definition

- Energy and matter flows through ecosystems

- Biogeochemical cycles in ecosystems

- Plant-soil interactions

- Soil ecological processes in ecosystems

- Below- and aboveground nutrient flows, stores and balances

- Soil architecture and classification

- Human impacts on biogeochemical processes

- Soil protection and management

Ziel: This module aims to deepen an understanding of (terrestrial) ecosystem processes from a biogeochemical point of view. The module in particular will highlight (interactive) processes between soils, plants and other components of terrestrial ecosystems. Lab exercises will complement lectures and will impart knowledge on current methods aiming at an analysis of soil ecological processes including an introduction to experimental approaches addressing an assessment of human impacts on processes and biogeochemical cycles in terrestrial ecosystems.

Students with a successful completion of this module will have an advanced knowledge of biogeochemical processes in ecosystems. This knowledge is an important prerequisite to meeting the many natural-resource challenges that will face humanity in the 21st century. Moreover, students will possess special skills to address current questions in (soil) ecological research and to set up experiments aiming at an analysis of biogeochemical processes in ecosystems.

Students will improve their scientific collaboration and their self-organisation, the presentation of scientific results, and will learn skills for the preparation of their master thesis.