Plant Ecology Group – Teaching Fall Semester

Pflanzenbiologie II – 2 ECTS
Urs Feller, Jean-Paul Métraux, Günter Hoch, Patrick Kuss, Markus Fischer
The lectures series on ecophysiology and stress physiology of plants introduces basic concepts and mechanisms of how plants adapt physiologically to their abiotic and biotic environment. Students will learn concepts of physiological plant ecology from the single cell to the ecosystem level. The lectures also address current environmental change issues.
               
Praktikum zu Pflanzenbiologie II – 2 ECTS
Urs Feller, Günter Hoch, Markus Fischer
The practical course complements the introductionary lectures to ecophysiolgy and stress physiology of plants and introduces some of the main methods in ecological plant physiology. The students will measure, analyze and present ecophysiological key-parameters in the field and within laboratory experiments.

Lecture series in plant and animal conservation ecology – 1.5 ECTS
Raphaël Arlettaz, Markus Fischer
The lecture series gives first-hand information from conservation researchers and practitioners from various institutions and thus yields insight in both fundamentals and implementation of conservation biology. The large variety of speakers of different institutional background also illustrates the wide spectrum of  career options in conservation. The students practice differentiated discussion with experts and summarising projects and discussions in short reports and presentations.

Plant Ecology Seminar – 1.5 ECTS
Oliver Bossdorf, Markus Fischer
A lecture series about ongoing research in the Plant Ecology Group. Students learn about the range of questions and methods used in our group

Invasion Biology of Plants – 1.5 ECTS
Mark van Kleunen
A lecture series and discussion of recent research papers on plant invasion biology. The students will learn about the most important concepts and hypotheses in plant invasion biology, the caveats in our understanding of plant invasions, how research can contribute to understanding plant invasions, how invasion research can contribute to our understanding of ecology and evolution in general, and how to present and discuss research papers.

Biodiversität in den Alpen – 2 ECTS
Patrick Kuss, Markus Fischer
Seminar about the history, state and future of biodiversity in the European Alps, its functional role in terms of ecosystem services and the political complexity with regard to conservation strategies. Apart from the scientific content the seminar emphasizes competence building in skills such as effective researching, summarizing, presenting and evaluating of scientific information, leading discussion groups and organizing group projects.

Global Change Ecology – 1.5 ECTS
Oliver Bossdorf, Mark van Kleunen, Markus Fischer
Seminar about the ecological and evolutionary impact of global change on plants and animals, and about the different drivers of global change, including climate change, land use and biological invasions. Students learn about the latest methods and some of the hottest and most controversial topics in current global change research. The seminar is organised as an interactive disucssion group.

Statistical analysis of experiments for plant ecologists: an introduction to R – 2.5 ECTS
Daniel Prati, Markus Fischer
An overview on experimental design and statistical analyses for plant ecologists. After a short recap of the basics, the course focuses on univariate analyses of experimental studies, incl. linear models, random effect and mixed models and the analysis of more complex designs such as split-plots and nested designs. The course also introduces R, a free software for statistical analyses and graphics.

Colloquium in Vegetation Ecology – 1.5 ECTS
Markus Fischer, Andreas Stampfli, Peter Stoll, Willy Tinner, Mark van Kleunen
A series of lectures given by invited external speakers on a broad range of plant ecological subjects, incl. plant population ecology and population genetics, biodiversity research, and paleoecology. The colloquium is organised together with the groups of Prof. Dr. Willy Tinner and PD Dr. Andreas Stampfli.

Biologie, Ökologie, Diversität und Biogeographie der Moose – 2.5 ECTS
Ariel Bergamini (WSL), Markus Fischer
A lecture series accompanied by practical investigations on all major bryophyte groups. Topics covered include systematics of bryophytes, population biology, conservation, biogeography and diversity patterns. On two excursions, important bryophyte habitats are visited and students will learn how to recognize typical bryophyte species.