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Wetlands - a Swedish perspective, Introductory course

Wetlands are important ecosystems playing a critical role in carbon cycling and storage and, by extension, the global climate system. They also provide a unique habitat for plants and animals, water quality improvement, flood storage and recreational areas.

Photo: Malin Kylander
Store Mosse, Sweden. Photo: Malin Kylander

Despite their importance, wetlands have long been impacted by human activities and today many are in a degraded state. This course covers the science behind wetland form and function as well as recent research relating to the future of these important ecosystems. The course is given as a combination of on-line evening lectures and seminars. We will dive into current debates surrounding wetlands and their management and students will have a chance to explore and understand a wetland local to them. Lectures given include:

  1. Wetland classification and global significance 
  2. Wetland flora and microtopography 
  3. Wetland properties and development 
  4. Wetland biodiversity 
  5. Hydrological functions of wetlands 
  6. Wetlands and the carbon cycle 
  7. Historical perspectives on wetland use in Sweden 
  8. Restoration of wetlands 
  9. Wetlands as climate archives 
  10. Swedish wetlands: remote sensing, mapping, lidar

    
There is a mandatory field component where we visit Store Mosse National Park and explore one of southern Sweden’s largest and best-preserved wetlands together. We will look at the geomorphological development of the area and different wetland habitats; observe wetland fauna and flora and links between vegetation and microtopography; and explore the anthropogenic impact on the wetland (peat extraction) and attempts to remedy this (re-wetting).

The fieldtrip for the VT25 will take place May 26 to 28, 2025. We will be working full days from 8.00 to 17.00 so plan to arrive the evening prior to start and to leave in the early evening or the morning after the field component. 

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