Preparation for Master Thesis

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All modules that were "Special modules" in the original plan are now split in four modules, which all have in their name "Preparation Master Thesis". We will still offer all the modules that were planned, but as the specific courses are now no longer part of the Ordnung we are more flexible and can add courses to or remove courses from the list. Each concrete course will have to be categorized as being "Theoretical methods", "Empirical methods" or "Special topics". Students can also choose to do a summerschool.

Studierende wählen zwei von 4 Wahlpflichtmodulen zu je 3 ECTS-Punkten.

Contents

WP36: Preparation Master Thesis: Theoretical Methods

  • Coordinator: Pleuni Pennings
  • ECTS points: 3
  • Contents: In this module, students will learn theory which they can directly use for their Master project.
  • Goals: Students will gain theoretical knowledge which they can directly use for their Master project.

WP36.1: Theoretical Methods Vorlesung

  • Inhalte: Students are introduced to a specific analytical, statistical or bioinformatical method used in evolutionary biology, ecology or systematics.
  • Lernziele: Students gain knowledge about theoretical methods and learn how to apply this knowledge.
  • Unterrichtsform: Vorlesung
  • ECTS points: 1

WP36.2: Theoretical Methods Übungen

  • Inhalte: Students carry out exercises using theoretical methods that are introduced in the accompanying lecture.
  • Lernziele: Students apply the knowledge and theoretical methods acquired during the lecture to data and models.
  • Unterrichtsform: Übung
  • ECTS points: 2

German: Theoretische Methoden

WP36.1: Theoretische Methoden Vorlesung

  • Inhalte: Die Studierenden werden in eine spezielle analytische, statistische oder bioinformatische Methode zur Behandlung von Fragestellungen oder Daten der Evolutionsbiologie, Ökologie oder systematischen Biologie eingeführt.
  • Lernziele: Die Studierenden beherrschen eine theoretische Methode.
  • Unterrichtsform: Vorlesung
  • ECTS points: 1

WP36.2: Theoretische Methoden Übungen

  • Inhalte: Übungen zur Vorlesung WPr1a.
  • Lernziele: Die Studierenden wenden die in der Vorlesung erlernten Methoden auf Daten oder Modelle and.
  • Unterrichtsform: Übung
  • ECTS points: 2

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WP37: Preparation Master Thesis: Empirical Methods

  • Coordinator: Pleuni Pennings
  • ECTS points: 3
  • Contents: In this module, students will learn practical skills which they can directly use for their Master project.
  • Goals: Students will have acquired practical skills which they can directly use for their Master project.

WP37.1: Empirical Methods Vorlesung

  • Inhalte: This lecture accompanies the "Empirical Methods Praktikum". In the lecture, the theoretical background and scientific context of methods learned during the practicum is presented.
  • Lernziele: Students gain insight in theoretical background and scientific context of methods learned during the practicum.
  • Unterrichtsform: Vorlesung
  • ECTS points: 1

WP37.2: Empirical Methods Praktikum

  • Inhalte: Students gain hands-on practice in a method used in evolution, ecology or systematics research. The method could be in either the laboratory, the field or using the collections.
  • Lernziele: Students learn by doing a method used in evolution, ecology or systematics research so that they can later use this method in their Master project.
  • Unterrichtsform: Praktikum
  • ECTS points: 2

German: Empirische Methoden

WP37.1: Empirische Methoden Vorlesung

  • Inhalte: Begleitvorlesung zum Praktikum WPr2b. Der theoretische Hintergrund und wissenschaftliche Kontext der im Praktikum erlernten Methode wird dargestellt.
  • Lernziele: Die Studierenden wissen über den theoretische Hintergrund und wissenschaftliche Kontext der im Praktikum erlernten Methode bescheid.
  • Unterrichtsform: Vorlesung
  • ECTS points: 1

WP37.2: Empirische Methoden Praktikum

  • Inhalte: Die Studierenden erlernen die praktische Durchführung einer Methode der Evolutionsbiologie, Ökologie oder systematischen Biologie in Labor, Feld oder Sammlungen.
  • Lernziele: Die Studierenden beherrschen eine Methode der Evolutionsbiologie, Ökologie oder systematischen Biologie.
  • Unterrichtsform: Praktikum
  • ECTS points: 2

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WP38: Preparation Master Thesis: Special Topics

  • Coordinator: Pleuni Pennings
  • ECTS points: 3
  • Contents: In this module, students will learn concepts and discuss recent advances from a specialized topic which is related to their Master project.
  • Goals: The goal is to provide students with an in depth understanding of concepts and recent advances from a specialized topic which is related to their Master project.

