October 9-13, 2017
What: Professor Jens-Christian Svenning of Aarhus University announces a short course on megafauna and their importance for ecosystem functioning. The course will provide graduate students with a general overview of megafauna ecosystem ecology including the evolutionary history and biogeography of megafauna, current theoretical concepts related to megafauna-ecosystem interactions, practical analysis of megafauna trait and occurrence datasets, overview of megafauna conservation and restoration ecology, and rigorous assessment of ongoing and future megafauna-based rewilding projects. It will also include training in systematic reviews and meta-analyses in R. This course is part of the ongoing MegaPast2Future Project (http://projects.au.dk/mega/) and is generously supported by a Carlsberg Foundation Semper Ardens Grant.
Who: Instructors for the short course include
Professor Jens-Christian Svenning
Dr. Matt Davis
Dr. Andreas Schweiger
Internal and external guest lecturers
When: October 9-13, 2017 (Final projects are due October 30, 2017)
Where: Section for Ecoinformatics and Biodiversity, Department of Bioscience, Aarhus University, in beautiful Aarhus (Denmark), European Capital of Culture in 2017 (http://www.aarhus2017.dk/en/)
How: The course will consist of an engaging mixture of lectures, discussion groups, hands on analytical labs, and a field excursion. With the guidance of the instructors, course participants will work together in groups to complete small research projects on megafauna ecology suitable for publication. Full participation is required to earn ECTS credits. Course participants must also be able to speak and write in fluent English and work in the statistical programming language R. Information and a schedule of the course will be updated regularly.
Preliminary Schedule
Instructors and speakers are listed by their initials:
JCS Jens-Christian Svenning
MD Matt Davis
AS Andreas Schweiger
RB Robert Buitenwerf
JPA Jacob Palsgaard Andersen
CS Chris Sandom
TC Timo Conradi
Monday, October 9th, 2017
Morning
Lecture 1:
8:00-9:00 JCS will welcome you and introduce megafauna and course expectations
Lecture 2:
9:15-10:00 MD will describe the paleontology and biogeography of megafauna
Field Trip:
10:00-12:00 We will explore the Aarhus University Natural History Museum “Back to the Ice Age” exhibit
Lunch:
12:00-13:00 We will eat lunch together in the department canteen
Afternoon
Lecture 3:
13:15-14:00 JCS will describe the theory behind megafauna rewilding
Project Work Time:
14:00-18:30 MD and AS will introduce the research projects and help you brainstorm project ideas, form groups, and start doing science
Dinner:
18:30-20:30 We will walk to Aarhus Street Food for a fun welcome dinner together
Tuesday, October 10th, 2017
Morning
Lecture 1:
9:15-10:00 AS will describe ecological theory relevant to megafauna studies
Paper Discussion
10:00-11:00 AS will lead a discussion of Suding et al. (2004) Alternative states and positive feedbacks in restoration ecology. TREE 19, 46-53.
Lecture 2:
11:15-12:00 RB will talk about savannah ecology and modern megafauna
Lunch:
12:00-13:00 We will eat lunch together in the department canteen
Afternoon
Methods Workshop:
13:00-17:00 MD and AS will lead a short workshop to help you with research methods. The rest of the time is dedicated to working on your projects
Dinner:
17:00-18:00 We will order pizza and eat together in the seminar room
Project Work Time:
18:00-21:00 You have time to keep working on your projects
Wednesday, October 11th, 2017
Morning
Field Trip:
7:30-8:00 We will meet at 7:30 to drive north to two rewilding sites. Remember to bring warm clothes, rain gear, boots, and a bag lunch. We will be outside all day!
8:00-9:00 We will tour Randers Vorup Enge bison rewilding site
9:00-10:00 We will continue our expedition north to Storvorde
10:00-12:30 We will explore Lille Vildmose cervid rewilding site
Afternoon
12:30-13:00 We will eat lunch together in the field
13:00-14:00 JPA will talk about rewilding and conservation in Denmark
14:00-17:00 We will explore more of Lille Vildmose and drive back home to Aarhus
Dinner:
The evening is free so you can get dinner on your own or with other classmates. We recommend you use your free ticket to explore the excellent ARoS art museum and its exhibit on nature. The museum is open until 22:00
Thursday, October 12th, 2017
Morning
Lecture 1:
9:15-10:00 CS will describe his experiences in the practical application of rewilding
Discussion:
10:00-11:00 CS will lead a discussion on the politics of rewilding
Lecture 2:
11:15-12:00 TC will talk about grassland ecology and modern megafauna
Lunch:
12:00-13:00 We will eat lunch together in the department canteen
Afternoon
Project Work Time:
13:00-17:00 You have time to continue working on your projects
Dinner:
17:00-18:00 We will order take out and eat together in the seminar room
Project Work Time:
18:00-21:00 You have time to keep working on your projects
Friday, October 13th, 2017
Morning
Paper Discussion:
9:00-10:00 MD and AS will lead a discussion of Svenning et al. (2016) Science for a wilder Anthropocene: Synthesis and future directions for trophic rewilding research. PNAS 113, 898-906.
Project Work Time:
10:00-12:00 You have time to finish up your project presentations
Lunch:
12:00-13:00 We will eat lunch together in the department canteen
Afternoon
Project Presentations:
13:00-16:00 You will present the progress of your group project and get feedback from peers and instructors
Dinner:
17:00-20:00 We will celebrate the end of the course with a group goodbye dinner
Monday, October 30th, 2017
Submit your finalized group projects in paper form
