Duration
9d FW
Number of credits
Lecturer
Flavien Collart, Mathieu Denoël, Nicolas Magain, Loïc Michel, Laurane Winandy
Coordinator
Language(s) of instruction
French language
Organisation and examination
Teaching in the second semester
Schedule
Units courses prerequisite and corequisite
Prerequisite or corequisite units are presented within each program
Learning unit contents
The objective of this course is to provide practical, field-based training in ecology related to nature conservation. It consists of naturalist activities (species recognition and inventory), ecology (calculating biodiversity indices), and conservation biology (site assessment and management recommendations).
This course is divided into two separate field courses, organized in Wallonia.
The first is organized at the Mont Rigi Scientific Station. This internship focuses on freshwater ecology and conservation. Students will monitor amphibian populations, study the diversity of benthic macroinvertebrates in lentic and lotic ecosystems, apply ecological quality indices, and visit restored peatlands with their managers.
The second is organized at the Vierves-sur-Viroin Ecosite. Working in groups, students will conduct floristic inventories at several natural sites, using this data to determine the sites' biodiversity value in Wallonia, and making management recommendations. In addition, thematic activities (birdwatching, entomology, and batwatching outings, depending on the specialists present) will also be organized.
Seminars on the diversity and conservation of European amphibians, particularly those of our regions, are planned during the year prior to the internship period.
Learning outcomes of the learning unit
- Become familiar with common species in our regions and species with special conservation status. Learn how to identify them.
- Learn how to characterize a natural environment based on its biodiversity.
- Assess the value of a natural site based on its biodiversity.
- Understand and use various methods of quantifying biodiversity (taxonomic, ecological, functional diversity, etc.).
Prerequisite knowledge and skills
These field courses are a continuation of the courses taught in the Bachelor's degree in Biological Sciences, particularly in Biodiversity and Ecology.
For this course to be beneficial to students, it is essential that they master the basic concepts of taxonomy, morphology, biodiversity, and ecology. To ensure this is the case, students are required to meet one of the following requirements to add the course to their PAE:
Have obtained a Bachelor's degree in Biological Sciences (180 credits) from a university in the Wallonia-Brussels Federation.
or
Have successfully completed all the additional credits required by the Master's degree jury in Organismal Biology and Ecology as part of a Block 0 program.
Planned learning activities and teaching methods
Activities are organized in the field, in the classroom, and in the laboratory. Field trips are led by course instructors and guest specialists in certain taxonomic groups.
Mode of delivery (face to face, distance learning, hybrid learning)
Face-to-face course
Further information:
Face-to-face course
Additional information:
In-person in the field, in the classroom, and in the laboratory
Additional Information:
Active participation in the chosen field course is mandatory. Students must be physically present. No excuse, however valid, will be considered for students to complete replacement work. Failure to participate in the internship will automatically result in deferral of both sessions.
Course materials and recommended or required readings
Platform(s) used for course materials:
- eCampus
Further information:
Theoretical course presentations and materials will be delivered to students via the eCampus platform. This platform will also be used to provide various digital resources for use during the internships. Finally, a series of reference books necessary for internship activities will be provided on-site.
The following field guides are very useful for this course and other related courses. They can be purchased by interested students at the Maison Liégeoise de L'Environnement (Rue Fusch, next to the Botanical Garden).
Recommended books (In French):
- Verloove, F. et al. (2024) Nouvelle Flore de la Belgique, du grand-duche´ de luxembourg, du Nord de la France et des re´gions voisines: Pte´ridophytes et spermatophytes. Meise (Belgique): Edition du Jardin botanique Meise.
- Le guide ornitho. Svensson, Mullarney & Zetterström. Ed. Delachaux et Niestlé, 2015.
- Papillons d'Europe et d'Afrique du Nord. Tolman & .Lewington. Ed. Delachaux et Niestlé, 2010.
- L'encyclopédie des chauves-souris d'Europe et d'Afrique du Nord. Dietz, C., von Helversen, O. & Nill, D. Ed. Delachaux et Niestlé, 2009.
- Les chauves-souris de France, Belgique, Luxembourg et Suisse. Arthur & Lemaire. Ed. Biotopes, 2009.
- Amphibiens et Reptiles de Wallonie. Jacob J.-P., Percsy C., de Wavrin H., Graitson E., Kinet T., Denoël M., Paquay M., Percsy N. & Remacle A. (2007). Série Faune - Flore - Habitats n° 2. Aves - Raînne et Direction Générale des Ressources naturelles et de l'Environnement, Ministère de la Région wallonne, Namur. The Atlas of Amphibians and Reptiles of Wallonia can be downloaded free of charge from ORBi: https://hdl.handle.net/2268/20836
Copies of articles related to various aspects of amphibian conservation are available on ecampus.
Exam(s) in session
Any session
- In-person
written exam ( open-ended questions )
Written work / report
Further information:
Two reports will be prepared, per group, one per field course, based on the activities carried out. Each report will count for 50% of the points. Active participation in the internships will also be taken into account in calculating the final grade.
Work placement(s)
Two four-day courses are organized, one at the Mont Rigi scientific station and the other at the Vierves sur Viroin Ecosite.
Organisational remarks and main changes to the course
The field course in Vierves-sur-Viroin will be held from May 4 to 7, 2026.
The Mont-Rigi field course will be held from May 12 to 15, 2026.
Students will be accommodated on-site, in the immediate vicinity of the laboratories, in single or shared rooms. Meals will be eaten on-site, or as a picnic if required for field activities. Transportation of equipment will be organized by the supervisors. As the actual cost of these expenses is unfortunately considerable, a provisional contribution will be requested from students. If the internship costs are lower than this contribution, the student will be reimbursed accordingly.
This contribution does NOT cover students' travel to the internship location. It is their responsibility to organize their own transportation and to be present on time for the start of the internship activities.
Additional information will be provided at the Master's in Biology of Organisms and Ecology welcome session, then via the eCampus platform in due course.
Contacts
Stage de Vierves-sur-Viroin
Prof Flavien COLLART
Écologie des communautés et des populations végétales
Sart-Tilman, Institut de Botanique, B22
fcollart@uliege.be
Prof Nicolas MAGAIN
Biologie de l'évolution et gestion de la biodiversité
Sart-Tilman, Institut de Botanique, B22
Nicolas.Magain@uliege.be
Stage du Mont-Rigi
Prof Loïc MICHEL
Systématique et Diversité animale
Sart-Tilman, Institut de Chimie, B6c
04/366.33.22 - Loic.Michel@uliege.be
Dr Laurane WINANDY
Station Scientifique des Hautes-Fagnes
Mont-Rigi
04/274.87.90 - Laurane.Winandy@uliege.be