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Introduction to Biology and Ecology

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

Course Unit Code546-0510/05
Number of ECTS Credits Allocated5 ECTS credits
Type of Course Unit *Choice-compulsory type B
Level of Course Unit *First Cycle
Year of Study *Third 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
KUP73doc. Ing. Jiří Kupka, Ph.D.
Summary
After completion of the „Fundamentals of biology and ecology“ students will understand the origin of life on Earth, the basic units of life – cells, evolution of species and the diversity of life, ecology of communities, dynamic characteristics of ecosystems and global issues of the environment.
Learning Outcomes of the Course Unit
The student will gain a comprehensive overview of basic information about living matter, its composition, structure and functions at various hierarchical levels.
Course Contents
1. Sorting of biological and ecological sciences. Importance and application of biological and environmental sciences in technical fields.
2. Life in the Universe. The conditions for life on Earth. The emergence of living systems and their evolution.
3. Diversity of organisms (viruses, bacteria, fungi, animals, plants).
4. Cell theory. Genetics (chromosome structure, the structure of DNA, RNA, genetic aspects mitosis and meiosis, mutational changes in genotype).
5. Relations between the organism and the environment (niche, ecological valence, ecological optimum).
6. The conditions for life (climate, temperature, water and humidity, light, soil).
7. Type (adaptation, specialization, genetic and phenotypic polymorphism, fitness, individual).
8. Population (density, distribution, age, mortality, natality, population growth and regulation of migration and dispersion of organisms, Intraspecific and interspecific competition, predation, parasitism, and mutualism).
9. Communities (communities in the arrangement of space, structure communities in time - succession, stability, flexibility and community resistance).
10. Ecosystems (biosphere, energy flow and productivity of ecosystems, trophic structure, biochemical cycles, biomes).
11. Characteristics of the human environment. Atmospheric pollution, climate disruption (ozone depletion, greenhouse effect, acid rain, dust).
12. Pollution of soil (soil erosion, soil depletion and degradation, cutting of tropical forests, heavy metals, pesticides, etc.).
13. Pollution of fresh waters and oceans (eutrophication, industrial waste, etc.).
Recommended or Required Reading
Required Reading:
GERALD, M. C., G. E. GERALD. The Biology Book: From the Origin of Life to Epigenetics, 250 Milestones in the History of Biology. New York: Sterling, 2015. 528 p. ISBN: 978-1-4549-1068-8
PRIMACK, R. B. Essentials of Conservation Biology. Palgrave Macmillan, 2014. 603 p. ISBN: 9781605352893
TOWNSEND, C. R., M. BEGON and J. L. HARPER. Essentials of Ecology. Wiley-Blackwell, 2008. 532 p. ISBN-13: 978-1405156585
SALA, O. E., R. B. JACKSON, H. A. MOONEY and R. W. HOWARTH (Eds.). Methods in Ecosystem Science. Springer, 2000. 421 p. ISBN 978-1-4612-1224-9
JERSÁKOVÁ, J., K. KINDLMANN a R. B. PRIMACK. Úvod do biologie ochrany přírody. Praha: Portál, 2011. 472 s. ISBN:978-80-7367-595-0
ROSYPAL, S. Nový přehled biologie. Scientia, 2003. 796 s. ISBN: 80-86960-23-4
SOUTHWOOD, T. R. E. a P. A. HENDERSON. Ecological Methods. Wiley-Blackwell, 2000. 575 s. ISBN 10: 0632054778
TOWNSEND, C. R., M. BEGON a J. L. HARPER. Základy ekologie. Olomouc: UP Olomouc, 2010. 505 s. ISBN 978-80-244-2478-1
Recommended Reading:
LINDDENMAYER, D. B. and G. E. LIKENS. Effective Ecological Monitoring. Routledge, 2010. 184 p. ISBN 10: 1849711453
PEDROTTI, F. Plant and Vegetation Mapping (Geobotany Studies). Springer, 2013. 294 p. ISBN-13: 978-3642302343
SPELLERBERG, I. F. Monitoring Ecological Change. New Zealand: Lincoln University, 2005. 412 p. ISBN 9780521527286
SCHWOERBEL, J. Methods of Hydrobiology (Freshwater Biology). Elsevier, 210 p. ISBN 978-0-08-006604-2
DYKYJOVÁ, D. a kol. Metody studia ekosystémů. Praha: Academia, 1989. 690 s.
LELLÁK, J., a F. KUBÍČEK. Hydrobiologie. Praha: Univerzita Karlova, 1991, 257 s. ISBN 80-7066-530-0
MORAVEC, J. Fytocenologie. Praha: Academia, 1994. 403 s. ISBN 80-200-0128-X
SPELLERBERG, I. F. Monitorování ekologických změn. Brno : EkoCentrum: Brno, 1995. 187 s. ISBN 80-901855-2-5
Planned learning activities and teaching methods
Lectures, Tutorials, Experimental work in labs, Project work, Terrain work
Assesment methods and criteria
Task TitleTask TypeMaximum Number of Points
(Act. for Subtasks)
Minimum Number of Points for Task Passing
Credit and ExaminationCredit and Examination100 (100)51
        CreditCredit33 17
        ExaminationExamination67 18