This course introduces plant ecology. Through lectures, exercises and excursions, students will gain a broad vision of the cutting edge topics that are being researched and studied at the Department of Environmental Systems Science at ETH and WSL. This will be the base for a future dialog between the field of landscape architecture and the field of sciences.

The practical focuses on the flora and vegetation of selected areas of the Alps and covers the altitudinal range between the colline and the alpine zone. During two excursions, the students will deepen their knowledge of plant species and learn to recognize important vegetation units and their ecological characteristics.

The practical focuses on the flora and vegetation of the colline and montane belts in Valais. Students are offered guided field excursions to deepen their knowledge of plant species and to learn to recognise important vegetation units and their ecological characteristics.

The practical focuses on the flora and vegetation of the northern Alps and covers from the upper montane to the lower alpine zone. Students are offered guided field excursions to deepen their knowledge of plant species and to learn to recognise important vegetation units and their ecological characteristics.

The lecture provides an overview of the diversity of ferns and seed plants. The fundamentals of systematics are taught considering morphological, phylogenetic and ecological aspects. Regarding plant species, emphasis is laid on the flora of Switzerland, but also examples of pharmaceutical relevance and crops will be included.

This course provides an overview of the diversity of ferns and seed plants. The fundamentals of systematics are taught considering morphological, phylogenetic and ecological aspects. Regarding plant species, emphasis is laid on the flora of Switzerland, but also examples of pharmaceutical relevance and crops will be included.