Ecology – (M.Sc.)

Ecology is the study of which factors affect the distribution and diversity of species, and how species are adapted to the world around them. All species interact with their biological environment: through competition, predation and mutualism. Ecology includes studies of individuals, populations, communities, and ecosystems, in an attempt to understand the complicated networks of relationships between species, their environment and the climate. One clear example of this is how humans today are influencing the conditions for the existence of many species. Ecology deals to a large part with how to use knowledge from different parts of biology in order to answer more comprehensive questions about how organisms are influenced by their environment. Thus, ecology includes perspectives from evolution, physiology, genetics and morphology. The Master’s Programme in Ecology provides wide-ranging opportunities for students to tailor their education to obtain the profile desired. A final degree project in ecology is compulsory, as are the courses in Biological Statistics and Experimental Design and Science in Biological Research and Investigation. These courses are taken in parallel with the degree project. The courses Evolutionary Ecology, Conservation Ecology and Theoretical Population Biology are compulsory parts of the programme. The student can choose further courses in, for example, Plant Ecology, Biodiversity: Patterns and Processes, Applied Marine Conservation Biology, Molecular Ecology, Landscape Ecology and Plant-Animal Interactions. It is also possible to include courses in, for example, GIS and Environmental Law. The programme can be seen as preparation for students who want to continue to research education with ecological aspects in, for example, ecology, ethology, population genetics, conservation biology and systematics, and it can be an admirable background for, for example, research administration, scientific journalism, work with issues involved with forestry and agriculture, fishing and hunting, and for services for authorities who work with issues of conservation.