Duration
18h Th, 24h Pr
Number of credits
| Master in environmental bioengineering, professional focus | 4 crédits |
Lecturer
Coordinator
Language(s) of instruction
French language
Organisation and examination
Teaching in the second semester
Schedule
Units courses prerequisite and corequisite
Prerequisite or corequisite units are presented within each program
Learning unit contents
This module has the aim to provide students with a detailed understanding of processes underlying the functioning of the plant-soil continuum in the context of preserving ecosystem services. A special focus will be given to natural mechanisms involving carbon (C) which is the main constituent of vegetation and the most important element for soil fauna and microbiology. The C transfers and pools for different ecosystem types (forest, crop, grassland) will be described at the plot scale. The way in which the main environmental drivers explicate the spatiotemporal variability of the fluxes and reservoir content will be presented. The links with the water, nitrogen and energy budget will be performed.
Beside theoretical sessions there is also an important practical exercise which has the objective to improve the students' theoretical understanding of SOC dynamics across a range of environmental conditions as well as their analytical, practical and transferable skills. The students will work in groups (of ca. 3 to 6 students).
More precisely, the exercise will consist of:
(i) an excursion during which soils samples will be collected from contrasting environments (in terms of soil type and/or land use)
(ii) lab analysis, including soil sample preparation, bulk density and SOC & measurements of CO2 production by incubated samples
(iv) data analysis, including statistics and modelling
(v) a presentation and scientific debate
Learning outcomes of the learning unit
At the end of the module the students have a profound knowledge on carbon dynamics across the plant-soil continuum. In addition the students will obtain (i) practical skills, such as sampling design, soil sampling techniques, (ii) analytical skills, such as statistics, modelling and (iii) transferable skills such as presentation, scientific debate, social interaction.
Prerequisite knowledge and skills
Basic understanding soil science and functioning of terrestial ecosystems
Planned learning activities and teaching methods
Theoretical courses (c. 18h), fieldwork, practical exercises (c. 15h) and inter-group scientific exchanges
Mode of delivery (face to face, distance learning, hybrid learning)
Face-to-face course
Course materials and recommended or required readings
Platform(s) used for course materials:
- eCampus
Further information:
Canadell et al. 2007 Terrestrial Ecosystems in a Changing World - ISBN: 978-3-540-32729-5, Springer, Berlin Heidelberg New York: https://link.springer.com/content/pdf/10.1007/978-3-540-32730-1.pdf
Written work / report
Continuous assessment
Further information:
Evaluation report practical exercise and performance during the inter-group scientific exchanges
Work placement(s)
Organisational remarks and main changes to the course
Contacts
Bernard Longdoz: bernard.longdoz@uliege.be
Jeroen Meersmans: jeroen.meersmans@uliege.be