ZA217 Ecology of changing environment (field excursion)

Faculty of Science
Spring 2025
Extent and Intensity
0/0. 2 credit(s). Type of Completion: z (credit).
Teacher(s)
Mgr. Karel Brabec, Ph.D. (seminar tutor)
RNDr. Martin Culek, Ph.D. (seminar tutor)
Guaranteed by
RNDr. Martin Culek, Ph.D.
Department of Geography – Earth Sciences Section – Faculty of Science
Contact Person: RNDr. Martin Culek, Ph.D.
Supplier department: Department of Geography – Earth Sciences Section – Faculty of Science
Course Enrolment Limitations
The course is only offered to the students of the study fields the course is directly associated with.
fields of study / plans the course is directly associated with
Course objectives
The field excursion aims to train students in selected methods of landscape and freshwater ecology. Students will participate in the individual stages of the study, acquire basic theoretical knowledge, participate in field surveys, and laboratory procedures. The collected data will be analyzed and interpreted in the form of a written report under the guidance of the teachers. At the end of the course, the outcomes will be critically discussed at the seminar.
Learning outcomes
KNOWLEDGE An overview of monitoring programmes taking place at the Czech Hydrometeorological Institute station where the course is held. Geology, geomorphology, soils, climate conditions, and biota in the area under survey. Natural biotopes, change of forests communities, alien species. Multiple pressures that form stream ecosystems and their multiple-scale effects on macroinvertebrate communities. Pilot catchment characteristics (land use, distribution of potential stressors), hydromorphological conditions. Ecological preference and sensitivity of indicator species. Community characteristics responding to environmental changes. SKILLS AQUIRED Applying key methods for mapping and evaluation of biotope quality, stream macroinvertebrate surveys. Analyses of the the bioindicative role of biota and its links to ecosystem processes. Field and laboratory studies focused on environmental changes and ecological consequences. COMPETENCE The course gives specific methodological competence applicable in studying environmental changes of terrestrial and freshwater ecosystems.
Syllabus
  • Day 1
  • Air, water and biota monitoring
  • Theoretical background and description of the study area, short field trip with active participation of the students.
  • Day 2
  • Ecology of pilot catchment: scales, pressures, indicators, adaptation (GIS, field and laboratory methods)
  • Day 3
  • Landscape ecology methods, - field survey
  • Stream assessment methods – data analyses
  • Day 4
  • Soil and vegetation, biotope evaluation, alien species - (field trip)
  • Day 5
  • Survey results, rehabilitation, adaptation strategies – final seminar (presenting of results by students, discussion)
Literature
  • GORDON, Nancy D. Stream hydrology : an introduction for ecologists. 2nd ed. Chichester: John Wiley & Sons, 2004, xiv, 429. ISBN 0470843586. info
  • Methods in stream ecology. Edited by Richard F. Hauer - Gary Anthony Lamberti. San Diego: Academic Press, 1996, xvii, 674. ISBN 012332906X. info
Teaching methods
lectures, field surveys, laboratory training, written report, personal tasks presented and discussed at the seminar
Assessment methods
written report
Language of instruction
English
Further comments (probably available only in Czech)
Information on the extent and intensity of the course: 5D.
The course is also listed under the following terms Spring 2024.
  • Enrolment Statistics (Spring 2025, recent)
  • Permalink: https://is.muni.cz/course/sci/spring2025/ZA217