Teaching - Plant Ecology and Phytochemistry
- First year
Lectures Ecologie, gedrag & milieu:
Prof. E. van der Meijden
The lectures are part of Ecologie en Gedragsbiologie in Block 5.Statistics (2 ECTS, level 200):
Tom de Jong
Based on the book Research Methods for the Biosciences by Holmes et al. students become familiar with setting up an experiment and doing statistical test. Such tests will involve using R in combination with an Excel spreadsheet. This is a block of 8 days at the end of the first year (contrary to what the Bachelor Studiegids 2009-2010 says!).First year research project ecology (2 ECTS, level 200)
This immediately follows the statistics course. First year students set up small experiments, analyse results and give a presentation on the symposium on the last day of the propedeuse year
- Second year
Molecular techniques (3 ECTS, level 300):
Klaas Vrieling, Natascha Schidlo
In circa 12 colleges worden de verschillende moleculaire technieken behandeld die veelvuldig in de ecologie, evolutiebiologie en de systematiek worden gebruikt. Ook de toepassingen van deze technieken worden besproken (oa DNA sequencing, AFLP, microsatellieten en SNPs). Naast de colleges zullen een aantal technieken door iedereen worden uitgevoerd in een practicum. Er zal een analyse aan de wilde wortel worden gedaan mbv microsatellieten om de graad van zelfbestuivings te schatten in een natuurlijke populatie. AFLP’s zullen worden gebruikt om de genetische diversiteit te schatten tussen insecten populaties. Verder zullen er diverse organismen gesequenced worden op een automatische sequencer om een fylogenie te maken. Tot slot zullen er kloneringen worden uitgevoerd op PCR producten van ancientDNA monsters. De verkregen data zullen met verschillende sofware programma’s verwerkt worden.Ecology and Environment (6 ECTS, 300):
Tom de Jong, Wil Tamis
Based on the 4th edition of the book of Begon, Harper & Townsend: from Individuals to Ecosystems”. We also make computer models of population growth, a field excursion and discuss the relation between ecology and society. This is a theoretical course. This course is in collaboration with the Centre for Environmental Sciences (Wil Tamis).
Field research Ecology (4 ECTS, 300):
Tom de Jong, Peter Klinkhamer
Students do research projects on plant-herbivore and plant-pollinator relationships and report on their results. The work is carried out at the Meijendel field station but also at other places.
- Third year
Microbial Ecology of the soil (6 ECTS, 300):
Prof. H. van Veen.
The course covers: the role of micro organisms, in particular bacteria and fungi in the functioning of terrestrial ecosystems, soil as habitat for micro organisms, interactions and communications among microbes and with plants, food chains, microbial aspects of nutrient cycles and environmental pollution, plant pathogens and antagonists, molecular and cellular interactions, environmental genomics.General research skills and stage (30 ECTS, 400):
Prof. P.G.L. Klinkhamer
- Masters
Advanced Lecture series Spotlight on Biology (4 ECTS, 400)
Students follow 9 Spotlight sessions, two lectures each, and write summaries. In addition they elaborate on one lecture of their choice. The annual IBL symposium can also count for this series. The set-up is flexible and students can start any time, students can accumulate points over two academic years.Masters Evolution Biodiversity and Conservation
The group participates in several MSc courses (Fundamentals, Trends in Conservation Biology and Trends in Development and Evolution).
