| Course title | Biogeochemical Cycles |
|---|---|
| Course code | KBE/102 |
| Organizational form of instruction | Lecture |
| Level of course | Bachelor |
| Year of study | 2 |
| Frequency of the course | In each academic year, in the summer semester. |
| Semester | Summer |
| Number of ECTS credits | 3 |
| Language of instruction | Czech |
| Status of course | Compulsory |
| Form of instruction | Face-to-face |
| Work placements | This is not an internship |
| Recommended optional programme components | None |
| Lecturer(s) |
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| Course content |
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Content of lectures: 1. Basic terminology and definitions, ecological stoichiometry, case studies. 2. Earth development; development of life on the Earth. 3. Atmosphere, structure and composition; global atmospheric circulation; energy balance of the Earth; glasshouse effect; climate; human impact. 4. Ocean: structure, circulation, primary production, ocean atmosphere land interactions; climate and its effect on biome distribution, primary production and biodiversity; long-term and short-term climate changes. 5. Litosphere: geological cycle origin of minerals; erosion; weathering; origin of clay minerals. Pedosphere: soil profile; composition and development of soils; soil distribution on the Earth, permafrost, human impact. 6. Hydrological cycle: principles of water balance, evapotranspiration, water movement in terrestrial ecosystems, water movement in plants, water loss from ecosystems, human impact. Carbon cycle in terrestrial ecosystems: gross primary production (GPP); photosynthesis; coupling of carbon and hydrological cycles; effect of environmental factors on GPP; GPP measurement. 7. Carbon cycle in terrestrial ecosystems: net primary production (NPP); physiological control of NPP; net ecosystem production (NEP); carbon stock; soil carbon stock and transformation; effect of environmental factors on carbon transformation in soils; NEP measurement. 8. Nutrient cycling in terrestrial ecosystems: N cycle and coupling with C cycle; regulation of N transformation processes; human impact; N saturation. 9. Nutrient cycling in terrestrial ecosystems: P cycle, Ca, K and S cycles; human impact emission, deposition and acidification. 10. C and nutrient cycles in aquatic ecosystems: specificity of water environment; comparison of structure and processes in aquatic and terrestrial ecosystems primary production, trophic chains, adaptation of organisms on water environment; nutrient availability; human impact. 11. C and nutrient cycles in aquatic ecosystems: freshwater ecosystems: lakes, rivers river continuum concept and nutrient spiraling concept; C and nutrient cycles in wetlands: methane production, human impact. 12. Global carbon cycles: pools and fluxes; human impact. 13. Global oxygen, nitrogen and phosphorus cycles: pools and fluxes; human impact.
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| Learning activities and teaching methods |
Monologic (reading, lecture, briefing), Dialogic (discussion, interview, brainstorming), E-learning, Individual tutoring
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| Learning outcomes |
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are a very convenient way of understanding and presentation of processes on local, continental or global scales, both in natural conditions and under human impact. The course will make students familiar with cycling of major elements in preindustrial periods in the Earth crust, waters, atmosphere and soil and compare them with present and future situations modified and magnified by human activities.
Knowledge on basic mechanisms driving element cycling on Earth, and consequences of physical and chemical processes for ecosystems. Ability to assess consequences of human impact on basic global biogeochemical cycles. |
| Prerequisites |
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Basic knowledge on chemistry, physics and ecology principles
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| Assessment methods and criteria |
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Combined exam
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| Recommended literature |
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| Study plans that include the course |
| Faculty | Study plan (Version) | Category of Branch/Specialization | Recommended semester | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Faculty: Faculty of Science | Study plan (Version): Ecosystem Biology (1) | Category: Ecology and environmental protection | - | Recommended year of study:-, Recommended semester: Summer |
| Faculty: Faculty of Science | Study plan (Version): Ecosystem Biology (1) | Category: Ecology and environmental protection | - | Recommended year of study:-, Recommended semester: Summer |
| Faculty: Faculty of Science | Study plan (Version): Secondary Schools Teacher Training in Chemistry (1) | Category: Pedagogy, teacher training and social care | - | Recommended year of study:-, Recommended semester: Summer |
| Faculty: Faculty of Science | Study plan (Version): Ecosystem Biology (1) | Category: Ecology and environmental protection | - | Recommended year of study:-, Recommended semester: Summer |
| Faculty: Faculty of Science | Study plan (Version): Secondary Schools Teacher Training in Biology (1) | Category: Pedagogy, teacher training and social care | - | Recommended year of study:-, Recommended semester: Summer |
| Faculty: Faculty of Science | Study plan (Version): Biology (1) | Category: Biology courses | - | Recommended year of study:-, Recommended semester: Summer |
| Faculty: Faculty of Science | Study plan (Version): Biology for future teachers (1) | Category: Biology courses | - | Recommended year of study:-, Recommended semester: Summer |
| Faculty: Faculty of Science | Study plan (Version): Environmental Management (1) | Category: Ecology and environmental protection | 2 | Recommended year of study:2, Recommended semester: Summer |
| Faculty: Faculty of Science | Study plan (Version): Ecosystem Biology (1) | Category: Ecology and environmental protection | - | Recommended year of study:-, Recommended semester: Summer |
| Faculty: Faculty of Science | Study plan (Version): Secondary Schools Teacher Training in Biology (1) | Category: Pedagogy, teacher training and social care | - | Recommended year of study:-, Recommended semester: Summer |