UNIVERSITY OF SOUTH BOHEMIA IN ČESKÉ BUDĚJOVICE
Study programmes & Course catalogue
for academic year 2025/2026
UNIVERSITY OF SOUTH BOHEMIA IN ČESKÉ BUDĚJOVICE
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Course: Cenozoic biology

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Course title Cenozoic biology
Course code KZO/113
Organizational form of instruction Lecture
Level of course unspecified
Year of study not specified
Frequency of the course In each academic year, in the summer semester.
Semester Summer
Number of ECTS credits 3
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)
  • Říčan Oldřich, doc. Mgr. Ph.D.
Course content
The historical aspect in biology as a key factor. The great K/T extinction as the gateway to the Cenozoic; Main animal and plant groups that have been the foundation and dominated the Cenzoic ecosystems. The make-up and functioning of the ancient ecosystems, food pyramids. Evolution of the global ecosystem in the Cenozoic and contrasts to previous epochs and the present Quaternary epoch. Biogeography of the Cenzoic. Biomes of the Cenozoic. The evolution of modern animal and plant groups and species. Gradual cooling and reduction of biodiversity, the megafauna extinctions and the resulting formation of present impoverished ecosystems as a parallel to other impoverished ecosystems following major extinction events. In comparison with the course "Diversity and evolution of fossil vertebrates" the main focus in this course is given to interpretation of the functioning of the Cenozoic ecosystems and its comparisons with ecosystems more familiar to us, i.e. its not a zoological course devoted solely to the vertebrate faunas and their evolution and zoology.

Learning activities and teaching methods
unspecified
Learning outcomes
The course will familiarize students with biology of the Cenozoic era in comparisons with biology of the Mesozoic and Quaternary epochs and will contrast these with the eras of reduced biodiversity following large extictions, including the current one following the large Quaternary extinctions.

Prerequisites
none

Assessment methods and criteria
unspecified
Students will be examined oraly with a test in midterm. 70 % of correct answers are needed to pass the examination.
Recommended literature
  • Alan Turner and Mauricio Anton. 2007. Evolving Eden: An Illustrated Guide to the Evolution of the African Large-Mammal Fauna. Columbia University Press, 304 str..
  • CARROLL, R. L., Patterns and Processes of Vertebrate Evolution. Cambridge University Press, Cambridge, 1995..
  • Darin A. Croft. 2016. Horned Armadillos and Rafting Monkeys. The Fascinating Fossil Mammals of South America. Indiana University Press, Bloomington, Indiana, pp. 304. ISBN 978-0-253-02084-0..
  • Donald R. Prothero. 2006. After the Dinosaurs: The Age of Mammals. Indiana University Press, 392 str.
  • George Gaylord Simpson. 1983. Splendid Isolation: The Curious History of South American Mammals. Yale University Press, 273 str..
  • JARVIK, E., Basic Structure and Evolution of Vertebrates 2. Academic Press, London-New York-Toronto-Sydney-San Francisco, 1980..
  • John Reilly. 2018. The Ascent of Birds: How Modern Science Is Revealing Their Story. Pelagic Publishing, 320 str..
  • Jordi Agustí and Mauricio Antón. 2005. Mammoths, Sabertooths, and Hominids: 65 Million Years of Mammalian Evolution in Europe. Columbia University Press, 328 str..
  • KARDONG, K. V., Vertebrates: Comparative Anatomy, Function, Evolution. Wm. C. Brown Publishers, Dubuque-Melbourne-Oxford, 1995..
  • Kenneth D. Rose. 2006. The Beginning of the Age of Mammals. Johns Hopkins University Press; 448 str..
  • Paul S. Martin. 2007. Twilight of the Mammoths: Ice Age Extinctions and the Rewilding of America. University of California Press, 269 str..
  • Prehistorie - Obrazový průvodce vývojem života na Zemi..
  • Roček, Z., 2002: Historie obratlovců. Academia, Praha, 512 str..
  • ROMER, A. S. a PARSONS, T. S., The Vertebrate Body. W. B. Sounders Company, Philadelphia-London-Toronto, 1977..
  • Stephen Jay Gould. 1998. Dějiny planety Země. Knižní klub, 256 str.ISBN: 80-85928-88-4..


Study plans that include the course
Faculty Study plan (Version) Category of Branch/Specialization Recommended year of study Recommended semester
UNIVERSITY OF SOUTH BOHEMIA IN ČESKÉ BUDĚJOVICE, date of update: 14.06.2025 23:50. Data created for academic year 2025/2026