Principles of Ecosystem Analysis

Recommended Prerequisites

Not applicable.

Teaching Methods

Lectures: tutorial lectures and seminars.

Learning Outcomes

Students familiarise with system analysis and are able to analyse complex human-environmental interactive structures in a problem orientated manner; students are able to apply complex ecosystem management approaches for human-environmental systems; students are able to apply the ecosystem service approach in land use analysis; participants are able to give a talk on these issues supported by presentation software.

Work Placement(s)

No

Syllabus

Understanding of system analysis methodologies and the general concept of ecosystems; application of hierarchical indicator concepts and ecosystem theories for the representation of matter and energy fluxes between systems of different scales; analysis of human environment interactions based on the DPSIR approach and the ecosystem service concept, exercises basing on data of the European environment agency; analysis of natural resource use, e.g. land use conflicts between agriculture, nature conservation, urban development, as well as hydro-economy or tourism.

Assessment Methods

Assessment
Other: 100.0%

Bibliography

Chapin, F.S., P.A. Matson & H.A. Mooney (2002): Principles of

terrestrial ecosystem ecology. New York, Berlin, Heidelberg.

Joergensen S.E. & F. Müller (eds., 2000): Handbook of ecosystem

theories and management. Boca Raton.

Joergensen, S.E., Fath, B., Bastianoni, S., Marquez, J., Müller, F.,

Nielsen, S.N., Patten, B., Tiezzi, E., Ulanowicz, R. (2007): A New

Ecology - The Systems Perspective. Elsevier Publishers, Amsterdam.

Odum, H.T. (1983): Systems ecology. New York