Fish Behaviour and Ecology

This course covers the central themes within fish ecology and behaviour which founds the basis for an understanding of the dynamics in wild fish populations, and which also are of importance for aquaculture, management of fisheries and fish conservation. The course consists of lectures giving an introduction to the theoretical background as well as seminars where students and lecturers in groups discuss scientific literature (case-studies) that emerges from the theories. The students will be responsible for preparing and presenting seminar topics. The following themes will be prioritised: Variation in population abundance over time, density-dependent and –independent factors, foraging, bioenergetics and growth, competition, predation, mating systems, parental care, and welfare in fish.

Knowledge:
The candidate will have knowledge about:
- selected, relevant topics of science within fish ecology and behaviour
- fish welfare
- how behavioural and ecological mechanisms control population dynamics in wild fish stocks

Skills:
The candidate knows how to:
- prepare and present science in seminars
- disseminate independent work
- discuss scientific litterature (case-studies) which is founded on theory

General qualifications:
The candidate knows how to:
- Identify and understand relevant litterature within selected topics
- Understand and interpret empirical data as a means of explaining biological phenomena
- Present and discuss biological research

Lectures and seminars with presentation by students.
Vurderingsform: Project 30% Oral exam 70%


The course runs as an intensiv course and every second year, spring 2013 and spring 2015.