MSc in Biology, Animal Ecology

Programme overview

On the Master’s programme in Animal Ecology, you will learn how to analyse and understand evolutionary processes at the level of genes, individuals and populations. You will achieve skills in analysing and understanding how evolutionary and ecological processes form appearance, physiology and behaviour in animals. You will also learn how to analyse costs and benefits of different traits and how these are optimised to form reproductive and survival strategies. We offer an excellent research environment, particularly in topics such as animal migration, molecular ecology, life history trade-offs, evolutionary biology, disease resistance in natural populations and host-parasite interactions. You will use the modern field and laboratory methods in studies of ecological and evolutionary issues applied to animals in basic research, as well as applied conservation-related research. Special emphasis is on birds as model systems.

Special features of the programme:

• Evolutionary theory applied to ecological problems.
• Close connections to research in an international environment.
• Integration of theoretical analyses with strong training of laboratory skills and experience in fieldwork.
• Testing of evolutionary hypotheses.