WP38.1: Special Topics in Evolution, Ecology or Systematics Vorlesung

  • Inhalte: Students get an intensive introduction to a specific research field in evolution, ecology or systematics research.
  • Lernziele: Students acquire knowledge in a specific research field in evolution, ecology or systematics.
  • Unterrichtsform: Vorlesung
  • ECTS points: 2

WP38.2: Special Topics in Evolution, Ecology or Systematics Übung

  • Inhalte: Exercises involving literature research complement the lecture 'Special Topics'. The exercise results are discussed in a tutorial.
  • Lernziele: Students broaden their minds on the topics presented in the lecture by studying literature.
  • Unterrichtsform: Übung
  • ECTS points: 1

German: Spezielle Themen

WP38.1: Spezielle Themen der Evolution, Ökologie oder systematischen Biologie Vorlesung

  • Inhalte: Die Vorlesung führt in ein spezielles Forschungsgebiet der Evolution, Ökologie oder systematischen Biologie ein.
  • Lernziele: Die Studierenden eigenen sich Wissen in einem speziellen Bereich der Evolutionsbiologie, Ökologie oder systematischen Biologie an.
  • Unterrichtsform: Vorlesung
  • ECTS points: 2

WP38.2: Spezielle Themen Übung

  • Inhalte: Begleitende Übungen zur Vorlesung WPr3a mittels Aufgaben zum Literaturstudium. Resultate werden in einem Tutorium besprochen.
  • Lernziele: Die Studierenden erweitern und vertiefen den in der Vorlesung durchgenommenen Inhalte durch eigenständiges Literaturstudium.
  • Unterrichtsform: Übung
  • ECTS points: 1

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WP33: Preparation Master Thesis: Summerschool

  • Coordinator: Pleuni Pennings
  • ECTS points: 3
  • Contents: In this module, students prepare and visit an international summerschool.
  • Goals: Students will extend their knowledge on a topic that is relevant for them and expand their network in the scientific community.

WP33.1: International Summerschool on a topic relevant to Evolution, Ecology or Systematics

  • Inhalte: In a summerschool, students get an intesive introduction to a specific topic from evolution, ecology or systematics. Summerschools are taught by international experts on the topic.
  • Lernziele: Students gain insight into current topics in evolution, ecology or systematics from an international perspective and are able to discuss these with international experts in the field.
  • Unterrichtsform: Summerschool (combination of lecture, seminar und practical training)
  • ECTS points: 2

WP33.2: Summerschool Preparation

  • Inhalte: Students study literature and discuss the literature with others in order to prepare for the Summerschool.
  • Lernziele: Students acquire a solid background knowledge of the topic of the summerschool and become aquainted with new developments in the field, which allows them to maximally benefit from Summerschool attendance.
  • Unterrichtsform: Seminar
  • ECTS points: 1

German: Sommerschule

WP33.1: Internationaler Sommerschulkurs zu einem Themenbereich aus Evolution, Ökologie oder systematischer Biologie

  • Inhalte: Jährlich wechselnde Themen. Unterricht durch internationale Dozenten.
  • Lernziele: Einblick in ein aktuelles Thema aus Evolution, Ökologie oder systematischer Biologie aus

internationaler Perspektive.

  • Unterrichtsform: Sommerschule (Kombination aud Vorlesung, Seminar und praktischen Teilen)
  • ECTS points: 2

WP33.2: Sommerschule Vorbereitungskurs

  • Inhalte: Literaturstudium und Diskussion zur Vorbereitung auf die Sommerschule.
  • Lernziele: Der Kurs ermöglicht die gewinnbringende Teilnahme an der Sommerschule.
  • Unterrichtsform: Seminar
  • ECTS points: 1

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Concrete courses that will be offered

LV P12.1: Experimental Plankton Ecology (Diehl)

LV P12.1a: Experimental Plankton Ecology Seminar

  • Inhalte: Students read and discuss primary literature relevant to the lab experiment conducted by the class.
  • Lernziele: Students learn about a specific topic related to consumer-resource interactions in the plankton.
  • Unterrichtsform: Seminar
  • ECTS points: 1

LV P12.1b: Experimental Plankton Ecology Praktikum

  • Inhalte: Students design, conduct, analyze and interpret a lab experiment related to consumer-resource interactions in the plankton.
  • Lernziele: Students learn basic techniques required for the performance and analysis of lab experiments with plankton organisms.
  • Unterrichtsform: Praktikum
  • ECTS points: 2

