Bi8710 Nature Conservation

Faculty of Science
Autumn 2024
Extent and Intensity
2/0/0. 2 credit(s) (fasci plus compl plus > 4). Type of Completion: zk (examination).
In-person direct teaching
Teacher(s)
doc. Dipl. Biol. Jiří Schlaghamerský, Ph.D. (lecturer)
Guaranteed by
doc. Dipl. Biol. Jiří Schlaghamerský, Ph.D.
Department of Botany and Zoology – Biology Section – Faculty of Science
Contact Person: doc. Dipl. Biol. Jiří Schlaghamerský, Ph.D.
Supplier department: Department of Botany and Zoology – Biology Section – Faculty of Science
Timetable
Mon 10:00–11:50 B11/306
Prerequisites
none (but basic knowledge of biology and ecology are certainly useful for understanding the subject)
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
The aim of the course is to make the students understand, in the context of historic development, nature conservation as an idea as well as the human activity leading to the achievement of its goals. The students are introduced to the field of conservation biology, major causes or types of threats to nature (past and present), and the measures taken to face them. Stress is put on the interconnection between general biological and ecological principles with the issue of conservation and on the presentation of examples and case studies connected to the Czech or Central European region as well as such important from a global perspective.
Learning outcomes
At the end of this course, students should be able to: 1) briefly describe the development of nature conservation as an idea and subject of human activity; 2) use correctly and explain technical terms (and understand the ambiguity of many), like "nature", "biodiversity", "(bio)monitoring", "landscape character", "minimum viable population"; 3) briefly describe the effect of human activity on nature and the major causes of threat to nature in the past and at present, to give actual examples of exterminated or threatened biological species; 4) understand the link between biological and ecological knowledge and conservation (population biology and genetics, minimum dynamic area, etc.); 5) name and explain major methods (tools) of conservation like reintroductions, reserves or inventories; 6) proof basic knowledge of international agreements, EU and Czech regulations regarding conservation, basic types of protected areas in the Czech Republic, and their representation, state (national) administration of conservation issues.
Syllabus
  • History of human impact on nature and the environment - history of nature conservation - global threats (population explosion, climate change, ozone hole, desertification, eutrofication, acidification, environmental pollution) - direct threats to populations, communities and ecosystems (hunting or fishing; habitat disturbance, down-scaling or fragmentation; introduction of predators or competitors) - conservation biology (ecological concepts and theories: r and K-strategies, succession, population ecology, island ecology, theory of the mosaic cycle) - tools and methods of surveying and monitoring populations and communities incl. their evaluation in regard to their application in conservation (surveys, monitoring, red data lists, case studies) - fundamental tools to preserve biodiversity including genetic diversity (species / habitat conservation; in situ / ex situ measures - breeding in captivity, reintroduction, population and habitat management) - habitat management planning - habitat connectivity, protection of migration paths - overview of Czech and international legislation - international conservation activities / programmes, illegal trade with endangered species - categories and examples of protected areas in the Czech Republic and the international categories of protected areas.
Literature
    recommended literature
  • PRIMACK, Richard B. Biologické principy ochrany přírody. Translated by Pavel Kindlmann - Jana Jersáková. Vyd. 1. Praha: Portál, 2001, 349 s. ISBN 80-7178-552-0. info
  • PRIMACK, Richard B., Pavel KINDLMANN and Jana JERSÁKOVÁ. Úvod do biologie ochrany přírody. Vyd. 1. Praha: Portál, 2011, 466 s. ISBN 9788073675950. info
  • Filip Kolář et al.: Ochrana přírody z pohledu biologa, Dokořán, Praha, 2012.
    not specified
  • Storch D. a S. Mihulka: Úvod do současné ekologie. Portál, Praha, 2000.
  • Begon, M., J.L. Harper a C.R. Townsend: Ekologie: jedinci, populace a společenstva. 2. vyd. Vydavatelství Univerzity Palackého, Olomouc, 1997.
Teaching methods
lectures
Assessment methods
The course consists of a series of lectures. Credits are given based on the positive result of an exam. If the number of students exceeds ca 20 the exam at the regular exam dates will be a written one (two regular exam dates are expected), in all other cases oral. Questions posed in written exams will require answers in the form of brief but continuous text, possibly using drawings. Oral exams are done in the form of a conversation based on questions put forward subsequently (without advance preparation time). Questions posed in either form of exam will be chosen in a way allowing to assess if and to what extent the student has understood the treated subject and is able to reflect on it critically. In case that in-person teaching (including exams) will be subjected to substantial restrictions, for instance due to an unfavourable epidemiological situation, the above-described methods of teaching and examination will be adapted to allow distance learning and remote examination using an electronic application ("on-line").
Language of instruction
Czech
Further Comments
Study Materials
The course is taught annually.
Listed among pre-requisites of other courses
The course is also listed under the following terms Spring 2008 - for the purpose of the accreditation, Spring 2003, Spring 2004, Spring 2005, Spring 2006, Spring 2007, Spring 2008, Spring 2009, Spring 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 2021, Autumn 2022, Autumn 2023.
  • Enrolment Statistics (recent)
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