Teaching

The Institute offers a broad selection of courses and classes that is shaped by the topics of the research groups. Also the two Max-Planck-Institutes in Jena for Chemical Ecology and Biogeochemistry are involved in teaching. Besides practical skills in modern filed work an understanding of recent theoretical concepts is the central aim of training. Basic ecology is more in focus than practical applications. Recent and advanced statistics and computer modelling as well as the design, realization and data analysis of experimental studies are substantial parts of the training programme. Another important issue is to learn how to present scientific results in talks, posters and papers. Our main textbook is Ecology – Individuals, Populations, and Communities by Begon, Harper and Townsend (english edition, Blackwell).

After primary studies (Vordiplom), students of Biology can choose Ecology as the Major Course (60 term hours) or as one of two Minor Courses (20 term hours). More than half of the training has to be taken in practical courses and seminars. For Ecology as the Major Course, 44 term hours are obligatory, covering the essentials of modern Ecology and the specialities defined by current research work at the Institute. The remaining 16 term hours can be freely chosen from a broad selection that allows students to follow their specific interests and to develop an individual profile of knowledge. The focus of advanced studies can be on terrestrial or aquatic ecology, on animal or plant ecology, and on empirical or theoretical ecology.

Lectures and courses are also available for students of Geography, Geology, Mathematics, Computer Sciences, and Physics. Lectures in Ecology are also given for students of Biological Teaching, Magister in Biology, and Environmental Chemistry.

The following topics are permanently covered by Lectures and Seminars:

General Ecology	Population Ecology of Insects
Limnology	Methods in Vertebrate Ecology
Theoretical Ecology	Ecophysiology
Landscape Ecology	Mammalian Ecology
Evolutionary Ecoloy	Avian Ecology
Plant Ecology	Agricultural Ecology
Community Ecology	Restoration Ecology
Nature Conservation	Mathematical Biology
Experimental Design	Biogeochemistry
Human Ecology	Polar Ecology
Global Change	Chemical Ecology
Biodiversity	Ecology of Successions
Behavioural Ecology	Spatial Ecology
Classic Papers in Ecology	History of Ecology

Additional Lectures are temporarily offered by the Max-Planck-Institutes or guest scientists at the Institute.

Topics covered by Practical Courses are:

Major Field Course (over three semesters)

Ecological Modelling

Fitting Modells to Data

Multivariate Data Analysis

Statistics and Experimental Design for Field Studies

Practical Introduction to GPS and GIS

Taxonomy and Ecology of Evertebrates

Plant Ecology

Basic Terrestrial Ecology

Basic Aquatic Ecology

For Ecology as the Major Course students also have to attend at least one major excursion, which normally is an expedition-like scientific programme of to or three weeks abroad. Exemplary visited areas of the last years were South Africa, lake Baikal, Siberia, Greenland, and even Antarctica. However, also interesting ecosystems closer by were visited, as Italy, Austria, lake Stechlin, and the mud-flats of the German coast for instance.

For a detailed overview over the teaching programme please refer to the German version (comments only available in German). Lectures are normally in German, but docents may agree to switch to English if students from abroad attend. Some Seminars are regularly already in English, others can easily be held in English if requested. If you are coming from abroad and are interested in attending courses and classes in Ecology, please make an appointment with Prof. Stefan Halle for an individual consultancy. For students coming to Jena with the Sokrates Exchange Programme, Dr. Gottfried Jetschke at our Institute is the contact person.

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Teaching