LV P12.2: Biology of Social Insects Vorlesung (Foitzik)

  • Inhalte: Students are introduced to important concepts and phenomena in social insect biology using examples from a variety of social insect taxa. This includes a choice from the following topics: evolution of eusociality, levels of selection, kin selection, conflict versus cooperation, division of labour, foraging strategies, chemical ecology, orientation and communication, social parasitism, symbiosis with other organisms.
  • Lernziele: Students gain a firm knowledge of important concepts and phenomena in social insect biology.
  • Unterrichtsform: Vorlesung
  • ECTS points: 3

LV P12.3: Microarray Analysis in Evolution (Parsch)

LV P12.3a: Microarray Seminar

  • Inhalte: Students are introduced to methods of microarray analysis, including experimental design and statistical analysis of microarray data, through the presentation and discussion of current literature.
  • Lernziele: Students acquire a firm theoretical knowledge of methods of microarray analysis, including experimental design and statistical analysis of microarray data.
  • Unterrichtsform: Seminar
  • ECTS points: 2


LV P12.3b: Microarray Praktikum

  • Inhalte: Instructors demonstrate the equipment in the genomics laboratory of the LMU-BioCenter.
  • Lernziele: Students get acquainted with equipment needed for microarray construction and with computer software needed for microarray analysis.
  • Unterrichtsform: Praktikum
  • ECTS points: 1

LV P12.4: Evolutionary Ecology Modelling 2 (Gabriel)

  • Inhalte: Students learn how to address questions by modelling. They are trained to outline, develop and run a model with given tools and by programming. Every student solves a given evolutionary ecological problem by modelling
  • Lernziele: Students acquire a firm knowledge of how to address questions by modelling. They can outline, develop and run a model with given tools and by programming.
  • Unterrichtsform: Praktikum
  • ECTS points: 3

LV P12.5: Theoretical Population Genetics Vorlesung (Stephan)

  • Inhalte: Students are introduced in depth to the theoretical foundations of population genetics. Important principles and concepts are derived (including random genetic drift, coalescent theory and diffusion theory) and relevant calculation methods are explained.
  • Lernziele: Students understand principles of theoretical population genetics.
  • Unterrichtsform: Vorlesung
  • ECTS points: 3

LV P12.6: Special Ecosystems Praktikum (Laforsch)

  • Inhalte: Students learn how to study a highly diverse ecosystem such as a coral reef, stream or alpine habitat. Depending on the type of ecosystem, the emphasis is primarily on sampling, surveying and mapping techniques or on experimental techniques. Students have to present their data at a seminar-style workshop at the end of the course.
  • Lernziele: Students can describe or experimentally study a highly diverse ecosystem and present their results in a workshop context.
  • Unterrichtsform: Praktikum
  • ECTS points: 3

LV P12.7: Ornithology (Kempenaers)

LV P12.7a: Ornithology Vorlesung

  • Inhalte: Students are introduced to important concepts and phenomena in avian biology. These include a choice from the following topics: flight and migration, geography and habitats, dispersal, feeding habits, avian neurobiology, communication and bird song, reproduction, reproductive behaviour, sexual selection, avian genetics.
  • Lernziele: Students acquire a firm knowledge of current topics in ornithology. They get exposed to problems of contemporary research and learn how to apply the basic concepts to solve them.
  • Unterrichtsform: Vorlesung
  • ECTS points: 2

LV P12.7b: Ornithology Übungen

  • Inhalte: Students get questions and tasks, which they should discuss and answer in a small team (3-4 students) using search of textbooks and primary literature. Students will present their results and discuss them in the tutorial.
  • Lernziele: Students broaden their knowledge acquired in the lecture with the help of literature research and group discussions.
  • Unterrichtsform: Übungen
  • ECTS points: 1

LV P12.8: Ornithology Praktikum (Kempenaers)

  • Inhalte: Students plan and conduct research in ornithology and analyse the data
  • Lernziele: Students get hands-on experience with ornithological research including data collection, statistical analysis, interpretation.
  • Unterrichtsform: Praktikum
  • ECTS points: 3

LV P12.10: Archaeometry (Grupe)

LV P12.10a: Archaeometry Lecture

  • Inhalte: Students learn how to decipher the determining factors responsible for the evolution and development of populations through time and space based upon the recognition of indices provided by the molecular and crystalline composition of archaeological and forensic skeletal material.
  • Lernziele: Students acquire knowledge of the main methods in archaeometry
  • Unterrichtsform: Lecture
  • ECTS points: 1

