autumn 2026
BIO-3505 Ecological Interactions - 10 ECTS

  1. Homepage
  2. Course catalogue
  3. Ecological Interactions

Type of course

Master course for biology students - mandatory for MSc students specializing in Freshwater Ecology and open for all MSc students in biology.

The course is available as a singular course.

Admission requirements

Local admission, application code 9371 - Master`s level singular course.

Admission requires a Bachelor`s degree (180 ECTS) or equivalent qualification, with a major in biology of minimum 80 ECTS.

Course overlap

If you pass the examination in this course, you will get an reduction in credits (as stated below), if you previously have passed the following courses:

BIO-308 Fish ecology - ecological interactions 10 ects

Course content

The course deals with ecological interactions. Ecological niche, competition, predation, parasitism, and food webs are central topics, and key principles and theories in relation to these concepts and interactions are addressed. The dynamic aspects of the interactions are focused, also considering effects of species introductions and other biomanipulations and ecological impacts. Lessons include a combination of lectures presenting basic theory and seminars for discussions of relevant literature. The seminars are compulsory and based on thorough preparations from the students. A compulsory preparation of a term poster with presentation to a given topic gives the students experience to apply taught contents and develop communication skills.

Recommended prerequisites

BIO-2017 Ecology

Objectives of the course

Knowledge:

  • Has thorough knowledge and insight to central topics in population, community and food-web ecology
  • Has advanced knowledge and in-depth understanding of direct and indirect effects of ecological interactions
  • Has advanced knowledge on the ecological niche concept and competition
  • Has advanced knowledge on predation
  • Has advanced knowledge on parasitism
  • Has in-depth knowledge on the interrelationships of various ecological interactions

Skills:

  • Can explain and describe the use of key ecological concepts and theory related to competitive exclusion principle, apparent interactions, ecological niche, biodiversity, biological invasions and communities including food webs and trophic cascades
  • Can critically evaluate, interpret and contextualize scientific literature and studies
  • Can analyze and deal critically with various sources of information in population and community ecology and use them to structure and formulate scholarly arguments
  • Can formulate and raise pertinent and critical questions about trophic ecology and species interactions shaping ecological communities

General competence:

  • Can integrate, summarize and discuss scientific topics in plenary sessions
  • Can analyze and give oral and written presentations of problems concerning ecology and interactions
  • Can communicate about academic issues, analyses and conclusions in ecology
  • Gain experience in providing and receiving feedback from peer review process

Language of instruction and examination

English

Teaching methods

Lectures and seminars.

Information to incoming exchange students

This course is open to incoming exchange students.

Study Level: Master's

This course has admission prerequisites, which are listed under the Admission requirements section. Please review this information carefully before adding the course to your Learning Agreement.

For details on how to apply for exchange, course selection guidelines, or to contact the Incoming Admissions Team, please visit: Admissions for Student Exchange.

Schedule

Se timeplan

Examination

Examination: Weighting: Duration: Grade scale:
Oral exam 8/10 30 Minutes A–E, fail F
Oral exam 2/10 15 Minutes A–E, fail F

Coursework requirements:

To take an examination, the student must have passed the following coursework requirements:
Participation in first lecture Approved – not approved
Participation in seminars Approved – not approved
Participation in the peer-review poster seminar Approved – not approved
UiT Exams homepage

More info about the coursework requirements

First lecture is mandatory.

Participation in 80% of seminars are compulsory and based on thorough preparations from the students. Seminars require oral presentations and provision of feedback to fellow students as part of peer-review with term poster preparation.

Approved work requirements are valid for three years.

More info about the oral exam

The oral exam counting for 20% of the grade consists of preparing a term poster with presentation of a given topic.

Re-sit examination

There will be a re-sit examination for students that did not pass the previous ordinary oral examination. No re-sit examination is provided for the oral poster presentation (20%).

Which parts of the exam must be taken during a new ordinary exam attempt?

In a new regular exam attempt, you can only take the oral exam (80%) again.
  • About the course
  • Campus: Tromsø |
  • ECTS: 10
  • Course code: BIO-3505
  • Earlier years and semesters for this topic