Ecosystems can be analysed in terms of nutrient cycles, energy flows and structural components. Within soils, decomposition often greatly outweighs primary production as the driving trophic process. Thus, decomposers play a crucial role in the entire system, and numerous other groups of organisms directly or indirectly depend on these as source of food. The theoretical part of this course provides an overview of the main features of soil ecosystems and of soil organisms, focusing especially on decomposition and soil fertility. Selected recent research papers are analysed, illustrating the complexity of biotic interactions in soils and their implications for soil management.
Practical exercises consist of simple techniques for extraction and identification of soil animals.
Introduction to the structure and function of freshwater ecosystems. Major attention is paid to the materials budget of inland waters and on the interactions between the living and non-living components. Fundamental concepts and general processes governing marine ecosystems. In the theoretical course, the interactions between the abiotic factors and the structure and function of marine ecosystems are reviewed in detail. The practicals on the other hand focus on the systematics and auto-and synecology of the different groups of marine organisms.