Dieter Ramseier: Catalogue data in Autumn Semester 2016

Name Dr. Dieter Ramseier
Address
Institut für Integrative Biologie
ETH Zürich, CHN H 70.2
Universitätstrasse 16
8092 Zürich
SWITZERLAND
Telephone+41 44 632 43 78
E-mailramseier@retired.ethz.ch
DepartmentEnvironmental Systems Science
RelationshipLecturer

NumberTitleECTSHoursLecturers
551-1703-00LEcology of Anthropogenic Habitats2 credits1VD. Ramseier
AbstractThe focus will be on agro-ecology and ecology of urban habitats. Both experience frequent disturbances, specific chemical influences, and extreme climatic conditions. Additionally, in urban habitats edaphic conditions are difficult as well. Turnover of species diversity and composition are higher, both locally and temporary, compared to natural conditions at comparable sites.
ObjectiveKnowledge of agro-ecosystems and urban ecosystems; their origin, ecosystem services, mechanisms and importance for the maintenance of biodiversity.
701-0320-00LSeminar for Bachelor Students: Environmental Biology Restricted registration - show details 2 credits2SD. Ramseier
AbstractIn the seminar, students explore a specific topic in environmental biology (ecology, evolution, health). They find and read scientific articles, structure contents around core questions, talk to specialists about them, prepare a scientific presentation and lead a discussion. They are introduced to literature search and scientific presentations.
ObjectiveStudents will acquire skills in:
- finding literature in scientific databases
- structuring a scientific topic through research questions
- giving a clear scientific presentation
- contributing constructively to a scientific discussion
ContentWeek 1: Choice of topics and tutors
Week 2 & 3: Literature search
Week 4: course for presentation techniques
Weeks 1 - 7: Meetings with tutors, preparation of presentations
Weeks 8 - 14: Presentations and discussions
Lecture notesWill be handed out during classes
701-1441-00LAlpine Ecology and Environments Information 2 credits2GS. Dietz, D. Ramseier
AbstractThe online course ALPECOLe provides a global overview of the complex ecosystems of mountain regions, and of their great diversity of habitats and organisms. The course is interdisciplinary and the various approaches are designed to help understand the past, present and future of mountain ecosystems.
ObjectiveKnowledge of alpine environments worldwide and their ecology
ContentThe online course is subdivided into
- 5 lessons on abiotic factors: geology, soils and their forming processes, climate, and disturbance factors
- 12 lessons on plants: diversity, patterns and processes, treelines, water & nutrients, carbon cycle, atmospheric influences, sexual and clonal reproduction, and one specific lesson on aquatic environments
- 5 lessons on animals: habitats and adaptations, origin of species, food ecology and impact of domestic livestock
- 3 lessons on landscape evolution: quarternary paleoenvironments, methods like radiocarbon dating, pollen records, dendrochronology, stable isotopes, and historical data
- 1 lesson on global change

Students can also follow a virtual walk through alpine areas where context-based information on alpine environments can be accessed. Moreover, all mayor alpine areas of the world can be selected on a map and then informative pictures of those landscapes and faunistic and floristic inhabitants will be shown.
Online exercises and tests allow to test the learned matter.
Prerequisites / NoticeOnline course and seminar
Students prepare for the seminar by working through particular lessons. Each student has to present some special aspect of one lesson. The seminar contribution is part of the performance assessment.
Course language is English