Forest Ecology (Summer Term)

Module Responsibility: Jörg Müller, Marina Wolz, Oliver Mitesser

Languages of Instruction: German and/or English

Content: Arthropod communities in forest ecosystems, methods of assessment, impact of management on diversity patterns and functional groups. The diversity, structure, and dynamics of arthropod communities are investigated using insecticide fogging, sweep netting and other assessment methods. Samples are classified into major groups and partially identified. Insights into the functional importance of species are derived from guild classification. This is done exemplarily for beetles, bugs, and spiders with a focus on xylobiotic (deadwood-inhabiting) arthropods. The course includes fieldwork in forest ecosystems, an excursion(e.g. Steigerwald), identification work, and statistical data analysis. The summer course in forest ecology takes place at the Ecological Station in Fabrikschleichach. 

Students acquire knowledge of the species diversity, structure, and functional role of arthropod communities in forests. Using complex data sets, they learn to analyze and discuss community structuring patterns. The connection to nature conservation-related aspects is established.

The course content is tailored to current research each semester, and information on procedures and organization will be announced at the start of each semester.