Course detail

Ecology

FCH-BC_EKAcad. year: 2025/2026

The objective of the course is to give attendants common information from ecology. Structure of the course is following: Introduction to ecology - content and objectives, ecology subsections and relation to the other subjects, ecological niche - fundamental and realized; ecological media and ecological factors of environment; ecological valence and adaptation; ecological soil, water and air characteristics ( their effect on the life of organisms); population ecology - demecology, main attributes of the population (natality, mortality, abundance, density, age structure, sex index) intraspecific relations (teritoriality, competetion, concurention) interspecific relations; communities - biocoenosis, its characteristics, classificacion and structure; ecosystem - productivity and production, food chains, ecosystem stability, important ecosystems and structure of their biocoenosis; biogeography of Earth; landscape ecology, biosphere, man and the biosphere.

Language of instruction

Czech

Number of ECTS credits

Mode of study

Not applicable.

Guarantor

doc. MVDr. Helena Zlámalová Gargošová, Ph.D.

Department

Institute of Chemistry and Technology of Environmental Protection (ÚCHTOŽP)

Entry knowledge

Basic knowledge of the biology of plants and animals.

Rules for evaluation and completion of the course

The exam is a written test consisting of 16 questions. To obtain a classification in the range A - E is needed to obtain at least half the number of points. Each question is scored the same number of points. Oral examination is followed by half the number of points.
Attendance at lectures is recommended, but not controlled.

Aims

The main objective of this subject is mastering basic concepts and definitions in the field of ecology, is gaining knowledge of the functioning of the ecosystem and about the relationships between the basic components (producers, consumers, decomposers - inanimate environment) and impact of human activities on the ecosystem.
Mastering the terminology in the field of ecology and knowledge of ecosystem functioning and coherence relations between its various components enable students to better understand the continuity in other related subjects such as environmental chemistry.
Increased knowledge, skills and competencies of students will be reflected in the following areas:
1. Students will acquire basic knowledge about the environmental compertments and ecosystem functioning.
2. Students will understand the relations between abiotic and biotic components of the environment.
3. Students will know the basic biogeochemical cycles and will realize the context of transport and fate of anthropogenic pollutants
4. Students will be able to apply acquired knowledge in the field of environmental protection.
5. Students will have a good theoretical background for other courses, especially for environmental chemistry and technology.

Study aids

Not applicable.

Prerequisites and corequisites

Not applicable.

Basic literature

Begon,M.- Harper,J.- Townsend,C: Ekologie, jedinci, populace a společenstva, Olomouc: Universita J.Palackého, 1986 - 949 s. (CS)
Laštůvka Z. & Krejčová P. 2000: Ekologie. Konvoj: Brno, 185 str. (CS)
LOSOS, B. a kol Ekologie živočichů. Praha, 1985 (CS)
Palatý, J., Paleček, J.: Základy ekologie. VŠCHT Praha, 1992 (CS)
Pelikán, J. Přehled obecné ekologie, VFU Brno, 1993. (CS)

Type of course unit

Lecture

26 hod., optionally

Teacher / Lecturer

doc. MVDr. Helena Zlámalová Gargošová, Ph.D.

Syllabus

1. Basic terminology, ecosystem, organisms in ecosystem.
2. Organism and environmental, terms (biotope, ecotypes, territory, habitat, niche. . . ).
3. Kinds of organisms, ecological rules.
4. Ecological factors, abiotic and biotic, intensity of factors, bioindicators.
5. Biosphere, atmosphere, pedosphere - relationship to the alive organisms.
6. Biogeochemical cycles, exchange of substances between geospheres.
7. Population, definitions, main attributes of population, relationships between individuals of a given population, interaction of population and environment.
8. Biocoenosis, synecology - definition, main characteristics of biocoenosis, food chains, trophic levels.
9. Relationships between populations (symbiosis, competition, parasitism, etc.)
10. Ecosystem, ecosystem functioning, stages of ecosystem development - climax, succession.
11. Anthropogenic changes in the cycle of elements (human intervention in the geochemical regime of the Earth).
12.Biogeography, man and the biosphere.
13. Landscape ecology.