833301 Soil ecology

Type: Lecture
Semester hours: 2
Lecturer (assistant): Bruckner, Alexander
Organisation
Offered in: Wintersemester 2024/25
Languages of instruction: Englisch
Content: # Intro: Bringing things into context; what's so specific in/on soil?
# The cast of characters: Presentation of important microbial and animal groups
# Overview of the methods of Soil Ecology
# Decomposition of dead organic matter as an example of an ecological process
# Humus forms: interplay between living and dead organic matter
# Temporal, horizontal, and vertical variability in soil
# The organization of soil life
Previous knowledge expected: None required; this lecture aims both at advanced students and absolute beginners of/in Soil Science/Biology/Ecology
Objective (expected results of study and acquired competences): This lecture is an introduction to Soil Ecology. It brings into context the soil knowledge most students already have, and adds much new information. Specific learning outcomes:
(1) to understand basic concepts and a bit of practice of Soil Ecology;
(2) to understand basic concepts of General Ecology (e.g., process, variability, spatial and temporal scales);
(3) to put textbook and lecture knowledge into perspective (contextual understanding).

You can find more details like the schedule or information about exams on the course-page in BOKUonline.