Landscape Ecology - Theory and Design

About this programme

The course provides you with an in-depth understanding of how ecological processes are shaped and altered by human influence—knowledge that is central to both practical nature conservation and conservation biology. You will study how landscapes change over time and how these changes affect ecosystems, species, and biodiversity. You will explore the connections between landscape patterns, ecological processes, and human activities, and gain insight into how political decisions, economic drivers, and physical geographic conditions collectively shape our environments. During the course, you will work with key theories in landscape ecology and learn to design landscape ecological experiments that can answer real-world research questions. You’ll gain practical experience with methods and tools for analysing landscape effects on various organisms, ranging from local habitat studies to large-scale landscape analyses. Through seminars and workshops, you’ll read and discuss current scientific articles, hone your ability to critically evaluate research, and develop an analytical approach to ecological problems. The course offers an inspiring combination of theory, methodology, and real-world environmental challenges, and is an excellent choice for those who want to understand how landscape change affects nature and how we can use that knowledge to conserve and enhance biodiversity in a changing world. The course is part of Master´s Programme in Landscape Ecology but can also be read as a separate course.