Biodiversity of Forest EcosystemsLaajuus (5 cr)

Objectives

The student:
-knows the main functions of forest ecosystems and the basics of disturbance and succession dynamics of natural forests
-knows the significance of living and dead trees for forest organisms
-knows the classification of biotopes in Finland on general level and understands the significance of different biotopes for natural biodiversity
-knows the effects of forestry on the endangerment of forest species and biotopes in Finland
- knows threatened forest species and groups of species, their habitat requirements and the reasons for their population decline
- knows the current state of forest biodiversity protection, challenges and methods of protection

Content

The species composition, structure and function of forest ecosystems. The disturbances and successions in natural forests. Living and dead trees as habitats for forest species. Biotopes and their significance for biodiversity. The impacts of forestry on the decline of endangered forest species and biotopes. Habitat requirements of endangered forest species. Current state and challenges of forest biodiversity protection. The methods of forest biodiversity protection.