CORE119 Biodiversity in context

Faculty of Science
Autumn 2024
Extent and Intensity
2/0/0. 3 credit(s). Type of Completion: k (colloquium).
In-person direct teaching
Teacher(s)
Mgr. Iveta Hodová, Ph.D. (lecturer)
prof. RNDr. Michal Horsák, Ph.D. (lecturer)
prof. RNDr. Milan Chytrý, Ph.D. (lecturer)
Mgr. Adam Konečný, Ph.D. (lecturer)
Mgr. Igor Malenovský, Ph.D. (lecturer)
Mgr. Jan Sychra, Ph.D. (lecturer)
Guaranteed by
Mgr. Iveta Hodová, Ph.D.
Department of Botany and Zoology – Biology Section – Faculty of Science
Contact Person: RNDr. Pavel Lízal, Ph.D.
Supplier department: Department of Botany and Zoology – Biology Section – Faculty of Science
Timetable
Mon 12:00–13:50 B11/306
Prerequisites (in Czech)
!TYP_STUDIA(ND) && !FORMA(C) && (!PROGRAM(B-UCB) && !PROGRAM(B-UCC) && !PROGRAM(B-UCF) && !PROGRAM(B-UCM) && !PROGRAM(B-UCZ) && !PROGRAM(B-LGM) && !PROGRAM(B-EMB) && !PROGRAM(B-EKB) && !PROGRAM(B-ANT))
Course Enrolment Limitations
The course is offered to students of any study field.
Course objectives
The aim of the course is to give a basic overview of the biodiversity of the Earth and the Czech Republic. Emphasis is placed on understanding the development of biodiversity from the origin of life on Earth to the present and on the past and present human impact on biodiversity, especially species extinction. In addition to the global context, basic information on the biodiversity of the Czech Republic is presented. The lectures use findings from current scientific research and also focus on current conservation efforts to halt biodiversity loss.
Learning outcomes
After completing the course the student will: know how biodiversity is measured and described; have a basic overview of the origin and historical development of biodiversity on Earth; have an idea of the distribution of biodiversity on Earth and interactions between species; understand how biodiversity is threatened and what can be done to mitigate the current biodiversity crisis; have a basic overview of biodiversity in the Czech Republic and its conservation.
Syllabus
  • 1. Types of biodiversity and how to measure it, research and main sources of information
  • 2. Taxonomy, nomenclature, phylogeny and tree of life
  • 3. Principles of evolution: genotypic and phenotypic variation, natural selection, speciation
  • 4. Origin of life and history of biodiversity on Earth, mass extinctions
  • 5. Evolution of nature in the Quaternary and the role of humans
  • 6. Current distribution of biodiversity on Earth
  • 7. Positive interactions between organisms
  • 8. Negative interactions between organisms
  • 9. The current global biodiversity crisis: causes, consequences and conservation measures
  • 10. Biological invasions
  • 11. Diversity of habitats and flora of the Czech Republic and its conservation
  • 12. Diversity of the fauna of the Czech Republic and its conservation
Teaching methods
Lectures and discussion on the topic during the lecture
Assessment methods
Online test
Language of instruction
Czech
Further Comments
The course is taught annually.
The course is also listed under the following terms Autumn 2023.
  • Enrolment Statistics (recent)
  • Permalink: https://is.muni.cz/course/sci/autumn2024/CORE119