Bi5080 Basics of ecology

Faculty of Science
autumn 2021
Extent and Intensity
2/0/0. 2 credit(s) (fasci plus compl plus > 4). Type of Completion: zk (examination).
Teacher(s)
prof. RNDr. Milan Gelnar, CSc. (lecturer)
prof. Mgr. Michal Hájek, Ph.D. (lecturer)
Guaranteed by
prof. Mgr. Michal Hájek, Ph.D.
Department of Botany and Zoology – Biology Section – Faculty of Science
Contact Person: prof. Mgr. Michal Hájek, Ph.D.
Supplier department: Department of Botany and Zoology – Biology Section – Faculty of Science
Timetable
Thu 8:00–9:50 B11/132
Course Enrolment Limitations
The course is also offered to the students of the fields other than those the course is directly associated with.
fields of study / plans the course is directly associated with
Course objectives
To explain the basic terms of ecology (i.e. ecology of individuals, populations, communities and ecosystems) and basic concepts of ecology. Put them into the context of other scientific disciplines. Present all aspects of ecology that are further deepened in follow-up lectures. Present examples how complex biological systems work in a real world and how present and past human activity affects them.
Learning outcomes
At the end of the course students should be able (1) to explain the basic terms used in plant and animal ecology (2) to understand and interconnect them (3) to use them activelly (4) to understand basic concepts of ecology and to illustrate them using real examples from nature (5) to understand basic processes in nature that affect diversity and functioning of major Central-European habitats and worldwide biomes.
Syllabus
  • Introduction, basic definitions and history, organisms and their environment, basic ecological factors, conditions and resources. Solar radiation and its changes in atmosphere, utilisation of the radiation in the photosynthesis, adaptations on the annual and diurnal variability of the solar radiation. Temperature drops, ectothermic and endothermic organisms, adaptations to low and high temperatures, temperature and distribution of species. Soil, pedogenetic processes, humus and edaphon, soil types in the Czech Republic. Water and aquatic environments - characteristics, types, adaptations of organisms. Ecological importance of water, soil, air and edaphic factors. Organisms as habitats, hosts and parasites, life-cycles and dispersal, coevolution. Populations, their attributes and dynamic, intra- and interspecific interactions. Communities, spatio-temporal aspects of diversity, concept of ecological niche. Biomes, ecosystems, biomass, productivity, energy and material flow, food chains, biochemical cycles, biosphere. Ecosystems of central Europe. Applied ecology, environmental pollution, biomonitoring and bioindication.
Literature
  • PRACH, Karel, Milan ŠTECH and Pavel ŘÍHA. Ekologie a rozšíření biomů na Zemi. 1. vydání. Praha: Scientia, 2009, 151 stran. ISBN 9788086960463. info
  • SÁDLO, Jiří and David STORCH. Biologie krajiny :biotopy České republiky. Vyd. 2. Praha: Vesmír, 2000, 94 s. ISBN 80-85977-31-1. info
  • STORCH, David and Stanislav MIHULKA. Úvod do současné ekologie. Vyd. 1. Praha: Portál, 2000, 156 s. ISBN 80-7178-462-1. info
  • BEGON, Michael, John L. HARPER and Colin R. TOWNSEND. Ekologie : jedinci, populace a společenstva. Translated by Bronislava Grygová - Barbara Köberleová - Zdeněk Brandl. 1. vyd. Olomouc: Vydavatelství Univerzity Palackého, 1997, xxiv, 949. ISBN 8070676957. info
  • SLAVÍKOVÁ, Jiřina. Ekologie rostlin. 1. vyd. Praha: Státní pedagogické nakladatelství, 1986, 366 s. info
  • LOSOS, Bohumil. Ekologie živočichů. 1. vyd. Praha: Státní pedagogické nakladatelství, 1985, 316 s. info
Teaching methods
lectures
Assessment methods
Oral exam
Language of instruction
Czech
Follow-Up Courses
Further Comments
Study Materials
The course is taught annually.
Listed among pre-requisites of other courses

Zobrazit další předměty

The course is also listed under the following terms Autumn 2007 - for the purpose of the accreditation, Autumn 2010 - only for the accreditation, Autumn 2002, Autumn 2003, Autumn 2004, Autumn 2005, Autumn 2006, Autumn 2007, Autumn 2008, Autumn 2009, Autumn 2010, Autumn 2011, Autumn 2011 - acreditation, Autumn 2012, Autumn 2013, Autumn 2014, Autumn 2015, Autumn 2016, autumn 2017, Autumn 2018, Autumn 2019, Autumn 2020, Autumn 2022, Autumn 2023, Autumn 2024.
  • Enrolment Statistics (autumn 2021, recent)
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