Master of Science Evolution, Ecology and Systematics (MEES)

["The Master's programme in Evolution, Ecology and Systematics (MEES) provides in-depth knowledge of biological systems with a clear focus on current research in organismic and evolutionary biology.The course of study is interdisciplinary, so that competencies in ecology, biodiversity (including taxonomic knowledge for plants and animals), evolutionary biology, palaeontology, systematics and phylogenetics can be acquired at different organisational levels and for different groups of organisms.During the course of study, organisms are studied in their functional entity using modern and innovative methods of investigation. Particular emphasis is placed on interaction with biotic and abiotic environments right up to complex ecosystem level. Both the teaching and the research of the involved institutes are determined by their focus on the evolutionary emergence of biological diversity and its functional significance for ecosystems, especially in changing environments. The physiological, anatomical, morphological, and behavioural traits of species are viewed as adaptations to living conditions which have been shaped by selective forces.The methodological spectrum of the course is broad and ranges from fieldwork, field experiments, and excursions to laboratory experiments, statistical data evaluation, and computer simulation. Practical work is central to the course on every level, and because students are expected to work independently early on, the principles of experimental design are learned through first-hand experience."]