Dynamic biogeography 2600-OG-EN-DB

Students will learn about factors shaping distribution of animals and plants on the global and local scale, with special emphasis focused on anthropogenic changes affecting the occurrence, migrations and extinctions of organisms. The course includes the basics of ecology, definitions of species, population and ecosystem. In particular, students will be acquainted with the topic of biological invasions, considered as one of the major threats to global biodiversity. They will learn about the mechanisms of invasions and become aware of environmental and economic consequences of this phenomenon.
Students will learn how to estimate biodiversity and observe changes in biodiversity using the case studies of terrestrial plants, freshwater fish, and macroinvertebrates exposed to various levels of drought-induced air exposure in habitats. Classes will include fieldwork during which students learn how to document the species' occurrences and collect field samples to estimate and compare biodiversity in different habitats. Students will learn about biodiversity mapping methods on various spatial scales. Then, during the laboratory classes, they will learn about the possibilities of participating in creating global data sets. The principles of operation and use of global databases on biodiversity and environmental variables will be discussed. Current methods of analyzing and processing data on species distribution will be presented, allowing for understanding global biodiversity patterns. The possibilities and limitations in conducting biogeographic research with the use of databases on species distribution, global environmental maps and geographic spatial information systems (GIS) will be discussed. Results obtained by students in the field will be presented by them and discussed during the seminar part of the course. Moreover, students will observe selected invasive species (in the field and laboratory, living or fixed specimens), which will be used as case studies of the biology of alien organisms and their environmental impact. Students will discuss major current controversies and main hypotheses concerning biological invasions during the seminar part of the course.

Total student workload

Contact hours (75 hrs.; 3.00 ECTS): - lab classes: 75 hrs. Individual student’s work (50 hrs.; 2.00 ECTS): - preparation to discussions: 25 hrs. - preparations of reports from the practical part of the course: 25 hrs. Altogether 125 hrs. - 5 ECTS credits

Learning outcomes - knowledge

Student: W1 – describes and explains mechanisms of plant geography – K_W04 W2 – describes the impact of plant and animal geography (including invasive species) on the environment, economy and human health – K_W06, K_W07 W3 – knows the recent literature on biogeography and invasions – K_W16 W4 – knows the principles of phytogeography and zoogeography – K_W05 W5 - explains the interactions between organisms and their environment (K_W07)

Learning outcomes - skills

Student: U1 – designs, conducts and interprets simple field and lab experiments under the teacher’s supervision –K_U04, K_U08, K_U10 U2 – reads scientific literature in the field of biogeography and invasions – K_U11 U3 – presents the results of conducted experiments and literature surveys –K_U09, K_U14

Learning outcomes - social competencies

Student: K1 – is critical with regard to the results of own work and data on plant and animal geography from scientific and popular sources – K_K01, K_K03, K_K04 K2 – is capable of team work during field and laboratory experiments – K_K11

Course coordinators

Jarosław Kobak
Małgorzata Poznańska-Kakareko

Teaching methods

Presentation, demonstration, seminar method, field work, preparing and conducting experiments, work with literature data

Expository teaching methods

- informative (conventional) lecture

Exploratory teaching methods

- field measurement
- experimental
- seminar
- laboratory
- project work
- practical
- presentation of a paper

Type of course

elective course

Prerequisites

non

Assessment criteria

• Evaluation of a report prepared on the basis of the conducted experiment (U1, U3, K1-2)
• Evaluation of a short presentation in the field of geography (mechanisms, important species, recent findings) on the basis of scientific literature provided by teachers (W1-5)
• Test of skills in identification of animal and plant species (W5)
• Activity during the classes (K1-2)

Practical placement

not aplicable

Bibliography

• Cox. G.W. 2004. Alien Species and Evolution. Island Press, Washington.
• Gherardi F. (ed.) 2007. Biological Invaders in Inland Waters: Profiles, Distribution and Threats. Springer, Dordrecht, The Netherlands
• MacFadyen S. 2024. An introduction to spatial data analysis for conservation ecology in R. https://docs.b-cubed.eu/tutorials/spatial-data-analysis-r/
• Scheldeman X.; van Zonneveld M. 2010. Training manual on spatial analysis of plant diversity and distribution. 179 p. https://hdl.handle.net/10568/72785
• Identification guide to freshwater macroinvertebrates. Stroud Water Research Center. https://stroudcenter.org/wp-content/uploads/StroudWebsiteMacroKeyFNL.pdf
• Identification of Freshwater Invertebrates. 2008 Pennsylvania Sea Grant. https://www.friendsofsligocreek.org/wp-content/uploads/2021/12/Identification-of-Freshwater-Invertebrates.pdf
• Current literature in scientific journals

Additional information

Additional information (registration calendar, class conductors, localization and schedules of classes), might be available in the USOSweb system:

Description of 2600-OG-EN-DB in USOSweb