Course detail

Ecology

FCH-BC_EKAcad. year: 2021/2022

The objective of the course is to give attendants common information from ecology. Structure of the course is following: Introduction to ecology - content and objectives, ecology subsections and relation to the other subjects, ecological niche - fundamental and realized; ecological media and ecological factors of environment; ecological valence and adaptation; ecological soil, water and air characteristics ( their effect on the life of organisms); population ecology - demecology, main attributes of the population (natality, mortality, abundance, density, age structure, sex index) intraspecific relations (teritoriality, competetion, concurention) interspecific relations; communities - biocoenosis, its characteristics, classificacion and structure; ecosystem - productivity and production, food chains, ecosystem stability, important ecosystems and structure of their biocoenosis; biogeography of Earth; landscape ecology, biosphere, man and the biosphere.

Language of instruction

Czech

Number of ECTS credits

4

Mode of study

Not applicable.

Learning outcomes of the course unit

Increased knowledge, skills and competencies of students will be reflected in the following areas:
1. Students will acquire basic knowledge about the environmental compertments and ecosystem functioning.
2. Students will understand the relations between abiotic and biotic components of the environment.
3. Students will know the basic biogeochemical cycles and will realize the context of transport and fate of anthropogenic pollutants
4. Students will be able to apply acquired knowledge in the field of environmental protection.
5. Students will have a good theoretical background for other courses, especially for environmental chemistry and technology.

Prerequisites

Basic knowledge of the biology of plants and animals.

Co-requisites

Not applicable.

Planned learning activities and teaching methods

The course uses teaching methods in form of Lecture - 2 teaching hours per week. The e-learning system (LMS Moodle) is available to teachers and students.

Assesment methods and criteria linked to learning outcomes

The exam is a written test consisting of 16 questions. To obtain a classification in the range A - E is needed to obtain at least half the number of points. Each question is scored the same number of points. Oral examination is followed by half the number of points.

Course curriculum

1. Basic terminology, ecosystem, organisms in ecosystem.
2. Organism and environmental, terms (biotope, ecotypes, territory, habitat, niche. . . ).
3. Kinds of organisms, ecological rules.
4. Ecological factors, abiotic and biotic, intensity of factors, bioindicators.
5. Biosphere, atmosphere, pedosphere - relationship to the alive organisms.
6. Biogeochemical cycles, exchange of substances between geospheres.
7. Population, definitions, main attributes of population, relationships between individuals of a given population, interaction of population and environment.
8. Biocoenosis, synecology - definition, main characteristics of biocoenosis, food chains, trophic levels.
9. Relationships between populations (symbiosis, competition, parasitism, etc.)
10. Ecosystem, ecosystem functioning, stages of ecosystem development - climax, succession.
11. Anthropogenic changes in the cycle of elements (human intervention in the geochemical regime of the Earth).
12.Biogeography, man and the biosphere.
13. Landscape ecology.

Work placements

Not applicable.

Aims

The main objective of this subject is mastering basic concepts and definitions in the field of ecology, is gaining knowledge of the functioning of the ecosystem and about the relationships between the basic components (producers, consumers, decomposers - inanimate environment) and impact of human activities on the ecosystem.
Mastering the terminology in the field of ecology and knowledge of ecosystem functioning and coherence relations between its various components enable students to better understand the continuity in other related subjects such as environmental chemistry.

Specification of controlled education, way of implementation and compensation for absences

Attendance at lectures is recommended, but not controlled.

Recommended optional programme components

Not applicable.

Prerequisites and corequisites

Not applicable.

Basic literature

Begon,M.- Harper,J.- Townsend,C: Ekologie, jedinci, populace a společenstva, Olomouc: Universita J.Palackého, 1986 - 949 s. (CS)
Laštůvka Z. & Krejčová P. 2000: Ekologie. Konvoj: Brno, 185 str. (CS)
LOSOS, B. a kol Ekologie živočichů. Praha, 1985 (CS)
Palatý, J., Paleček, J.: Základy ekologie. VŠCHT Praha, 1992 (CS)
Pelikán, J. Přehled obecné ekologie, VFU Brno, 1993. (CS)

Recommended reading

Not applicable.

Elearning

Classification of course in study plans

  • Programme BPCP_AAEFCH Bachelor's 1 year of study, winter semester, compulsory
  • Programme BKCP_AAEFCH Bachelor's 1 year of study, winter semester, compulsory

Type of course unit

 

Lecture

26 hod., optionally

Teacher / Lecturer

Elearning