Session	Dates	Price
Fall Semester 2009 - German Language and Elective	Early September - Early December 2009	TBA
Academic Year 2009-2010 - German Language and Elective	Early September 2009 - Early June 2010	TBA

Full Description

Content:

Biogeography is the study of spatial and temporal distribution patterns of biodiversity in the light of natural and human impact. It thus comprises both natural sciences and the humanities. The objective of this course is to give an introduction to the main research fields of biogeography such as evolution and extinction, dispersal and fragmentation, community changes, nutrients cycle etc. This will result in an understanding of present European landscape and vegetation patterns as a heritage of Quaternary climate changes superimposed by social and economic processes.

Key issues will be presented by students lectures, a four days excursion introduces to key sites understanding Central European vegetation structures and processes.

Detailed schedule

Literature:

N.A. Campbell / J.B. Reece (2002): Biology. San Francisco.
R.J. Huggett (1998): Fundamentals of Biogeography. London.
P. Sitte et al. (2002): Lehrbuch der Botanik für Hochschulen. Heidelberg ("Strasburger" 35. Auflage).
W. Rothmaler: Exkursionsflora von Deutschland, Bd. 3. Atlas der Gefäßpflanzen.