Mehrtägige botanische Exkursion und Seminar zur Evolution und Biogeographie von Insel-Floren

What it is about

You participate in a preparatory seminar and then travel for about two weeks to an island or archipelago to study the plant and animal life as well as their evolutionary and biogeographical backgrounds. In the end you will be able to identify species in the field, conduct biogeographical analyses, and present scientific content for lay audiences in an understandable way.

What you will be able to do

• Knowledge of the plant and animal diversity of the visited island region
• Understanding of the evolutionary history of the island flora
• Advanced knowledge in island biogeography
• Carrying out biogeographical analyses for different organism groups
• Identification of plants and animals in the field
• Analysis of animal–plant interactions (e.g. pollination, seed dispersal, herbivory)
• Present scientific results in a way accessible to laypeople

What the module consists of

• SeminarPreparation for the field trip through literature study, species knowledge, and development of texts/identification aids
• ExkursionPractical phase (about 2 weeks) for testing and revising the travel guide content created and for fieldwork
• Schreiben/RedaktionDevelopment of a scientific travel guide manuscript during seminar & excursion
• Herbar-AnlageCollection and drying of voucher specimens (50 differently identified species) from the excursion area

Teaching method

• SeminareFamiliarization with the literature and thematic preparation
• Studium von LiteraturLearning background knowledge and creating species lists and descriptions
• Zusammenarbeit mit anderen StudierendenCooperative creation of travel guide content and presentations
• Erarbeiten von Skripten und SchreibenCreation of a chapter-based contribution for the travel guide
• PräsentationenPresentation of topics as an assessment and for communicating results