NABiS-program Master Course (5 hp)
Insects: Inventory and Identification 

12th - 30th of August 2024

Master course Insects: inventory and identification is part of the Nordic master program Nordic Academy of Biodiversity and Systematic Studies (NABiS) but can be read independently. NABiS is a recently launched collaboration between Stockholm university, Lund university, Uppsala university, Gothenburg university and Norwegian university of Science and Technology. The aim is to optimally utilize the collected expertise in biological systematics, biodiversity and bioinformatics at the collaborating universities. The teachers represent the most experienced experts in their respective fields and your classmates can come from any of the involved institutions. The NABiS program gives you a Master of Science connected to research and biological professions where systematics, evolution and informatics are combined. Apart from certain courses focusing on identification - held at relevant research stations - teaching is entirely web-based.

Insects: Inventory and Identification
Insects are among the most species rich and diverse groups of the earth’s biota. The aim of this course is to give an advanced introduction to insect studies in general and to the terminology, methods and processes related to insect morphology, diversity and behavior. You will meet some of the most enthusiastic and knowledgeable entomologists in Sweden and you will get the opportunity to personally meet and interact with the fervent crew working at Station Linné. You will learn how to recognize all the major insect lineages (orders or similar) during the course and, not for the least; you are going to acquire unique knowledge about the mega diverse insect orders of Hymenoptera, Diptera and Coleoptera. 

The course is given by the Department of Zoology at the Museum of Natural History in Stockholm, but is in its entirety located at Station Linné, a field station on Öland surrounded by some of the most species rich and spectacular environments in the country. Participating students are offered a special price for accommodation in new, modern rooms at Station Linné - all with both a shower and a private toilet! The price is set to SEK 1,750 / student in a shared twin room, or SEK 2,950 for a single room. The price is fixed and independent of how many days the student uses the room during the course period. It is of course okay to solve the accommodation on your own as well. The cost for accommodation must be settled in advance to bankgiro 311-1002, at the latest by the 5th of July. Self-catering is available at the station. Students are encouraged to bring their own laptop.

The course language is English.

The course covers:
Insect diversity, phylogeny and evolution
Comparative insect morphology and terminology
Molecular methods in the study of the insect fauna
Construction and use of identification keys
Collecting and preparation techniques
Project planning and inventory methodology

After the course you will:
Be able to describe the insect diversity, evolution and phylogenetic relations
Understand the insects' structure and have good knowledge about the terminology of insects’ morphology
Know how molecular methods are used to explore the insect fauna
Recognize all insect orders and the most common of the insect families
Be able to construct and use identification keys

Recommended course literature

And:Various online identification keys and handouts (links will be posted before beginning of course).

COURSE INFORMATION

COURSE FLYER

SCHEDULE 2023

Further information and application (application code: SU-56086)