Course during five consecutive days in the Engiadina valley, Switzerland: Introduction to the ecology of the Swiss National Park. Discussion of current field studies in the Park and the surroundings. 2.5 days for field assessments and measurements in groups, analyses and presentation of results.

The main vegetation types (biomes) of the world are presented with their structure, functioning, and dependence on abiotic and biotic factors as well as human impacts. Important topics are the effects of climate and soil conditions, fire, succession, herbivory, human use, biodiversity, worldwide patterns of species distribution, convergence, radiation, invasion and exctinction, endemism.