Ecology and Biodiversity of Temperate and Non-temperate Habitats

 

Algae in Alpine Peat Bogs

Lecturers: Ancuela Andosch, Matthias Affenzeller

In various alpine peat bogs in the area of the phycological research station Überlingalm (Lungau) algae are sampled and examined. Correlations between ecological and cell physiological factors and the distribution of different populations of algae are to be established, examplified by desmidiacee. Measurements are carried out at distinct places in the bogs as well as microscopical investigations are made outdoors and in the laboratory.

High Alpin Organisms

Lecturers: Stefan Dötterl, Markus Staudinger, Andreas Tribsch

GP Field course Ecology of Alpine Organisms
The high biodiversity in mountains all over the globe is a result of multiple evolutionary adaptations of many organisms. During a ca. one week field course we try to answer explicit scientific botanical and/or zoological questions.
EX Diversity of Alpine Ecosystems
The European mountains are at least partly a biodiversity hotspot. Around 1000 plant species, for example, are mainly found in areas above tree line in the Alps, around 30% of those are endemics. We will explore several mountain ranges during an excursion (exact target area is still open). Biogeographical and ecological characteristics of the plant and ecosystem diversity will be explained and explored.
SE Ecology and diversity of Alpine organisms
The course will start with a seminar where dealing with the basics of ecology, evolution, biogeography and diversity of Alpine organisms will be presented by students and discussed by all participants

Central Europe’s Natural Ecosystems

Lecturer: Andreas Tribsch

An excursion to an, from a conservation biological point of view, interesting area in Europe – the excursion will take place in the summer

Terrestrial and marine ecology of the Mediterranean (Giglio, Italy)

Lecturers: Ulrike Berninger, Stephen Wickham, Holger Freund

Organisms from characteristic marine ecosystems will be studied in the field and in the laboratory on a 1-week field trip to the mediterranean island Giglio (Italy). In addition, the students will be introduced to the main terrestrial ecosystems and their vegetation on Giglio. Furthermore, the students will design and conduct small experiments covering aspects of marine and terrestrial ecology.
After the field trip, the collected data will be summarized and presented. The results of the experiments will be analysed, interpreted and presented to the other participants of the course.

Field trip tropical habitats

Lecturers: Stefan Dötterl, Florian Etl, Andreas Tribsch

Students will gain basic knowledge on the biology, ecology and functioning of a variety of tropical habitats, and learn about their charactertisitc plant and animal organisms during a seminar in Salzburg and an excursion to Costa Rica [c. 8 days, February].
Students will design, perform and analyze field studies or experiments with tropical plants and pollination systems and present their results. [c. 8 days, Februar, Costa Rica, La Gamba, Rainforest of the Austrians]