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Lecturer(s)
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Lehotský Tomáš, RNDr. Ph.D.
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Course content
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1. Definition and basic principles of palaeoecology. Systems of organisms and their environment. Biosystems. Ecological niche. 2. Ecological factors. Tolerance and ecological valence. Abiotic ecological factors (substrate, light, temperature, humidity, precipitations, air pressure, content of oxygen and carbon dioxide, water density, viscosity and turbidity, flow and turbulence, salinity). 3. Mutual relations od organisms. Interspecific relations. Chemical interactions among organisms. Nutrition. Adaptation of organism to the environment. 4. Traces of life activities of organisms. 5. Population, distribution of individuals within the population. Population density. Natality. Mortality. Migration. Composition of the population. Frequency flustuations. 6. Biocenoses. Taphonomy. Properties of biocenoses. Succession and climax. Stability of biocenoses. Biocenotic principles. Trophic structure of communities. 7. Ecosystems. Structure and function. Energy flow. Biogeochemical cycles. 8. Palaeoecological reconstructions of the environment. Sediments and sedimentary textures. The influence of organisms on sedimentation. Geochemical charakteristics of sediments. 9. Methods of palaeoecological research.
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Learning activities and teaching methods
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Lecture
- Attendace
- 24 hours per semester
- Homework for Teaching
- 12 hours per semester
- Preparation for the Exam
- 24 hours per semester
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Learning outcomes
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The aim is to introduce students in paleoecology and its research methods. The goal of lectures in palaeoecology is the understanding of basic principles of both biotic and abiotic factors for the marine and land biocycles in the geologic history (betwen Precambrian to Recent). Taphonomic impacts will be discussed in connection with the actuopalaeontologic, ecostratigraphic, palaeoclimatostratigraphic and eventostratigrafic events and principles. Different life strategies will be analysed in individual environments of the marine and freshwater ecosystems within the global biomes of the World.
The students should be able to: - Define basic principles of paleoecology, systems of organisms and their nvironment - recall the terms biosystem, ecological niche, tolerance and ecological valence, population, dispersion of individuals in the population, population density, natality, mortality, migration - define abiotic ecological factors (substrate, light, temperature, humidity, precipitation etc) - describe types of mutual relations of organisms - chemical interactions, interspecific relations, adaptation of organisms to the environment - define biocenoses, their properties and stability, describe the trophic structure of communities. - describe biogeochemical cycles and principles of paleoecological reconstruction of the environment
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Prerequisites
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Knowledge of systematic and general paleontology (Courses KGE/OBP1 or KGE/OBPA1; KGE/OBPA2 or KGE/PALEO)
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Assessment methods and criteria
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Written exam
Colloquium: Knowledge of palaeoecological terminology, reconstruction of palaeoenvironment and their limiting factors. Competent discussion a necessity!
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Recommended literature
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Allmon, W. - Bottier, D., J. (2001). Evolutionary Paleoecology: The Ecological Context of Macroevolutionary Change. Columbia University Press.
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Behrensmeyer, A., K. - DiMichele, W., A. - Potts, R. - Sues, H., D. (1992). Terrestrial Ecosystems Through Time: Evolutionary Paleoecology of Terrestrial Plants and Animals. Chicago.
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Boucot, J., A. (1981). Principles of Benthic Marine Paleoecology. New York.
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Brenchley, R., J. - Harper, D., A., T. (1997). Palaeoecology: Ecosystems, Environments, and Evolution. London.
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Dodd, J., R. - Stanton Jr., R., J. (1990). Paleoecology: Concepts and Applications. New York.
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Dodd, J., R. - Stanton, R., J. (1990). Paleoecology: Concepts and Applications. Wiley-Interscience; 2 edition, 528pp.
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Hladilová, Š. ed. (1997). Dynamika vztahů marinního a kontinentálního prostředí. Sborník příspěvků. PřF UJEP, Brno.
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Musil, R. ed. (1984). Paleoekologie. Sborník z konference. PřF UJEP BRNO.
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Odum, E. (1977). Základy ekologie. Academia, Praha.
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Pokorný, V. et al. (1992). Úvod do všeobecné paleontologie. Univerzita Karlova v Praze.
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