Palacký University Olomouc
Study programmes & Course catalogue
for academic year 2025/2026
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Course: Population ecology

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Course title Population ecology
Course code EKO/PGSPO
Organizational form of instruction Lecture
Level of course Doctoral
Year of study not specified
Semester Winter and summer
Number of ECTS credits 5
Language of instruction Czech, English
Status of course unspecified
Form of instruction Face-to-face
Work placements This is not an internship
Recommended optional programme components None
Lecturer(s)
  • Tkadlec Emil, prof. MVDr. CSc.
Course content
Population system and its components, conditions, resources. Variability of populations and mechanisms maintaining genetic variation (microevolution). Geographic variability. Quantifying processes in population, migration, dispersal, dormancy. Demography, age structure, life tables, survivorship curves, population projections. Density-independent population growth, intrinsic rate of population increase. Euler-Lotka equation. Sexual structure and variation in sex ratio. Density-dependent population growth, patterns of population dynamics, time delay in density-dependence. Regulation, delayed regulation, negative feedback, feedback mechanism. Intraspecific competition, cooperation (Allee effect), overcompensating mortality. Maximum sustainable yield. Interspecific competition, Lotka-Volterra model, competitive exclusion principle. Predation, Lotka-Volterra model, functional and numerical response, aggregation response. Prey defence, cryptic and aposematic colouration, mimicry. Dynamics of natural populations, population cycles. Metapopulation

Learning activities and teaching methods
Lecture
Learning outcomes
The course aims at presenting actual information and procedures from the branch. Major approaches, conceptual and theoretical topics are listed in syllabus.
Explain the principles of population growth and dynamics Describe the effects of population structure on population growth rate Identify interactions regulating population size
Prerequisites
Completed Master's degree study

Assessment methods and criteria
Mark, Oral exam

Exam - good knowledge and orientation in modern theory of life histories on selected subjects
Recommended literature
  • Begon M, Mortimer M, Thompson DJ. (1996). Population Ecology. A Unified Study of Animals and Plants, 3rd ed.. Cambridge.
  • Begon M, Townsend C, Harper JL. (2005). Ecology: From Individuals to Ecosystems. 4th ed.. Cambridge.
  • Ricklefs RE, Miller GL. (2000). Ecology, 4th ed.. New York.
  • Tkadlec E. Populační ekologie: struktura, růst a dynamika populací..


Study plans that include the course
Faculty Study plan (Version) Category of Branch/Specialization Recommended year of study Recommended semester
Palacký University Olomouc, date of update: 29.01.2026 23:53. Data created for academic year 2025/2026