Course: Ecology I

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Course title Ecology I
Course code KBD/QEKO1
Organizational form of instruction Lecture
Level of course Bachelor
Year of study 2
Semester Winter
Number of ECTS credits 4
Language of instruction Czech
Status of course Compulsory
Form of instruction Face-to-face
Work placements unspecified
Recommended optional programme components None
Lecturer(s)
  • Čížková Hana, prof. RNDr. CSc.
Course content
1. Ecology, its relationship to other sciences, the importance of ecology, fields of ecology, basic principles of ecology. 2. Evolutionary biology, speciation, extinction, convergence, divergence, biological species concept, adaptation, natural selection. 3. Ecological factors of the environment, interaction between the organism and abiotic components of the external environment. Liebig's law of the minimum. Shelford's Law of Tolerance. Ecological valence and limiting factor. Ecological niche concept. 4. Abiotic factors and their effect on organisms. 5. Flows of energy and substances in nature. Biogeochemical cycles, hydrological cycle. 6. Biotic environmental factors - relationships between organisms, commensalism, amensalism, neutralism, mutualism. 7. Basics of population ecology, population and population characteristics, basic population parameters. Population stability. 8. Migration, invasion, dispersion. Distribution of individuals in the population. 9. Population dynamics and population cycles, population growth models. Life histories, r and K life strategies. 10. Metapopulation, problems of small populations, applications in conservation biology. 11. Intraspecific competition, exploitation, interference, territoriality, logistic equation of intraspecific competition. 12. Interspecific competition, logistic model of intraspecific competition, principle of competitive exclusion, Tilman's differentiation model none. 13. Predation, functional classification of predation, effect of predation on the prey population, behavior of the predator, behavioral ecology, basic methods of nutrition, population dynamics of predation - model of Lotka and Volterra. 14. Repetition of the knowledge of autecology and demecology, emphasizing connections.

Learning activities and teaching methods
Monologic (reading, lecture, briefing), Blended learning, Flipped classroom
  • Class attendance - 16 hours per semester
  • Preparation for classes - 46 hours per semester
  • Preparation for credit - 38 hours per semester
Learning outcomes
The aim of the subject is to familiarize the students with basic ecological laws in nature. Ecology I. is devoted to autecology and demecology (ie ecology at the level of individuals and populations).
The subject Ecology I. is an introduction to general ecology as a science investigating the relationships between organisms and the environment and between organisms.
Prerequisites
unspecified

Assessment methods and criteria
Written examination

Credit - a seminar where students present a report on a given topic, participation in the seminar, a credit test.
Recommended literature
  • Begon, M., Harper, J. L., Townsend, C. R.:. Ekologie, jedinci, populace, společenstva. Univerzita Palackého v Olomouci, Olomouc, 1997. ISBN 80-7067-695-7.
  • Kolář F. et al. Ochrana přírody z pohledu biologa. Proč a jak chránit českou přírodu.. Praha, 2012. ISBN 978-80-7363-414-8.
  • Molles, V. M. Ecology: Concepts and Applications. New York, 2010.
  • Odum, E. P. Základy obecné ekologie. Akademia Praha, 1977.
  • Rajchard J. et al. Ekologie I - III.. ZF JU, České Budějovice, 2002.
  • Storch, D., Mihulka, S. Úvod do současné ekologie. Portál, Praha, 2000. ISBN 80-7178-462-1.
  • Tkadlec, E. Populační ekologie. Struktura, růst a dynamika populací. Olomouc, 2008. ISBN 978-80-244-2149-0.
  • Townsend, C. R., Begon, M., Harper, J. L. Základy ekologie. Univerzita Palackého v Olomouci, Olomouc, 2010. ISBN 978-80-244-2478-1.


Study plans that include the course
Faculty Study plan (Version) Category of Branch/Specialization Recommended year of study Recommended semester
Faculty: Faculty of Agriculture and Technology Study plan (Version): Sustainable Systems in Agricultural Land (2010) Category: Agriculture and forestry 1 Recommended year of study:1, Recommended semester: Winter
Faculty: Faculty of Agriculture and Technology Study plan (Version): Agricultural Ecology (2013) Category: Agriculture and forestry 2 Recommended year of study:2, Recommended semester: Winter