Universität Wien

300471 UE+EX Alpine Plant Life (2025S)

5.00 ECTS (4.00 SWS), SPL 30 - Biologie
Continuous assessment of course work
Moodle

Registration/Deregistration

Note: The time of your registration within the registration period has no effect on the allocation of places (no first come, first served).

Details

max. 12 participants
Language: English

Lecturers

Classes (iCal) - next class is marked with N

Dates:
17.-18. May: Rax
28.-29. June: Rax
3.-5. July: either Schladminger Tauern

Estimated costs: 450 € comprising
Accommodation (sleeping + food): 60 € per night for in total 5 nights: 300 €
Note: sleeping costs depend strongly on room type (group room vs. small room) and membership in any alpine society (ÖAV, ÖTK etc.) - the latter is recommended; food is optional, but be aware that if you bring your own food you're not allowed to consume this in the hut
Transport: 150 €
Note: actual costs will strongly depend on whether you have tickets like Klimaticket etc.; the first two excursions are doable exclusively with public transport, for the third excursion (private) cars will be needed.

  • Thursday 13.03. 17:00 - 18:00 Übungsraum 3 (Fakultätszentrum für Biodiversität) Rennweg 1.OG

Information

Aims, contents and method of the course

Aims:
- Understanding adaptations of alpine plants to their niches (e.g., substrate, position along a snow cover gradient)
- Understanding factors (ecological, historical) affecting the occurrence of mountain species
- Comprehending the main alpine habitat types, their position in an ecological context, and the most important characterizing species

Contents:
Ecology and adaptations of alpine plants; biogeography and diversity of mountain plants.

Methods:
Excursion in two mountain areas with differing geological substrate (Raxalpe with limestones; Rottenmanner Tauern with siliceous rocks). Topics will be covered in the field (as long as the weather permits) by presentations of the course leaders and group-work on specific topics by the students.

Estimated costs: ca. 450 Euro

Assessment and permitted materials

The evaluation will be based on the activities of the students on the field and also doing the homework.

Minimum requirements and assessment criteria

Minimum requirement for positive credit: 10.25 points
Credit key:
0-10 points: failed (5)
10.25-12.5 points: sufficient (4)
12.75-15 points: satisfactory (3)
15.25-17.5 points: good (2)
17.75-20 points: excellent (1)

Examination topics

Topics covered during the course (e.g., alpine ecology, plant diversity, biogeography)

Reading list

H. Reisigl, R. Keller: Alpenpflanzen im Lebensraum (Gustav Fischer 1994)
Dieter Heß: Alpenblumen Erkennen - Verstehen - Schützen (Ulmer 2001)
Ch. Körner: Alpine Plant Life, 2nd ed. (Springer 2003)
L. Nagy, G. Grabherr: The Biology of Alpine Habitats (Oxford 2009)

There are numerous photo-rich books on alpine plants; here's just a selection:
D. Aeschimann, K. Lauber, D.M. Moser, J.P. Theurillat: Flora Alpina (Haupt 2004)
D. Aichele, H. W. Schwegler: Blumen der Alpen (Kosmos 2006)
X. Finkenzeller, G. Steinbach: Steinbachs Naturführer. Alpenblumen: Erkennen und bestimmen (Ulmer 2003)
Th. Muer, O. Angerer: Alpenpflanzen (Ulmer 2004)

Association in the course directory

MBO 7, MEC-9, MNB6

Last modified: We 21.05.2025 15:26