Introduction to the study of ecology: the roots of the discipline, basic definitions, questions addressed and methods used, and proximate and ultimate explanations. Evolutionary ecology as the fundamental ecological background (adaptation, evolution, convergence, divergence, speciation, Darwin and Wallacethe foundations of the theory of evolution by natural selectionthe role of genetic variability and natural selection). The environment and organismsecological factors and resources, ecological valence, and the fundamental and realized ecological niche. The main factors and resources affecting organisms; adaptations of plants and animals to the most important environmental factors. Populations; basic population processes affecting population dynamics; the negative relationship between population density and growth rate; exponential versus logistic population growth; and the main processes regulating population growth. Communities; interspecific interactions; food webs; diversity; ecological stability; and succession (basic models of successional development, types of succession and their parameters, and the main differences between them). Ecosystems; energy flow and nutrient cycling; biotic and abiotic components; functional processes; ecological mechanisms; trophic relationships; productivity; and decomposition. Principles governing the distribution of the major global ecosystems (biomes) on Earth, their basic characteristics, and the adaptations of their flora and fauna.
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Adequate knowledge of the topics covered in the lectures (see the course content in the Content section).
Student - is familiar with the evolutionary background of biology and ecology; explains key concepts and processes, particularly adaptation, convergence, divergence, speciation, genetic variability, natural selection, life history of organisms, and evolutionary trade-offs (1.1.1., 1.1.3., 1.1.7., 1.2.4.) - characterises ecological factors and resources, ecological valence, and the ecological niche; distinguishes between the fundamental and realised niche and explains the adaptations of plants and animals to environmental conditions (1.1.1., 1.1.3., 1.1.7., 1.2.3.) - explains the processes influencing population dynamics, including the relationship between population density and growth rate, exponential and logistic growth, and mechanisms of population growth regulation (1.1.1., 1.1.3., 1.2.3.) - characterises organism communities, interspecific interactions, trophic relationships, and food webs; clarifies the importance of diversity, ecological stability, and succession, including basic models of successional development (1.1.1., 1.1.3., 1.1.7., 1.2.3., 1.2.4.) - explains ecosystem functioning in terms of energy flow, matter cycling, productivity, and decomposition; describes the biogeochemical cycles of carbon, nitrogen, phosphorus, sulphur, and water, and clarifies the principles of productivity limitation in both terrestrial and aquatic environments (1.1.1., 1.1.3., 1.1.7., 1.2.3.) - characterises the main types of global ecosystems and biomes, their distribution on Earth, and the adaptations of organisms to the conditions of these environments; explains the main gradients of biological diversity and their determinants (1.1.1., 1.1.3., 1.1.7., 1.2.3., 1.2.4.) - connects ecological knowledge with issues of environmental protection, landscape change, natural resource use, and human impacts on ecosystems; understands ecology as a discipline closely linked in particular to biology, geology, geography, and environmental education (1.1.7., 1.2.3., 1.2.4., 1.2.9., 2.3.2., 2.3.8.) - works with ecological knowledge as the product of scientific inquiry; distinguishes scientifically supported information from unsubstantiated interpretations and is aware of the importance of expert knowledge in shaping attitudes towards environmental issues (1.1.3., 1.2.8., 6.2.1., 6.2.4.)
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Begon, M., Harper, J., Townsend, C.R. (1997). Ekologie: jedinci, populace a společenstva. Olomouc.
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Laštůvka Z., Krejčová P. Ekologie. Brno. 2014.
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Storch, D., Mihulka, S. Úvod do současné ekologie.
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Townsend, C.R. et al. (2010). Základy ekologie. Olomouc.
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