Bi8300 Quaternary environments

Faculty of Science
Spring 2025
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)
prof. RNDr. Michal Horsák, Ph.D. (lecturer)
doc. Mgr. Jan Roleček, Ph.D. (lecturer)
Guaranteed by
prof. RNDr. Michal Horsák, Ph.D.
Department of Botany and Zoology – Biology Section – Faculty of Science
Contact Person: prof. RNDr. Michal Horsák, Ph.D.
Supplier department: Department of Botany and Zoology – Biology Section – Faculty of Science
Prerequisites (in Czech)
Bi1030 Inverteb. phylog. & divers. && Bi2030 High. plant phylog. & divers. && Bi5080 Basics of ecology
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
At the end of the course students should be able to understand history and methods of quaternary biota research; to describe an overview of climatic cycles since the Tertiary; to explain nature development through Pleistocene and Holocene, with the emphasis on the area of the Czech Republic and the European context.
Learning outcomes
Students will gain ability to: - understand the history and methods of quaternary biota research - understand causes of climatic changes since the Tertiary - explain nature development through Pleistocene and Holocene, with the emphasis on the area of the Czech Republic and the European context
Syllabus
  • 1) History of quaternary environments and biota research. Overview of quaternary sediments and palaeoecological methods: pollen analysis, plant macroremains analysis, analysis of mollusc and vertebrate fossils.
  • 2) Climate change in Earth's history and its causes: detailed overview since the Neogene. Division of the Quaternary and an overview of its chronology.
  • 3) Quaternary climatic cycle: glacials and interglacials, environments of the last interglacial in Europe.
  • 4) Environments of the last glacial in Europe and the area of Czech Republic (Central Asian analogues), glacial refugia of plants and animals (southern and cryptic).
  • 5) Transition to Holocene, its stratigraphy, late Pleistocene extinctions.
  • 6) Stratigraphy of Holocene, different climatic models.
  • 7) Refugia and Holocene migrations of trees in Europe and the Czech Republic.
  • 8) Palaeomalacology: changes in Central European mollusc communities since the Last Glacial Maximum.
  • 9) The environments of early Holocene and the Mesolithic in Europe and the Czech Republic.
  • 10) The environments of middle Holocene and the Neolithic and Eneolithic in Europe and the Czech Republic.
  • 11) The environments of late Holocene and late cultures in Europe and the Czech Republic.
  • 12) The Age and origin of recent habitats of Central Europe.
Literature
  • Ložek V. (1973): Příroda ve čtvrtohorách. Academia, Praha.
  • Sádlo J., Pokorný P., Hájek P., Dreslerová D., Cílek V. (2008): Krajina a revoluce. Významné přelomy ve vývoji kulturní krajiny Českých zemí. 3. upravené vydání. Malá Skála, Praha.
  • Ložek V. (2011): Po stopách pravěkých dějů. O silách, které vytvářely naši krajinu. Dokořán, Praha.
  • Elias S.A. (ed.) (2007): Encyclopedia of quaternary science. Elsevier, London.
  • Ložek V. (2007): Zrcadlo minulosti. Česká a slovenská krajina v kvartéru. Dokořán, Praha.
  • Lang G. (1994) Quartäre Vegetationsgeschichte Europas: Methoden und Ergebnisse. G. Fischer, Jena, Stuttgart, New York.
  • Pokorný P. (2011): Neklidné časy. Kapitoly ze společných dějin přírody a lidí. Dokořán, Praha.
  • Roberts N. (1998): The Holocene: an environmental history (2nd ed.). Blackwell, Malden.
Teaching methods
2 h lectures (12 per semester)
Assessment methods
oral exam consists of broader discussion on three lectured topics, 50% of correct student's answers is needed to pass
Language of instruction
Czech
Follow-Up Courses
Further Comments
The course can also be completed outside the examination period.
The course is taught annually.
The course is taught: every week.
The course is also listed under the following terms Spring 2008 - for the purpose of the accreditation, Spring 2011 - only for the accreditation, Spring 2003, Spring 2004, Spring 2005, Spring 2006, Spring 2007, Spring 2008, Spring 2009, Spring 2011, Spring 2012, spring 2012 - acreditation, Spring 2013, Spring 2014, Spring 2015, Spring 2016, Spring 2017, spring 2018, Spring 2019, Spring 2020, Spring 2021, Spring 2022, Spring 2023, Spring 2024.
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