Ecology, Master of Science

The multidisciplinary programme combines plant adaptations and their molecular basis, animal ecology, conservation biology and tropical biology. These topics include animal-plant interactions, plant ecophysiology, plant-microbe interactions, plant genetics, biodiversity research, climate-change ecology, and the evolutionary adaptations at the physiological and organismic level. Courses in socio-biology, neurogenetics and behaviour as well as ecological courses like forest ecology, chemical ecology, agroecology, soil ecology, remote sensing and ecological modelling can be chosen. Overall, the study programme reaches from molecular biology of single species to all disciplines of organismic biology. Further topics include constraints for plant growth and development (biogeography, biodiversity), the interactions of plants and animals with abiotic and biotic environmental factors (e.g. plant-bacteria, plant-fungus interactions) including the evolutionary adaptations at the physiological and organismic level, aspects of neurogenetics, genetic regulation mechanisms and behaviour as well as the interaction of individuals, social groups and large populations in complex and variable ecosystems. Using tropical biology with its specialties, unique and general principles in ecology are communicated. Both fundamentals and novel approaches based on molecular biology tools are discussed with respect to organismic biology. The two selected topics are composed of two theory modules as well as a practical course unit each. Further research training is provided in a selected field of interest, and the students are actively involved in ongoing research projects and learn to independently plan and perform both theoretical and experimental work and finally, to summarise and discuss the results obtained in the thesis. The study programme in Ecology deals with various aspects of plant and animal ecology including conservation and tropical biology. During the first year of the programme, the students enrol in two theoretical courses and one practical course in each of the two topics. In semesters three and four, further specialised research training is provided in a selected field of interest. The students are actively involved in ongoing research projects and learn to independently plan and perform both theoretical and experimental work. Moreover, students gain essential competencies to summarise and discuss the results of their work in a scientific context. All modules are accompanied by a graded examination, and the thesis has to be presented and defended in a final colloquium. The thesis (25 ECTS) is preceded by an ungraded preparatory practical course of 12 weeks (15 ECTS). Further modules (15 ECTS, ungraded) are selected within the sub-area of "Additional Qualifications" to cover special aspects of interest. Further modules (15 ECTS) are selected within the sub-area of "Additional Qualifications" to cover special aspects of interest. These modules have to be passed without grading. PDF Download