Course: Basic Ecology

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Course title Basic Ecology
Course code EKO/ZZEE
Organizational form of instruction Lecture
Level of course Master
Year of study 1
Semester Winter
Number of ECTS credits 3
Language of instruction English
Status of course Compulsory-optional
Form of instruction Face-to-face
Work placements This is not an internship
Recommended optional programme components None
Lecturer(s)
  • Mazalová Monika, Mgr. Ph.D.
Course content
Introduction to the study of ecology: basic terms, definitions and methods, proximate and ultimate causation. Ecological factors and sources. Environment and organisms, adaptations, evolution, convergence, divergence, speciation. Population, dynamics of populations, interactions of populations with environmental factors. Community, interactions between species, food webs, species richness, diversity, ecological stability. Ecosystems, flows of energy and nutrient cycling, biotic and abiotic components, functional processes, ecological mechanisms, trophic interactions, productivity, decomposition. Actual problems in environmental and conservation ecology.

Learning activities and teaching methods
Lecture, Projection (static, dynamic)
Learning outcomes
Introduction to the study of ecology: basic terms, definitions and methods, proximate and ultimate causation. Ecological factors and sources. Environment and organisms, adaptations, evolution, convergence, divergence, speciation. Population, dynamics of populations, interactions of populations with environmental factors. Community, interactions between species, food webs, species richness, diversity, ecological stability. Ecosystems, flows of energy and nutrient cycling, biotic and abiotic components, functional processes, ecological mechanisms, trophic interactions, productivity, decomposition. Actual problems in environmental and conservation ecology.
Knowledge Identify basic ecological conceptions, and the terms like trade-off, life-history, population, community & ecosystem Describe the population and community structure and the basic components of ecosystem Explain the principles of population growth and ecosystem succesion
Prerequisites
unspecified

Assessment methods and criteria
Mark, Oral exam, Written exam

Ended by written exam.
Recommended literature
  • Begon, M., Harper, J., Townsend, C. (1997). Ekologie - jedinci, populace a společenstva. Olomouc: Vydavatelství Univerzity Palackého.
  • Laštůvka, Z., Krejčová, P. Základy ekologie,BRNO, 2000,184 s..
  • Storch, D., Mihulka, S. (2000). Úvod do současné ekologie.. Portál s.r.o., Praha.


Study plans that include the course
Faculty Study plan (Version) Category of Branch/Specialization Recommended year of study Recommended semester
Faculty: Faculty of Science Study plan (Version): Plant Biology (2021) Category: Biology courses 1 Recommended year of study:1, Recommended semester: Winter