Introduction to Zooplankton Biodiversity and Ecology
In this course you will get acquainted with the fascinating world of zooplankton. This course focuses on the biodiversity and ecology of zooplankton; the roles they play in marine ecosystems and the effect of ongoing climate change on plankton communities.
In addition to lectures covering these topics, this course will address practical issues with working with zooplankton from sampling at sea, handling live specimen and species identification using molecular tools.
During the course, we will use Nord research vessel to sample zooplankton in the local fjord and analyse these sample in our new molecular laboratory.
For students whom have been accepted to the Nord Summer School 2025.
Students who meet one of the following criteria are qualified for Nord Summer School 2025:
If you are enrolled as a student at one of the SEA-EU Alliance universities, which are:
- University of Cadiz
- University of Bretagne Occidentale
- Kiel University
- University of Gdańsk
- University of Split
- University of Malta
- Parthenope University of Naples
- University of Algarve
or
If you are a student with an active study right at a university or university college in Norway.
or
If you are a student with an active study right at a university with whom Nord University has an exchange agreement with.
If you are unsure, please reach out to us: summerschool@nord.no
Knowledge
Students will be familiar with
- the diversity of zooplankton
- the ecological role of zooplankton
- the issues with taxonomy and the role of molecular tools
Skills
Students will
- experience in practice different sampling tools
- Become familiar with molecular identification methods
General competences:
Students will
- Learn practical skills related oceanographic cruises on a coastal research vessel
Lectures, field sampling (research vessel), lab (wet and molecular).
5 days, in addition to an online session before and after the Summer School week in Bodø.