|
Lecturer(s)
|
-
Berec Michal, doc. Mgr. Ph.D.
|
|
Course content
|
Content of lectures: Amniota, Reptilia and evolution. Systematics. Anatomy (skin, skeleton, senses). Physiology (thermoregulation, water relations, energetics). Reproduction and life history (sexual and asexual reproduction, reproductive cycles, gametes, fertilization and development, sex determination, life cycles, parental care, vivipary). Movements and orientation (types of movement, homerange, territoriality, migration and homing, mechanisms of orientation). Food and foraging ecology (foraging strategies, skull kinetics, venom, pit organ, herbivory, optimal diet). Communication (types of signals, constraints on signal production). Mating systems and sexual selection (relationship of mating systems to sexual selection, reproductive success, sexual dimorphism). Enemies and defence (parasites, predator-prey relationships, antipredator strategies). Population biology (species diversity gradients, determinants of assemblage structure and composition, case studies). Protection (causes of reptiles decline, human influence, patterns of species extinctions, conservation options). Content of practices: Four-day excursion to the protected area Křivoklátsko
|
|
Learning activities and teaching methods
|
Monologic (reading, lecture, briefing), Individual preparation for exam, Excursion, Work with multi-media resources (texts, internet, IT technologies)
- Preparation for classes
- 20 hours per semester
- Field trip
- 30 hours per semester
- Preparation for credit
- 20 hours per semester
- Preparation for exam
- 40 hours per semester
- Class attendance
- 52 hours per semester
|
|
Learning outcomes
|
The origin, evolution, current diversity and all the main life history aspects of reptiles will be presented
Based on the acquired theoretical knowledge, very good orientation in the systematics and biology of reptiles.
|
|
Prerequisites
|
unspecified
|
|
Assessment methods and criteria
|
Combined exam
|
|
Recommended literature
|
-
Baruš, V. a O. Oliva 1992: Plazi Reptilia. Academia, Praha.
-
Moravec, J. 1999: Svět zvířat VII. Obojživelníci a plazi. Albatros, Praha.
-
Pough, F. M. et al. 1998: Herpetology. Prentice Hall, Upper Saddle River, NJ.
-
Zug, G. R. 1993: Herpetology, an Introductory Biology of Amphibians and Reptiles. Academic Press, San Diego, CA.
|