Biodiversity and Natural Environment

Biodiversity refers to the variety of life forms within species, between species and within and between landscapes, ecosystems or the whole planet. Biodiversity can thus be described at the genetic, species or ecosystem level. For both theoretical and practical reasons biodiversity is measured as the number of taxa, and in particular of species. There are approximately 7-12 million species of which circa 1.9 million are described. Biodiversity is under pressure. It is generally assumed that a reduction of biodiversity is undesirable and should be prevented. Is the disappearance of species really undesirable and if so, can we counteract further deterioration of biodiversity?

In order to answer these questions we have to examine in more detail what biodiversity actually represents and how it can be mapped. In addition it is important to study how biodiversity evolved and which are the important processes that determine the level of biodiversity in today’s ecosystems. By analyzing the processes that take place in ecosystems we will investigate how biodiversity is threatened, for example as a result of human intervention or unintentional introduction of invasive species. We shall study how species decline is related to life-history traits. In addition we will investigate the impact of newly introduced species or genes on current biodiversity in the Netherlands.

Human intervention and the introduction of new species do not necessarily have only negative effects on biodiversity. It can also lead to “novel ecosystems” for example in urban and agricultural areas. Species can adapt and be successful in these new habitats. How we should value these new systems is a question of often heated debates. In this minor you will be challenged to take position on these matters.

General information

Size: 15 / 30 EC*
Language: English
Number of participants: minimum 15, maximum 35
Coordinator: Prof. Dr. P.G.L. Klinkhamer
Information: T. Egberts, MSc

• It is possible to follow the complete minor for an accreditation of 30 EC or to follow only the first half of the minor for an accreditation of 15 EC

Accessibility

The minor is open to students with an interest in Biodiversity and Natural Environment. Students can be invited to an initial interview with the coordinator of the minor and may be asked to study selected parts of textbooks before the start of the minor.

The minor is provided by the Bachelor Biology.

Registration

Registration: from May 1 until August 15 in uSis.

Students of Leiden University
You must register by entering the class numbers (‘studieactiviteit nummers’) for the minor as a whole as well as for the underlying courses of the minor.