Z8338 Quaternary landscape

Faculty of Science
Autumn 2010 - only for the accreditation
Extent and Intensity
2/1. 3 credit(s) (plus extra credits for completion). Type of Completion: zk (examination).
Teacher(s)
doc. RNDr. Zdeněk Máčka, Ph.D. (lecturer)
Mgr. Nicol Kolářová (seminar tutor)
Guaranteed by
prof. RNDr. Rudolf Brázdil, DrSc.
Department of Geography – Earth Sciences Section – Faculty of Science
Contact Person: doc. RNDr. Zdeněk Máčka, Ph.D.
Course Enrolment Limitations
The course is also offered to the students of the fields other than those the course is directly associated with.
The capacity limit for the course is 30 student(s).
Current registration and enrolment status: enrolled: 0/30, only registered: 0/30, only registered with preference (fields directly associated with the programme): 0/30
fields of study / plans the course is directly associated with
Course objectives
Nature of the last 2,5 Ma had many similar as well as different features from the nature of the present times. The appearance of the present day European landscapes is prevailingly the heritage of the Quaternary development, that is why the knowledge of the Quaternary is the key to understanding the present day landscape as well as the alternatives of the future development. Lecture discusses in a complex way the changes and evolution of landscapes within the period of Quaternary with main accent on the region of central and western Europe. The issues of Quaternary stratigraphy, methods of reconstruction of Quaternary environments, changes and fluctuations of climate, changes in dynamics of erosion and sedimentation, evolution of landforms, soil cover, plant and animal communities, changes of environment in tropical and sub-tropical latitudes and evolution and migrations of modern humans and their culture. Important part of the lecture is the overview of the Quaternary in Czech Republic. Presentation of the present day interdisciplinaty approach to the Quaternary studies is accentuated.
Main objectives can be summarized as follows:
to delineate the main stratigraphic units of Quaternary
to understand the development of landforms and soils during Quaternary
to understand the development of biota during Quaternary
to learn the milestones of the Middle European landscapes development
to learn the evolution of modern humans and the way they shaped their environment
Syllabus
  • 1. Delimitation of Quaternary, specialities of Quaternary, pronciples od Quaternary stratigraphy, who are Quaternary scintists and what they do?
  • 2. Methods of the reconstruction of the Quaternary environment, geomorphological, lithological and biological evidence of landscape change, dating methods.
  • 3. Climatic variability in Quaternary, Quaternary climatic cycles, causes of the Quaternary climate change.
  • 4. Glaciation of continents and oceans during Quaternary, changes in the extent of glaciation.
  • 5. Landform evolution in Quaternary, characteristic landforms of Quaternary age, dominant geomorphological processes of middle latitudes.
  • 6. Evolution and changes of soils in Quaternary, palaeopedology.
  • 7. Vegetation changes in the landscapes in Pleistocene and Holocene.
  • 8. Quaternary fauna, species extinction in Quaternary and continuity of animal assemblages.
  • 9. Changes of middle European landscapes with special attention to the territory of Czech Rep.
  • 10. Evolution of humans, migration and spread of modern humans, geoarchaeology, main archaeological cultures of Middle Europe, landscape archaeology.
  • 11. Changes of the environment in tropical and sub-tropical latitudes.
Literature
  • LOŽEK, Vojen. Zrcadlo minulosti : česká a slovenská krajina v kvartéru. 1. vyd. Praha: Dokořán, 2007, 198 s. ISBN 9788073630959. info
  • LOWE, John J. and M. J. C. WALKER. Reconstructing quaternary environments. 2nd ed. Harlow: Pearson Prentice Hall, 1997, xxii, 446. ISBN 0582101662. info
  • BEZVODOVÁ, Bohumila, Jaromír DEMEK and Antonín ZEMAN. Metody kvarterně geologického a geomorfologického výzkumu. Vyd. 1. Praha: Státní pedagogické nakladatelství, 1985, 207 s. info
  • ZEMAN, Antonín and Jaromír DEMEK. Kvartér : geologie a geomorfologie. Vyd. 1. Praha: Státní pedagogické nakladatelství, 1984, 192 s. info
  • LOŽEK, Vojen. Příroda ve čtvrtohorách. Vyd. 1. Praha: Academia, 1973, 372 s. info
Teaching methods
Lectures devoted to particular topics of Quaternary science (2 hours per week). Field trips to localities, where stratigraphic or geomorhological evidence of the Quaternary environmental change may be demonstrated. Regular seminars are not held, instead two whole day trips are organized.
Assessment methods
The course is finished with oral examination. participation at two field trips is compulsory.
Language of instruction
Czech
Further Comments
The course is taught once in two years.
The course is taught: every week.
The course is also listed under the following terms Autumn 2007, Autumn 2008, Autumn 2010, Autumn 2011 - acreditation, Autumn 2012, Autumn 2013, Autumn 2014, Autumn 2015, Autumn 2016, autumn 2017, Autumn 2018, Autumn 2019, Autumn 2020, autumn 2021, Autumn 2022, Autumn 2023, Autumn 2024.