• Studies
• Courses
• • BIO9140

BIO9140 - Life-history strategies and climate effects

Course content

The course deals with life history theory and how various life history traits might be affected by climate. The theory will be presented from general literature (text book), while scientific articles will be selected to provide empirical examples and to elucidate newer theoretical approaches. The course represents a combination of ecological and evolutionary thinking, and in addition will the understanding of various physiological processes be emphasized. The empirical examples will include both terrestrial and aquatic systems, and will deal with many different taxa.

Learning outcomes

The students shall achieve a general understanding of what the life history concept includes, the basic theories on evolution of life history traits, and how key climate parameters might affect these traits. An important theme in relation to climate change is the extent to which organisms may respond on altered environmental conditions and how this is performed. The course also aims at improving the students’ skill in oral and written presentation about these questions.

Admission

Contact the student administration office if you want to follow this course.

The examination in this course is not available for external candidates. Only students admitted to the course may sit for the examination.

Prerequisites

Recommended prior knowledge

Bachelor degree in biology or similar. Good basic knowledge in ecology and evolution.

Overlap

10 credits against BIO4140 - Life-history Strategies and Climate Effects. 5 credits against BIO4030 - Climate and population processes. 5 credits against BIO4010 - Life history theory.

Teaching

Lectures will be given on general theories about life history evolution, as well as on climate effects on the expression and evolution of life history traits. In addition, a number of presentations on current research activities will be given by local staff or visiting scientist. The course will mainly contain two intense weeks (4-5 days) at the University course centre at Drøbak (week 39 and 43 or 44). In addition, introductory lectures will be given during weeks 36-37.
The students have to pay a field course fee of 150 NOK per day.
The course will be based on the following elements:
• Lectures presenting general life history theory (based on Stearns (1992) – Life history theory).
• Invited talks presenting and discussing selected case studies.
• Group discussions, where selected topics are discussed in groups and then presented to the class.
• Data labs - where students will work with selected practical problems.
• Each participant will present a scientific paper to the class. Here, one student will be appointed to lead the discussion after the presentation.
• All students must submit an essay on a given topic after the first session at Tømte (weighted 30% of the final mark).

Criteria for access to teaching resources

A student who has completed compulsory instruction and coursework and has had these approved, is not entitled to repeat that instruction and coursework. A student who has been admitted to a course, but who has not completed compulsory instruction and coursework or had these approved, is entitled to repeat that instruction and coursework, contingent on available capacity.

Exam information

To pass this course, the student needs to have participated in both sessions at Drøbak, presented a paper to the class and written one essay (up to 10 pages) in addition to the final oral exam. Essay and final oral exam are graded (weight 30:70).

Exam resources

No special exam resources are allowed.

Assessment and grading

Students are awarded either a passing or a failing grade. Read more about the grading system .

Explanations and appeals

Students can request an explanation of their grades, and can also appeal against their grades or make a complaint about formal examination errors. Read more about explanations and appeals

Withdrawing from exams and limits on re-takes

A student can sit for this exam up to 3 times. If a student wishes to withdraw from the exam, s/he must do this in StudentWeb at least two weeks prior to the first day of the exam. Failure to do so will be counted as one of the three opportunities to sit for the exam.

Evaluation of this course

Feedback from our students is essential to us in our efforts to ensure and further improve the high quality of our programmes and courses. As a student at the University of Oslo you will therefore be asked to participate in various types of evaluation of our courses, facilities and services. All courses are subject to continuous evaluation. At regular intervals we also ask students on a particular course to participate in a more comprehensive, in-depth evaluation of this course, a so called "periodic evaluation".

Contact us