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Showing course contents for the educational year 2017 - 2018 .
Course responsible: Ronny Steen
ECTS credits: 10
Faculty: Faculty of Environmental Sciences and Natural Resource Management
Teaching language: NO
Limits of class size:
Teaching exam periods:
This course starts in Spring parallel. This course has teaching/evaluation in Spring parallel, June block, .
Course frequency: Annually
First time: 2006V
Students for whom the course is compulsory.
Norwegian vertebrates are presented in their taxonomical order at lectures and laboratory exercises in parallel. In lectures, the vertebrates are described at the order and family level, and some examples of species are given. Emphasis is put on the relationship between morphology and way of living at order and family level, and on habitat use in particular. In the laboratory exercises, the individual species are presented and emphasis is put on the identification of species and on the morphology of the species in relation to its way of living. When visiting museums and aquaria, emphasis is put on the identification of species. On the field excursion and at the field course, emphasis is put on identifying species under field conditions and on the habitat use of individual species. In each laboratory exercise, each student should study selected species and give written answers to a number of questions about the relationship between morphology and way of living of Norwegian vertebrates. Visits to museums and aquaria take place after the series of laboratory exercises have finished, and is organised as an independent study in which every student can choose what parts of the material covered in the laboratory exercises he or she wants and needs to study further. In the field course, the students work in groups of 6-8 under the supervision of a teacher. In this group, they collect different types of materials and data, process them, and present the results in plenary.
A candidate with fulfilled qualifications should have the following learning benefit from the course:
The student should have knowledge about Norwegian vertebrates and their environmental requirements.
On completion of the course, the student should be able to identify Norwegian vertebrates to the species level based on appearance, sound or tracks, know the taxonomy (family and order), habitat use (vegetation zone and vegetation type), way of living and environmental adaptations of Norwegian vertebrates, and evaluate how they are influenced by habitat changes caused by forestry and agriculture. The student should be able to know the relationship between morphology and mode of living of Norwegian vertebrates (at the order and family level), know the evolutionary origin and the ecological characteristics of the species in Norwegian domestic animal keeping, furbearing animal production, fish rearing, and keeping pets.
The course will develop the ability of the student to understand that all species (of Norwegian vertebrates) have the same intrinsic value and that it is necessary to put protective measures into action for species that are negatively affected by habitat changes caused by forestry and agriculture.
Learning results are to be achieved in this way: i) Training in identifying species through lab exercises, study visits to the Zoological Museum in Oslo and the Drøbak Aquarium, independent study at the study collection at MINA, and through demonstrations and exercises at the field course. ii) The taxonomical location of the species will be presented through lectures, exhibitions of preparations at laboratory exercises, and study visits to the Zoological Museum in Oslo. iii) The ecology of the species and especially their use of habitat will be presented through lectures, demonstrations and practical exercises in the field course. iv) The relationship between morphology and way of living of Norwegian vertebrates will be covered in the lectures. v) The evolutionary origin and characteristic ecological traits of the species used in Norwegian domestic animal keeping, furbearing animal production, fish rearing, and pet animal keeping will be covered in the lectures.
The candidate\'s learning may be supported through academic supervision during the teacher's office hours. The teacher and assistants are available during the laboratory exercises, the visits to the Zoological Museum and the aquarium, and the field course.
Bjarvall, A. and Ullstrom, S. 1997. Pattedyr. Cappelen, Oslo. Nielsen, L. 2011. Fisker. 2. utg. Norwegian edition by T. Faarlund. Cappelen Damm Faktum, Oslo. Sonerud, G. A. - Steen, R. 2006. Våre virveldyr: En innføring i norske arters taksonomi, bygning og levevis. Svensson, L., Mullarney, K. and Zetterstrom, D. 2010. Gyldendals store fugleguide - Europas og middelhavsområdets fugler i felt. Third revised edition. Norwegian edition by Viggo Ree (ed.), J. Sandvik and P. O. Syvertsen. Gyldendal Fakta, Oslo. Handout copies.
The laboratory exercises, the visits to museums and aquariums, the field trip and the field course.
Written exam, 3 hours and 20 minutes. The exam consists of one test for evaluating the student´s knowledge and understanding (3 hours), and one test for evaluating the student´s skills (20 minutes). The evaluation of student´s skills is done through a written test where the student shall determine 20 vertebrate species without using other examination aids than those provided at the exam. This test takes place the same day as the traditional written test.
Structured teaching c. 70 hours. Self-study c. 230 hours.
Minimum requirements for entrance to higher education in Norway (generell studiekompetanse)
Reduction of credits:
Type of course:
Lectures: 22 hours. Laboratory exercises: 14 hours. Visits to museums and aquariums: 4 hours. Field trip: 2 hours. Field course: C. 30 hours.
The course is only offered at NMBU and cannot be taken at another teaching institution.
An external sensor grades the written answers.
Allowed examination aids: A1 No calculator, no other aids
Examination details: One written exam: A - E / Ikke bestått