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Fundamentals of biology and ecology

* Exchange students do not have to consider this information when selecting suitable courses for an exchange stay.

Course Unit Code9360-0149/01
Number of ECTS Credits Allocated2 ECTS credits
Type of Course Unit *Choice-compulsory type A
Level of Course Unit *Second Cycle
Year of Study *First Year
Semester when the Course Unit is deliveredSummer Semester
Mode of DeliveryFace-to-face
Language of InstructionCzech
Prerequisites and Co-Requisites Course succeeds to compulsory courses of previous semester
Name of Lecturer(s)Personal IDName
MOT127Mgr. Oldřich Motyka, Ph.D.
Summary
Subject is focused on introduction to the fundamental terms, definitions and concepts of biology and ecology relevant to the studied field of nanotechnology. Students are acquianted with the structure of animal and plant cells as well as with the fundamental taxonomic classification of animals and plants. Special attention is paid to different physiology of these groups of organisms. The subject includes an introduction to genetics and ecology while, in the case of ecology, most of the lectures are focused on the application of ecological principals in the study of nanotechnology. Students gain knowledge on all kinds of interactions between organisms and between organisms and their environment as well as on the possibilities of quantification and analyses of the environmental changes.
Learning Outcomes of the Course Unit
Students can define fundamental concepts in the fields of biology and ecology relevant to the field of their study – nanotechnology, they are able to distinguish between the structure of animal and plant cells and have understanding of the fundamental taxonomic classification and phylogeny of plants and animals. Students are able to explain the differences between these groups of organisms in terms of their physiology as well as its importance in assessment of the impact nanotechnology can have on the environment. They are able to describe the interactions between organisms and between organisms and their environment and choose proper way of quantification and analysis of the nanotechnology-induced changes in the environment.
Course Contents
1. Fundamental definitions of biology and ecology: biology and ecology as natural sciences. Brief history of biology and ecology, definition of life
2. Cell: cell structure, differences between plant and animal cell, cell wall, cell membrane, organelles
3. Animals: basic taxonomic classification, evolution, protostomes and deuterostomes, invertebrates and vertebrates
4. Plants: basic taxonomic classification, evolution, non-vascular and vascular plants, gymnosperms and angiosperms, monocots and dicotyledons
5. Animal physiology: physiology of the animal cell, metabolism, thermoregulation, breathing
6. Plant physiology: physiology of the plant cell, metabolism, uptake, transport and excretion of water and nutrients, photosynthesis
7. Essentials of genetics: genes and alleles, Mendel’s laws, heredity, molecular basis of heredity, mutations, replication and transcription
8. Ecology: disciplines of ecology, ecology according to the object of the research, related life sciences, ecology as mathematical biology
9. Ecology: biogeochemical cycles, water, oxygen and carbon cycles, food chains – producers, consumers and decomposers, grazing food chain, detritus food chain, parasitic food chain
10. Ecology: Interaction between the organisms and their environment – fundamental terms and definitions, ecological valence, environmental conditions affecting the organism – biotic and abiotic
11. Ecology: interspecific and intraspecific interactions – neutralism, protocooperation, commensalism, mutualism, amensalism, competition, predation, parasitism; territoriality, same-species groups of organisms
12. Ecology: essentials of ethology and behavioural ecology – terms and concepts, sociality, altruism, innate behaviour, learning
13. Ecology: environmental change assessment, monitoring of the environment, bioindication, biomonitoring
14. Revision
Recommended or Required Reading
Required Reading:
BEGON, Michael, John L. HARPER a Colin R. TOWNSEND, 2005. Ecology: From Individuals to Ecosystems, 4th Edition. Malden, MA: Blackwell Pub. ISBN 978-1-405-11117-1.
TOWNSEND, Colin R., Michael BEGON and John L. HARPER, 2008. Essentials of ecology. 3rd ed. Malden, MA: Blackwell Pub. ISBN 978-1405156585.
MILLER, Stephen A a John P HARLEY, 2016. Zoology. Tenth edition. New York, NY: McGraw-Hill Education. ISBN 978-0077837273.
RAVEN, Peter H, Ray Franklin EVERT a Susan E EICHHORN, 2013. Biology of plants. Eighth edition. New York: W.H. Freeman and Company Publishers. ISBN 978-142-9219-617.
BEGON, Michael, John L. HARPER a Colin R. TOWNSEND, 1997. Ekologie: jedinci, populace a společenstva. Olomouc. ISBN 80-706-7695-7.
DOLNÝ, Aleš, 2005. Ekologie 1. Ostrava: Ostravská univerzita. ISBN 80-736-8088-2.
ROSYPAL, Stanislav, 2003. Nový přehled biologie. Praha: Scientia. ISBN 978-80-86960-23-4.
TOWNSEND, Colin R., Michael BEGON a John L. HARPER, 2008. Essentials of ecology. Třetí vydání. Malden, MA: Blackwell Pub. ISBN 978-1405156585.
Recommended Reading:
TAIZ, Lincoln. a Eduardo. ZEIGER, 2006. Plant physiology. 4th ed. Sunderland, Mass.: Sinauer Associates. ISBN 08-789-3856-7.
WILLMER, Pat, G. STONE a Ian A. JOHNSTON, 2000. Environmental physiology of animals. Malden, MA: Blackwell Science. ISBN 06-320-3517-X.
GLOSER, Jan, 1998. Fyziologie rostlin. 2. rozš. vyd. Brno: Masarykova univerzita. ISBN 80-210-1789-9.
KOLÁŘ, Filip, 2012. Ochrana přírody z pohledu biologa: proč a jak chránit českou přírodu. Praha: Dokořán. ISBN 978-80-7363-414-8.
TAIZ, Lincoln. a Eduardo. ZEIGER, 2006. Plant physiology. Čtvrté vydání. Sunderland, Mass.: Sinauer Associates. ISBN 08-789-3856-7.
VÁCHA, Martin, 2004. Srovnávací fyziologie živočichů: Druhé vydání. Brno: Masarykova univerzita. ISBN 80-210-3379-7.
WILLMER, Pat, G. STONE a Ian A. JOHNSTON, 2000. Environmental physiology of animals. Malden, MA: Blackwell Science. ISBN 06-320-3517-X.
Planned learning activities and teaching methods
Lectures
Assesment methods and criteria
Task TitleTask TypeMaximum Number of Points
(Act. for Subtasks)
Minimum Number of Points for Task Passing
ExaminationExamination100 51