Master and Bachelor projects

We offer Master and Bachelor projects within a wide range of topics, see topics and ideas underneath.

Nature Management and the effects on ecosystems

  • Management options of semi-natural ecosystems and biodiversity,
  • Invasive species, introduction pathways, distribution and management
  • Management of semi-natural ecosystems and trade-off between ecosystem services
  • Grazing in nature management
  • Natural ecosystem dynamics in nature management 

Biodiversity in forest

  • Biodiversity in different tree species and forests of different age
  • Development of forest understory vegetation in young forests,
  • Indicators for biodiversity in forests
  • Management and trade-off between ecosystem services
  • Forest grazing, biodiversity and natural regeneration
  • The influence of forest structure on biodiversity
  • Natural hydrology in forests and impact on biodiversity

The group host the National Forest Inventory and monitoring of forest habitats. The forest database offers excellent opportunities for master and bachelor projects. Further, we host a large number of long-term forest experiments

Climate change and ecosystem processes and function

  • Climatic changes and impact on plant competition
  • Interactions between climate and other drivers of change (pest insects and nutrients)
  • Climate change effects on nutrient cycling and leaching losses of nutrients
  • Impact of extreme events versus mean changes in climate on ecosystem processes

The group host an European infrastructure of large scale climate change experiments ideal for in-situ studies of ecosystem processes www.increase-infrastructure.eu

Ecological restoration and/or conservation

Ecological restoration (ER) (the practice of renewing and restoring degraded, damaged, or destroyed ecosystems and habitats by active intervention) versus management and conservation. 

Some ideas for Master and Bachelor projects

  • Effect of native (Betula sp.) vs a non-native (Pinus mugo) on long term succession: Use the long term data series in Nørholm Heath to investigate the particular trajectories of these two species, and/or complement it with data collected at a dominance gradient for both species. Looking at effects on soil, topography  and understory vegetation.
    Contact: Sebastian Kepfer Rojas, skro@ign.ku.dk and Inger Kappel Schmidt, iks@ign.ku.dk.

  • Examine the resistance of different heathland vegetation to tree colonization based on seedling survival (experimental planting) at different vegetation cover
    Contact: Sebastian Kepfer Rojas, skro@ign.ku.dk and Inger Kappel Schmidt, iks@ign.ku.dk.

  • Invasion and community ecology related to the invasive harlequin ladybird (Harmonia axyridis) I Pathogen spillback – a potential mechanism contributing to the success of the invasive harlequin ladybird? Keywords: parasite-spillback hypothesis, invasive species, entomopathogenic fungi, native insect communities, apparent competition, field/experimental lab work.
    Contact: Andy Howe, andy@ign.ku.dk

  • Invasion and community ecology related to the invasive harlequin ladybird (Harmonia axyridis) II Predator-predator interactions between the invasive harlequin ladybird (H. axyridis) and the native flower bug (Anthocoris nemoralis). Keywords: predator avoidance, insect behaviour, native/invasive insects interactions, co-existence, chemical cues, experimental lab work.
    Contact: Andy Howe, andy@ign.ku.dk

  • Succession from heathland to forest – the impact of deer grazing. The deer populations can change regeneration of tree species dramatically and affect succession through selective feeding. The grazers play a significant role for both the structure and species composition of natural forests. Tree colonization has been followed for about 100 years at the abandoned 350 ha Nørholm Hede. It has shown an exponential growth for most tree species but the latest survey suggest that roe and red deer grazing seems to delay recruitment of trees. The study will include estimation of the impact of grazing and evaluation of natural deer grazing as a management tool.
    Contact: Inger Kappel Schmidt, iks@ign.ku.dk

  • Management of semi-natural ecosystems and trade-off between ecosystem service.  Biomass harvest is a common management tool for removal of nutrients and maintaining semi-natural ecosystems open. Presently, many semi-natural ecosystems are managed with a focus on biomass harvest for energy and less focus on the consequences for plants and animal diversity, soil carbon and soil water quality. We seak one or several students to assess the impact of different commonly used management tools (biomass harvest, sod-cutting, grazing and fire) on the services these ecosystems provide. The projects will include field work at different managed heathland. Contact: Inger Kappel Schmidt, iks@ign.ku.dk)