Climate Change Ecology

CCE1

Climate Change Ecology studies the impact of climate change on terrestrial ecosystems at local, regional and global scales. Both the meteorological and climatological causes of anthropogenic climate change and the impact on biogeochemical cycles are critically analyzed. Hands-on laboratory and field-based approaches are used to quantify stress-induced changes in plants and ecosystems. The aim is to gain in-depth knowledge on alterations of important ecosystem processes, such as carbon or water cycles. Finally, an introduction to earth system modeling approaches addresses these processes at larger scales.

In summary, this profile aims at developing a process-based understanding of climate change induced alterations in terrestrial ecosystems and potential adaptation strategies.

Important facts about this major

Language: English CCE2

Teaching form: on-campus

Pace of study: fulltime

Study location: Freiburg

Start: only in winter term

Duration: 4 Semester

Application periode: March 1st - May 15th

ECTS: 120 ECTS (80ECTS modules, 10 ECTS Internship, 30ECTS Thesis)

Costs: 190€ semester fees, 1.500€ study fees (only non-EU students!)

CCE3

Focus

Unique insights into large projects and facilities of climate change research

Highlight: Excursion to Garmisch-Partenkirchen in the first semester

Experimental and self-designed scientific projects in small student groups

Program overview pdf

Program overview CCE

Module details

1) Environmental Statistics

Builds on and extends statistical knowledge and its application
introductory module beyond multiple regression
standard machine-learning approaches in R or Python
Solve complex statistical tasks and advanced use of R

2) Lab-analysis of Climate Change Impact

Impacts of environmental stress
Basic methods of tree growth analysis, soil science and tree physiology
Application of laboratory methods and critical data analysis

3) Ecosystem Functioning

Background knowledge on important processes in ecosystems
overview of ecological approaches and systems
link to other profile tracks, and to their students

4) Land-Atmosphere Interaction

Exchange processes of energy, water, and trace gases between biosphere and atmosphere.
Micrometeorological methods of measuring and modelling land-atmosphere exchanges
Attribution methods for land sources and sinks.

5) Climate Impact Research

Overview on current approaches in climate change research

Excursion to Garmisch-Partenkirchen

Development of a research project proposal

6) Land Use Adaption

Climate change and land-use change problems
Applied work at authorities, NGOs and research institutions
critical view on current land use strategies

7) Experimental Climate Stress Physiology

Stress impacts on plants
Design of greenhouse/climate chamber experiments
Realization, analysis and interpretation of collected data

8) Methods in Ecosystem Research

Field research at the ecosystem level
Design, conductance and analysis of field experiments
Written presentation of the results achieved

9) Environmental Monitoring, Data Analysis and Visualization

Data collection and storage
Data analysis and visualisation
Upscaling of information

10) Earth System Modelling

formulating processes as ODEs
simulating (coupled) (partial) DEs using R/Python
programming (modules of) a simple ecosystem model

CCE4

Target Group

Students with a background in ecology, ecophysiology, and environmental sciences with an intrinsic motivation to understand and investigate the impact of climate change on terrestrial ecosystems, as well as the underlying processes and the role of the terrestrial biosphere in the global climate system