LV P12.10b: Archaeometry Practical

  • Inhalte: Students learn how techniques of extraction and amplification of DNA are applied to archaeological and forensic finds, which problems are encountered in the analysis of preserved DNA and how they are avoided. Extraction of collagen, structural carbonate and apatite from archaeological bones are done and stable C-, N-, O- and Sr-isotopic data are interpreted from these components. Non-invasive diagnoses by X-ray images of skeletal finds is a further topic.
  • Lernziele: Students acquire a firm knowlegde of methods in archaeometry
  • Unterrichtsform: Practical
  • ECTS points: 2

LV P12.11: Biological Classification and Nomenclature (Renner)

LV P12.11a: Biological Classification and Nomenclature Lecture

  • Inhalte: Students learn the history, theory, and practice of biological classification. Based on original literature, the essentials of taxon definition, identification, naming, and classifying will be covered. Students also learn basic vocabulary and concepts and numerous examples will be given of the societal importance of biological naming.
  • Lernziele: Students will understand the goals and methods of biological classification, the weakness and strengths of codes of nomenclature, the proposed new codes, and the differences between definition, identification, naming, and classifying.
  • Unterrichtsform: Lecture
  • ECTS points: 1.5

LV P12.11b: Biological Classification and Nomenclature Exercises

  • Inhalte: Students perform exercises to consolidate their knowlege of the issues addressed in the lecture.
  • Lernziele: Students will be able to understand and apply the different methods and goals of classification and nomenclature.
  • Unterrichtsform: Excercises
  • ECTS points: 1.5

LV P12.12: Tropical Plant Diversity (Döbbeler)

LV P12.12a: Tropical Plant Diversity Lecture

  • Inhalte: Students learn about the systematics and biology of tropical vascular plants especially of lowland rainforests, including definition of the tropics, conditions for rainforest growth, typical phenomena and adaptations of rainforest plants. In the second part, characteristics of important plant families and selected genera are discussed, followed by the identification of tropical plants and the analysis of the relationships of plants and animals in the tropics.
  • Lernziele: Students will gain a general view of the systematics, diversity and biological interactions of tropical vascular plants.
  • Unterrichtsform: Vorlesung
  • ECTS points: 0.75

LV P12.12b: Tropical Plant Diversity Practical

  • Inhalte: Students learn how to analyze fresh tropical plant material
  • Lernziele: Students will gain a general view of the systematics, diversity and biological interactions of tropical vascular plants.
  • Unterrichtsform: Practical
  • ECTS points: 2.25

LV P12.13: Fungal Interactions Mycorrhiza (Agerer)

LV P12.13a: Fungal Interactions Mycorrhiza Lecture

  • Inhalte: Students learn about the occurrence, structure and function of the more important classes of mycorrhizae with special emphasis on functional anatomics, upon uptake, transport and transfer of nutrients to the plants and of sugar to the fungi or - in parasitic cases - sugars from the fungi to achlorophyllous plants. Possible impacts of mycorrhizae on the evolution of land plants will be discussed, as well as detrimental human influences on this usually well-balanced mutualistic symbiosis.
  • Lernziele: Students will be able to conclude on the importance of this symbiosis for plant growth, ecology and evolution of land plants and duplicate the statement of an ecological textbook "Most higher plants have no roots - they have mycorrhizae".
  • Unterrichtsform: Lecture
  • ECTS points: 0.75


LV P12.13b: Fungal Interactions Mycorrhiza Practical

  • Inhalte: Arbuscular mycorrhizae, Ericoid mycorrhizae, Orchid mycorrhizae, Monotropoid mycorrhizae and Ectomycorrhizae will be studied, compared and discussed regarding their differentiation, function, ecologically important features, and their niches within the soil.
  • Lernziele: Students will be able to conclude on the importance of this symbiosis for plant growth, ecology and evolution of land plants and duplicate the statement of an ecological textbook "Most higher plants have no roots - they have mycorrhizae".
  • Unterrichtsform: Practical
  • ECTS points: 2.25

LV P12.14: Fungal Interactions Lichens (Beck)

LV P12.14a: Fungal Interactions Lichens Vorlesung

  • Inhalte: Students learn about the occurrence, structure and function of the more important classes of lichens and special emphasis will be paid on peculiarities of the lichen symbiosis, functional anatomy and secondary lichen substances.
  • Lernziele: Students will know important aspects of the biology of lichens and will be able to conclude on the importance of this symbiosis for terrestrial ecosystems and fungal and algal evolution.
  • Unterrichtsform: Vorlesung
  • ECTS points: 0.75

