LFU:online

By the end of the course, students should be able to:

-       Define a landscape,

-       Know basic lines in landscape history of Central Europe,

-       Understand interactions between ecosystems in the landscape,

-       Know specific methodologies in landscape ecology,

-       Know the typical landscapes in Central Europe and particularly in the Alps, and

Identify environmental problems on the landscape level.

In the lecture part, this course will present basic and applied aspects of landscape ecology. Landscape history in Central Europe will be outlined. Patterns and processes in landscape will be analyzed. Methodologies in landscape ecology will be presented. Typical landscapes in Central Europe, with particular focus on the mountain environment will be presented, giving an insight in specific ecosystems and land-use systems. Human impact on landscapes, degradation, and solving environmental problems on the landscape level will be major issues. Ecological functions and ecosystem services will be explained on the basis of examples from the Alps. In a seminar part, students present specific issues of landscape ecology by analyzing a scientific paper. With field excursions, particular landscapes of the Alps are shown, discussing environmental problems and possible solutions.

In the lecture part, the topics are presented by the professor. The seminar part is dedicated to the students’ involvement. On the excursions, the professor will be active. Generally, Power Point presentations will be available in the course reserve collection database of the Faculty. Additional material will eventually be provided by the Professor.

Course work will be weighted as follows: final written exam (70%), student seminar (30%).

• Farina, A., 2007. Principles and Methods in Landscape Ecology: Towards a Science of the Landscape. 2. ed., Springer, Dordrecht, pp1-414.
• Hong, S.-K., Nakagoshi, N., FU B., Morimoto, Y. (eds), 2007. Landscape Ecological Applications in Man-Influenced Areas: Linking Man and Nature Systems. Springer, Dordrecht.
• Steinhardt, U., Blumenstein, O., Barsch, H., 2012. Lehrbuch der Landschaftsökologie. Springer Spektrum, Heidelberg, 2. ed., pp295