Course: Zoogeography

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Course title Zoogeography
Course code ZOO/ZZP
Organizational form of instruction Lecture
Level of course Master
Year of study 1
Semester Winter
Number of ECTS credits 2
Language of instruction Czech
Status of course Compulsory, Compulsory-optional
Form of instruction Face-to-face
Work placements This is not an internship
Recommended optional programme components None
Lecturer(s)
  • Kundrata Robin, doc. RNDr. Ph.D.
Course content
Zoogeographical regions and their characteristics. Sources of zoogeographical data, mapping of animal occurrences, and methods of visualizing species distributions. Interpretation of zoogeographical maps. Types of distribution ranges and geographical distribution patterns of individual taxa. Abiotic and biotic factors determining animal distributions and range boundaries. Dispersal and vicariance. Effects of glacial cycles and plate tectonics on animal distributions. Equilibrium theory of island biogeography. Phylogeography. Species diversity, anthropogenic impacts on animal distributions, and biodiversity hotspots. Emphasis is placed on the evolutionary and ecological mechanisms shaping animal distributions, their relevance to nature conservation, and the zoogeography of tropical ecosystems.

Learning activities and teaching methods
Lecture
Learning outcomes
To understand the historical and contemporary (ecological) causes of animal distribution.
Upon completion of the course, the student should be able to apply knowledge of evolutionary theory, historical geography, and ecology to explain the present and historical distribution of animals, explain the importance of dispersal and source-sink dynamics in shaping species distributions, characterize human impacts on the distribution of organisms and their consequences for nature conservation, understand the concept of global biodiversity hotspots, and characterize the fauna of the major zoogeographical regions of the world.
Prerequisites
Basic knowledge of biology and geography.

Assessment methods and criteria
Written exam

Knowledge corresponding to the course content. The examination consists of a written test with five questions scored as follows: 2 points = correct answer, 1 point = partially correct/incomplete answer, 0 points = incorrect answer. The maximum score is 10 points; grading: 9-10 points = A, 8 points = B, 7 points = C, 6 points = D, 5 points = E.
Recommended literature
  • Avise, J. C. (2000). Phylogeography: The History and Formation of Species. Cambridge, Massachusetts, USA.
  • Cox, C. B., Moore, P. D. & Ladle, R. J. (2016). Biogeography: An Ecological and Evolutionary Approach. 9th Edition. Chichester, UK / Hoboken, NJ, USA.
  • Lomolino, M. V., Riddle, B. R. & Whittaker, R. J. (2017). Biogeography: Biological Diversity Across Space and Time. 5th Edition. Sunderland, Massachusetts, USA.
  • Morrone, J. J. (2009). Evolutionary Biogeography: An Integrative Approach with Case Studies. New York, NY, USA.
  • Opatrný, E. (1999). Zoogeografie. Olomouc.
  • Osborne, P. L. (2012). Tropical Ecosystems and Ecological Concepts. 2nd Edition. Cambridge, Massachusetts, USA.
  • Sedlag, U. Zvířata na zeměkouli. Praha. 1986.
  • Whitmore, T. C. (1998). An Introduction to Tropical Rain Forests. 2nd Edition. Oxford.
  • Whittaker, R. J., Fernández-Palacios, J. M. & Matthews, T. J. (2023). Island Biogeography: Geo-environmental Dynamics, Ecology, Evolution, Human Impact, and Conservation. 3rd Edition.. Oxford.


Study plans that include the course
Faculty Study plan (Version) Category of Branch/Specialization Recommended year of study Recommended semester
Faculty: Faculty of Science Study plan (Version): Ecology and Environmental Protection (2021) Category: Ecology and environmental protection 1 Recommended year of study:1, Recommended semester: Winter
Faculty: Faculty of Science Study plan (Version): Teaching Training in Biology for Secondary Schools (2019) Category: Pedagogy, teacher training and social care 1 Recommended year of study:1, Recommended semester: Winter
Faculty: Faculty of Science Study plan (Version): Zoology (2021) Category: Biology courses 2 Recommended year of study:2, Recommended semester: Winter
Faculty: Faculty of Science Study plan (Version): Teaching Training in Biology and Environmental Education for Secondary Schools (2021) Category: Pedagogy, teacher training and social care 1 Recommended year of study:1, Recommended semester: Winter