Course: Ecology

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Course title Ecology
Course code UECHI/C250
Organizational form of instruction Lecture
Level of course Bachelor
Year of study not specified
Semester Winter
Number of ECTS credits 4
Language of instruction Czech
Status of course Compulsory, Compulsory-optional
Form of instruction Face-to-face
Work placements This is not an internship
Recommended optional programme components None
Lecturer(s)
  • Janíková Lenka, Ing. Ph.D.
Course content
Week 1 Definition, history, and division of ecology. The position of ecology in the system of environmental sciences. Ecological data. Week 2 Ecological factors - environmental conditions and resources. Week 3 Atmosphere - composition and subdivision. Climate and the climate system. Climatic ecological factors. Week 4-5 Hydrosphere and pedosphere - division, composition. Hydric and edaphic ecological factors. Food, man, and fire as environmental ecological factors. Week 6 Biotic factors - populations. Size, structure, and dynamics of populations. Relationships within and between populations. Week 7 Biotic factors - communities. Division, species representation, structure, metabolism, and dynamics of communities. Ecological succession. Week 8 Ecosystem - components, productivity, energy flows. Water cycle and cycles of selected biogenic elements. Week 9 Ecosystem - stability, biodiversity. Ecosystems of the Czech Republic and trophic structure of their communities. Week 10 - 11 Earth as a global ecosystem - climate distribution, world biomes. Evolution and current changes of the global ecosystem. Week 12 Applied ecology - the principle of sustainability from an ecological perspective. Current problems of the human population. Sustainable use of natural resources. Monocultures. Pest control. Integrated farming systems. Week 13 Applied ecology - habitat protection and degradation, biodiversity conservation. Ecosystem services and the 'cost' of the environment. Environmental impact of different sectors of human activity.

Learning activities and teaching methods
Monologic (reading, lecture, briefing), Dialogic (discussion, interview, brainstorming), Work with text (with textbook, with book)
  • Participation in classes - 26 hours per semester
  • Home preparation for classes - 20 hours per semester
  • Writing a seminar paper - 15 hours per semester
  • Preparation for an exam - 60 hours per semester
Learning outcomes
The aim of the course is to create in the student a comprehensive idea of ecology as a scientific field and the possibilities of individual directions, including applied ecology.
Students get basic overview about general and applied ecology as well.
Prerequisites
Basic knowledge of high school ecology.

Assessment methods and criteria
Written examination, Home assignment evaluation

Elaboration of the selected ecological study. A written examination with a pass rate of at least 50%.
Recommended literature
  • Storch, David. Úvod do současné ekologie. Praha: Portál, 2000. ISBN 80-7178-462-1.
  • Townsend, Colin R.. Základy ekologie. Olomouc: Univerzita Palackého, 2010. ISBN 978-80-244-2478-1.
  • Zdeněk Laštůvka, Pavla Krejčová. Ekologie. Brno, 2000. ISBN 80-85615-93-2.


Study plans that include the course
Faculty Study plan (Version) Category of Branch/Specialization Recommended year of study Recommended semester