Flora and Fauna

A. Floristic part

This part is conducted by the researchers of theDepartment of Molecular Phylogenetics and Evolution and the Department of Plant Ecology and Environment Protectio, University of Warsaw.The main aim of the course is to aquire the knowledge about flora of Poland in terms of its seasonal and spatial variability and about the main factors affeting plant diversity. Students learn to identify of plants using different keys and field guides and to recognize the most common species of the trees, bush and herbs.

Main subjects:

1. Flora and habitats of the forest (broadleaved, coniferous, riparian)

2. Flora and habitats of the meadows and pastures

3. Peat bogs and lowland bogs

4. Freshwater plants

5. Synanthropic plants (ruderal species and weeds)

Lab activity

1. The learning of using different types of keys in plant identification

2. The learning of identification of the most important plant famiilies, commonly occured in Poland

To pass the test of the floristic part the following knowledge and abilities are required: the knowledge about 100 plant species, chosen by student; practical using of the key to plant identification; the ability to make the characteristics: of the main families of the flowering plants and of the most typical habitats and plant communities.

B. Faunistic part

This part is conducted by the researchers of theDepartment of Ecology and Department of Hydrobiology, University of Warsaw. The main aims of this part of the course are: to aquire th e biological diversity of the most important groups animals in typical terrestrial and freshwater environmentsof Polish lowlands; to learn the methods ofcollecting and identification of the most common groups and species of fauna in particular environments; to get the knowledge of biology of those animals, their taksonomy and zoological nomenclature.

Main subjects

Each student takes part in three courses, concentrated on identification and biology of particular groups of animals: terrestrial invertebrates (incects, arachnids and snails), freshwater invertebrates (annelids, molluscs, arthropods) and vertebrates (fish, amphibians an birds. Each course incudes: field trips, collecting and observation of animals at field, lectures and practical lab activities. Each of the course ends with test.

To pass the test of the faunistic part the following knowledge and abilities are required: the ability of recognition of the most common animals on the level of species (vertebrates) or on higher level (invertebrates); the capability of using the keys to identification and field guides. Also the knowledge about the biology of selected animals and the field methods is required in tests.

After the course student:

1. Is capable to use different types of keys to identifying plants and animals and field guides to recognizing common species

2. Is able to characterize common floristic and faunistic communities in terrestrial freshwater environments typiocal for Polish lowlands

3. Knows the biology of common groups/species of plant and animals and the field methods of their collecting