Course 2022-2023

Écologie générale [SBIOB212]

  • 5 credits
  • 45h+25h
  • 2nd quarter
Language of instruction: French / Français

Learning outcomes

Education to the general principles of ecology

Content

Ecology investigates and defines the relationships between the organisms and their environment, and then examines their higher levels of organization: population level (including parameters such as fecundity, birth and mortality, growth, as well as intraspecific competition), biocenosis or community level (group of species living in interaction, including interspecific competition, predation, parasitism, etc.) and ecosystem level (the highest level of organization, including biogeochemical processes). A special emphasis is also given to the impacts of man on the environment. The last chapter provides some basic knowledge in conservation biology.


Teaching methods

The course is composed of a combination of ex-cathedra lectures, using power point presentation as a basic tool for teaching, complemented by video sequences, self-learning means based on game theory (for some specific parts such as the interspecific relationships) and blackboard demonstration. The lectures are complemented with 3 sessions of practical works, describing and explaining through laboratory experiments, software utilisation and field visit, the theoretical concepts, and with a personal work, consisting in the preparation of a herbarium (30 local plants), an arthropod collection (35 arthropods) and the presentation of a case-study (a specific local environment with ecological issues).

Evaluations

Oral examination for which two questions are randomly chosen by the candidate. After a preparation time (about 30 to 45 min), the student is orally examined, and precisions are usually requested by the professor. A precise but integrative knowledge of the course is requested. Reports of practical works are also included in the global evaluation as well as the presentation of a personal work including a plant catalogue, an arthropod collection and an integrated description of an ecological case.

Recommended readings

Ecologie (Ricklefs et Miller), De Boeck Université

Language of instruction

French / Français

Location for course

NAMUR

Organizer

Faculté des sciences
Rue de Bruxelles, 61
5000 NAMUR

Degree of Reference

Undergraduate Degree