Z2166 Introduction to ecology and nature protection

Faculty of Science
Spring 2021
Extent and Intensity
2/1/0. 5 credit(s). Type of Completion: zk (examination).
Teacher(s)
RNDr. Martin Culek, Ph.D. (lecturer)
Mgr. Petr Liška (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
Timetable
Mon 1. 3. to Fri 14. 5. Wed 15:00–16:50 online_A
  • Timetable of Seminar Groups:
Z2166/01: Mon 1. 3. to Fri 14. 5. Thu 15:00–15:50 Z4,02028, M. Culek, P. Liška
Z2166/02: Mon 1. 3. to Fri 14. 5. Wed 17:00–17:50 Z4,02028, M. Culek, P. Liška
Z2166/03: Mon 1. 3. to Fri 14. 5. Wed 11:00–11:50 Z3,02045, M. Culek, P. Liška
Prerequisites
Knowledges of the Geography and of the Biology on a level of good Secondary School. Interest in the topic :-)
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
Main objectives can be summarized as follows: to receive basic information about living organisms function in the Landscape; to understand relations of organisms to abiotic factors; to recognize common woods in Czechia and their ecological requirements.
Learning outcomes
Students after passsing the course will be able to:

Characterize evolution of scientific discipline Ecology and its division to subdisciplines.
Explaine the terms ecological valence, physiological and ecological optimum and with use of them to characterize distribution of species in present Landscape.
Evaluate the impact of ecological conditions to presence and distribution of selected biota species.
Characterize Vegetation altitudinal tiers of the Central Europe, Landuse of them on the Czechia territory and types of Ecosystems.
Explain the history of ecosystems of our Landscape in the Holocoene Epoche and the influence of the Man to this process. Student will be able to recognize the main results in present Landscape.
Characterize the history of the Nature Protection on the Czech territory incl. European Projects.
Evaluate the types of protected territories, Acts dealing with them, forms of statutory markings in terrain, competences of the State Adminitration to them.
They will recognize main timber species in Czechia and their ecological requirements.
Syllabus
  • 1. Introduction to Ecology for geographers I. - Division of Ecology, ecological valence, physiological and ecological optimum.
  • 2. Introduction to Ecology for geographers II. - ecological conditions and ecological factors: Temperatue, moisture, light, fire, salt, pH, etc.
  • 3. Ecosystems, Ecological succession.
  • 4. Introduction to the Ecology of Landscapes.
  • 5. Evolution of ecosystems of Czechia (or Central Europe) in the Holocoene.
  • 6. Vegetational tiers of Central Europe.
  • 7. Examples of Landscape types, their ecological features and problems.
  • 8. Legislative protection of the Nature and the Landscape in the Czech Republic, types of protected areas.
  • 9. History of nature and landscape protection in the Czech Republic.
  • Seminars:
  • Recognizig of Landscapes on basis of their photographs.
  • Half-day excursion to surroundings of Brno with distinguishing of Landscape types, types of ecosystems and their use.
  • Self-study: Recognizing of main timber species of Czechia (ca 54 species). During some seminars will be presented aditional information to them - and also the knowledge tested!
Literature
  • Ekologie [Berger, 1998] (Variant.) : Ekologie : [učebnice pro gymnázia a střední odborné školy]. info
  • LAŠTŮVKA, Zdeněk a ŠŤASTNÁ, Pavla. Ekologie. 2. upravené vydání. Mendelu, Brno, 2014, 184 str.
  • PRACH, Karel, Milan ŠTECH and Pavel ŘÍHA. Ekologie a rozšíření biomů na Zemi. 1. vydání. Praha: Scientia, 2009, 151 stran. ISBN 9788086960463. info
  • ŠLEZINGR, Miloslav. Aplikovaná a krajinná ekologie : základní informace pro stavební obory. Vyd. 1. Brno: Akademické nakladatelství CERM, 2003, 68 s. ISBN 8021425083. info
Teaching methods
Lectures are held with help of powerpoint presentations with many picture illustrations. Part of the class exercises is replaced by terrain excursion - with active cooperation of the students. Self-study of main woody plants in Czechia. Self-study: Thinking about the Landscape :-).
Assessment methods
Exam is done by written test. It must be at least on level "E" anyway. Recognization of common woods in Czechia (on computer screen) gives another cca 10 % of final mark. Quality of collaboration in excercises gives cca 20 % of the final course mark. To obtain the possiblility to attend the exam, students have to present their notes from the excursion to the seminar tutor.
Language of instruction
Czech
Follow-Up Courses
Further comments (probably available only in Czech)
Study Materials
The course is taught annually.
The course is also listed under the following terms Spring 2020, Spring 2022, Spring 2023, Spring 2024, Spring 2025.
  • Enrolment Statistics (Spring 2021, recent)
  • Permalink: https://is.muni.cz/course/sci/spring2021/Z2166