Course: Ecology of Animals

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Course title Ecology of Animals
Course code EKO/PGSEZ
Organizational form of instruction Lecture
Level of course Doctoral
Year of study not specified
Semester Winter and summer
Number of ECTS credits 15
Language of instruction Czech, English
Status of course unspecified
Form of instruction Face-to-face
Work placements This is not an internship
Recommended optional programme components None
Lecturer(s)
  • Tkadlec Emil, prof. MVDr. CSc.
Course content
Basic concepts and structure of animal ecology, their environments, factors, tolerance limits, effects on ontogenesis and phylogenesis, adaptation, speciation, domestication. Radiation, sources, spectrum, intensity, effects on animals. Perception of light and responses, periodicity, photoperiods, biological rhythms. Temperature, heat, temperature-dependent processes. Adaptations to cold and heat, hibernation. Biogeographical rules in ecology (Bergman's, Allen's, Gloger's, Jordan's). Water as environment, limiting factors, adaptations to water. Terrestrial environment, limiting factors, specific adaptations, atmosphere, gases, pressure and airflow. Water in terrestrial ecosystems, water requirements. Soil environment and its properties. Zooedaphon. Intraspecific interactions. Territory, home range, species range, isolation, Allee principle. Populations, throphic forms, adaptation to food, food selection. Interspecific interactions. Communities, types, zonality, vertical and horizontal structure. Qualitative and quantitative traits. Ecosystem, trophic structure, ecological niche, energy flow, nutrient cycles. Primary and secondary productivity, decomposition. Succession, strategies, climax communities, stability. Bioms. Biodiversity, global gradients, hot-spots. Hypotheses to explain distribution of biodiversity.

Learning activities and teaching methods
Lecture, Work with Text (with Book, Textbook)
Learning outcomes

Knowledge of animal ecology and individual adapatations to environment.
Prerequisites
Completed Master's Degree study.

Assessment methods and criteria
Oral exam

Oral exam
Recommended literature
  • Begon, M., Harper, J., Townsend, C.R., 1997. (1997). Ekologie. Jedinci, populace a společenstva.. Vydavatelství Univerzity Palackého 949 pp.
  • Losos B, Gulička J, Lellák J, Pelikán J. Ekologie živočichů.. SPN Praha, 320 s.
  • Louw G. 1992. Physiological Animal Ecology.. Longmal Scientific and Technical, Essex, UK, 288 pp.
  • Vlasák P. 1986. Ekologie savců.. Academia Praha 292 s.
  • Wilmer P, Stone G, Johnston I. 2005. Environmental Physiology of Animals.. Blackwell Publishing. 754 pp.


Study plans that include the course
Faculty Study plan (Version) Category of Branch/Specialization Recommended year of study Recommended semester