master’s Programme Ecology and Biodiversity
You want to deepen your knowledge from aquatic to terrestrial habitats and learn more about the impacts of biodiversity loss and habitat change as well as human impact on ecosystems?
The students of the master’s Degree Programme Ecology and Biodiversity learn to act and think scientifically when dealing with interdisciplinary topics and challenges in the fields of ecology, biodiversity and evolution.
Graduates will have acquired theoretical and practical competencies to contribute to creating a society that is sustainable and capable of critical thinking. Students may specialise choosing from a variety of ecological disciplines.
Study Code
UC 066 833
FAQ
Graduates possess highly specialized knowledge in the fields of ecosystem and landscape ecology, limnology, and terrestrial animal and molecular ecology. They are able to demonstrate their abilities in fundamental research and applied science at the intersections of organisms, habitats and society through their capacity to formulate and susbtantiate arguments scientifically and to find innovative solutions to problems.
The goal of the master's Programme Ecology and Biodiversity is the attainment of scientific knowledge and working methods for all ecologically-relevant disciplines and occupations.
The main emphasis is on the acquistion of knowledge in aquatic and terrestrial ecology, from molecular ecology to landscape ecology. The spectrum includes the relationships between organisms, populations, biocenoses and their environment, the structure and function of ecosystems and landscapes, and biodiversity and global change. Students treat research-related and application-oriented issues based on theoretical and experimental laboratory and field approaches. Much of the teaching content is closely linked to the key research areas "ecology of the Alpine region" and "mountain agriculture".
Career opportunities may include:
- careers in research and application-oriented areas, such as activities as an expert or consultant in politics, administration and economics,
- management positions and scientific work in private and public institutions (e.g. ecological risk management, nature and landscape conservation, biomonitoring, agricultural research, molecular ecological laboratories),
- research and teaching positions at universities and other national and international research institutions.
The master's programme also prepares students for doctoral studies.
Graduates tracking: Shows which occupational fields students enter after graduation
Department of Ecology Limnology Landscape Ecology Molecular Ecology Examination Office Information for students with disabilities
Curriculum
From the field
Biodiversity: climate to become main driver
The most comprehensive look to date into the past and future of global biodiversity is provided by a recent study in the journal Science: intensive land use reduced biodiversity by up to around 10 per cent over the course of the 20th century. By 2050, the climate crisis could become the main driver of further biodiversity loss alongside land use. Lauren Talluto from the Department of Ecology at the University of Innsbruck is part of the international team of authors.
High-alpine animal species need more protected areas
Melting glaciers due to global warming caused by the climate crisis have massive consequences for biodiversity in the Alpine region, as an international team of researchers including the Innsbruck ecologist Leopold Füreder has now shown for the first time for a period between 2020 and 2100. According to the study, numerous invertebrate species are threatened with the loss of their habitats. The researchers call for the expansion of protected areas, also in glacier forelands. The study has been published in Nature Ecology & Evolution.
The carbon cycle is speeding up
Soil is the largest natural carbon storage in the world. In Northern ecosystems particularly large amounts of carbon are stored, but they are also particularly strongly affected by global warming. A recently published study by an international team led by Michael Bahn of the University of Innsbruck investigated how ongoing warming affects the uptake and release of carbon dioxide in subarctic grassland. The researchers used a geothermally active area in Iceland as a natural „climate chamber”.
Non-aggressive behaviour facilitates ant invasion
Under certain circumstances, ant colonies can team up to form huge supercolonies extending across thousands of kilometres and displace native species, if they refrain from aggressive behaviour. A research group from Innsbruck is now investigating how this situation can arise.
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