MBV9310 – Comparative and Ecological Physiology
Course description
Course content
The course provides an introduction towards how different animal groups physiologically adapt to various environments and life history strategies. The diversity of physiological adaptations will be emphasized. Key areas will be respiration in water and air, circulation, energy metabolism, effect of temperature, regulation of water and ions, sense physiology and adaptations to extreme environmental conditions.
Learning outcome
After completing this course we expect your competence to include the following:
- insight into challenges animals face in various habitats, and which physiological mechanisms they use to address these challenges.
- learn how to execute controlled experiments
- experience in writing scientific reports based on your own experiments.
- learn and be required to use available library tools .
- expertise in conveying a subject by giving a presentation for other participants on the course.
Admission to the course
PhD candidates from the University of Oslo should apply for classes and register for examinations through Studentweb.
If a course has limited intake capacity, priority will be given to PhD candidates who follow an individual education plan where this particular course is included. Some national researchers’ schools may have specific rules for ranking applicants for courses with limited intake capacity.
PhD candidates who have been admitted to another higher education institution must apply for a position as a visiting student within a given deadline.
Formal prerequisite knowledge
Recommended previous knowledge
Overlapping courses
- 10 credits overlap with MBV4310 – Comparative and Ecological Physiology (continued).
- 10 credits overlap with BIOS5810 – Comparative and Ecological Physiology.
- 10 credits overlap with BIOS9810 – Comparative and Ecological Physiology.
Teaching
This course consists of:
- lectures
- group and seminar work,
- one week experimental and/or lab work towards a semester report at the biological station in Drøbak.
- instructions towards writing reports and using available library tools. As part of the teaching, all PhD candidates will hold an individual presentation of a scientific article for the other participants on the course. Laboratory exercises and groups work is mandatory. The course is taught full time with 90 % compulsory participation. Attendance is mandatory for the first lecture, also for those on the waiting list. You will lose your seat on the course if documentation for absence is not provided to the student administration studieinfo@ibv.uio.no prior to the first lecture
As the teaching involves laboratory and/or field work, you should consider taking out a separate travel and personal risk insurance. Read about your insurance cover as a student.
A student who has completed compulsory instruction and coursework and has had these approved, is not entitled to repeat that instruction and coursework. A student who has been admitted to a course, but who has not completed compulsory instruction and coursework or had these approved, is entitled to repeat that instruction and coursework, depending on available capacity.
Examination
- Final written exam, 3 hours, which counts 100 % towards the finale grade.
- The written report from the laboratory and group exercises, active participation during lectures and a presentation of a given topic, is required before you can take the exam
It will also be counted as one of the three attempts to sit the exam for this course, if you sit the exam for one of the following courses: MBV4310 – Comparative and Ecological Physiology (continued)
Examination support material
No examination support material is allowed.
Language of examination
The examination text is given in English.You may submit your response in Norwegian, Swedish, Danish or English.
Grading scale
Grades are awarded on a pass/fail scale. Read more about the grading system.
Resit an examination
This course offers both postponed and resit of examination. Read more:
More about examinations at UiO
- Use of sources and citations
- Special exam arrangements due to individual needs
- Withdrawal from an exam
- Illness at exams / postponed exams
- Explanation of grades and appeals
- Resitting an exam
- Cheating/attempted cheating
You will find further guides and resources at the web page on examinations at UiO.