LV P12.14b: Fungal Interactions Lichens Praktikum

  • Inhalte: Students get an overview of the diversity of lichens through study of representatives of the different taxonomic groups. Special emphasis will be given to the morphology and function of reproductive structures, to lichen diasporas, to lichen photobionts, haustorial types, and secondary lichen substances.
  • Lernziele: Students will know important aspects of the biology of lichens.
  • Unterrichtsform: Praktikum
  • ECTS points: 2.25

LV P12.15: Palynology (Heubl)

LV P12.15a: Palynology Lecture Contents: The course reviews the range of pollen and spore morphology in living plant groups, especially seed plants and ferns. The first part of the course is focussed on the use of standard terminology for the description of pollen and spores, on pollen identification and –classification, development of pollen grains, pollen ultrastructure, pollenchemisty and the application of pollen characters in phylogenetic studies. A second part of the course deals with the dispersal of pollen and spores. The problem of allergenic pollen is demonstrated and the interpretation of pollen diagrams is practiced. Additionally pollen analysis of honey, pollen in excrements of herbivores and the use of pollen for forensic purposes is considered. The course is embedded in the introduction to databases and the use of software for the evaluation of pollen data.

  • Lernziele: Students will aquire knowledge on the range of pollen and spore morphology in living and fossil plants and understand the theory and methodology of palynology.
  • Unterrichtsform: Vorlesung
  • ECTS points: 1

LV P12.15b: Palynology Praktikum

  • Inhalte: Students apply methods of pollen preparation and microscopic identification (acetolysis, Critical Point Drying, LO-Analysis, Scanning Electron Microscopy, staining methods).
  • Lernziele: Students get firm practical knowledge of methods of pollen preparation and microscopic identification.
  • Unterrichtsform: Praktikum
  • ECTS points: 2

LV P12.16: Advanced Microscopy (Haszprunar)

LV P12.16a: Advanced Microscopy Lecture

  • Inhalte: Students learn the theory and practice of major modern methods in microscopy (such as light microscopy including various contrast modules, CLSM, SEM, TEM, Digital Imaging) and their possible ways of analysis.
  • Lernziele: Students will gather knowledge of major modern methods in microscopy.
  • Unterrichtsform: Lecture
  • ECTS points: 1.5

LV P12.16b: Advanced Microscopy Practical

  • Inhalte: Students practice the major modern metods in microscopy.
  • Lernziele: Students acquire practical experience with the major modern metods in microscopy.
  • Unterrichtsform: Practical
  • ECTS points: 1.5

LV P12.17: Plankton Population Models (Diehl)

LV P12.17a: Plankton Population Models Vorlesung

  • Inhalte: Students are introduced to the use of continuous time population models in plankton ecology to address topics such as phytoplankton competition for nutrients and light, phytoplankton-grazer dynamics, influence of physical water column structure on plankton dynamics, seasonal forcing of plankton dynamics, food web dynamics.
  • Lernziele: Students
  • Unterrichtsform: Vorlesung
  • ECTS points: 1

LV P12.17b: Plankton Population Models Praktikum

  • Inhalte: Students work with models introduced in the lecture and learn how to translate assumptions into mathematical notation and analyse models graphically and numerically. They are confronted with experimental and comparative data testing model assumptions and predictions.
  • Lernziele: Students are able to translate assumptions into mathematical notation and perform graphical and numerical and numerical model analyses.
  • Unterrichtsform: Praktikum
  • ECTS points: 2

LV P12.18: Bioinformatics of Protein Function and Structure Evolution (Suhre)

LV P12.18a: Bioinformatics of Protein Function and Structure Evolution Seminar

  • Inhalte: Students are introduced to bioinformatic approaches and tools in protein function and structure evolution. Students will present and discuss relevant current papers and address specific points from these papers in the practicum.
  • Lernziele: Students are enabled to critically assess research papers that make heavy use of functional and structural bioinformatic tools.
  • Unterrichtsform: Seminar
  • ECTS points: 2


LV P12.18b: Bioinformatics of Protein Function and Structure Evolution Praktikum

  • Inhalte: The practicum part provides hands-on work on selected topics. Students will apply bioinformatic tools to selected targets, i.e. reproduce results from papers to critically asses the choices of selected parameters made by the authors.
  • Lernziele: Students acquire knowledge of bioinformatic tools available for protein function and structure analysis in the context of evolutionary constrains. Students are enabled to critically assess research papers that make heavy use of functional and structural bioinformatic tools.
  • Unterrichtsform: Praktikum
  • ECTS points: 1


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