Biogeochemistry and biogeography

obligatory courses

The course presents:1. problems connected with biogenic elements circularion, both currently and in Earth geological past, as well as problems of athropopressure and presence of xenobiotics in the environment2. spatial and temporal distribution of organisms on the Earth, mechanisms of dispersion and their effect against a background of biosphere evolution. Fundamentals of biogeography, Fito and zoogeographical divisions. Human role in biosphere shaping.

The course presents:1. Structure of the Earth including lithosphere, atmosphere and hydrosphere2. Occurrence of the most important biogenic elements and their compounds in the environment3. Organic and inorganic xenobiotics – characteristics, occurrence, sources, environmental problems4. Sustainable use of renewable and non-renewable resources, including energy resources5. Aims, problems and methods of investigations use in biogeography.6. Ecological constitution of organisms and possibilities of plants and animals dispersion. Effects of dispersion – colonization, expansion. Islands as territories of natural ecological expansions. 7. Factors limiting distribution of organisms (biotic and abiotic). Historical factors – changes of abiotic environment and living world in different geological epochs. Variability of environmental factors and species extinctions rate 8. Range of distribution. Relict and endemic species.9. Biosphere regionalization – phyto and zoogeographical divisions. Plant formations and biomes.10. Anthropological changes of flora, vegetation and animals. Anthropopressure and synanthropization. 11. Plant cover and animal world of Poland and their changes in Pleistocene and Holocene.

For English track:1. Alloway B. J., Ayres D. C., (1998) Chemical principles of Environmental pollution. Stanley Thornes (Publisgers) Ltd. UK.2. O’Neill P (1993) Environmental chemistry. Chapman & Hall. UK3. Craig J. R., Vaugam D. J., Skinner B. J. (2001) Resources of the Earth – Origin, Use and Environmental Impact. Pearson Education Inc. 4. Vernadsky V. I., (2007) Essays on Geochemistry & the Biosphere, tr. Olga Barash, Santa Fe, NM, Synergetic Press5. McCarthy, Dennis (2009). Here be dragons : how the study of animal and plant distributions revolutionized our views of life and Earth. Oxford & New York: Oxford University Press6. Lomolino, M.V, B.R. Riddle, R.J. Whittaker, and J.H. Brown. 2010. Biogeography. 4th Ed. Sinauer7. Lomolino, M.V., D.F. Sax, J.H. Brown. 2004. Foundations of Biogeography: Classic Papers with Commentaries. University of Chicago Press.For Polish track:1. lloway B. J., Ayres D. C., (1999) Chemiczne podstawy zanieczyszczenia środowiska. PWN. Warszawa. 2. O’Neill P (1997) Chemia środowiska. PWN Warszawa.3. Kornaś J., Medwecka-Kornaś A. 2002. Geografia roślin. Wyd. Nauk. PWN, Warszawa.4. Podbielkowski Z. 1991. Geografia roślin. WSiP, Warszawa.5. Udvardy M.D.F. 1978. Zoogeografia dynamiczna, PWN, Warszawa.6. Podbielkowski Z. Szata Roślinna Ziemi. 1997. Wielka Encyklopedia Geografii Świata, t. VII. Wyd. Kurpisz, Poznań.7. Umiński T. 1998. Zwierzęta Ziemi. Wielka Encyklopedia Geografii Świata, t. XIII. Wyd. Kurpisz, Poznań.8. Kostrowicki A. S. 1999. Geografia biosfery. Biogeografia dynamiczna lądów. Wyd. Nauk. PWN, Warszawa.9. Weiner J. 1999. Życie i ewolucja biosfery. Podręcznik ekologii ogólnej. Wyd. Naukowe PWN, Warszawa.

After completing this course students obtain the following competences:

Biocheochemistry: Students know structure of Earth; can describe lithosphere, atmosphere and hydrosphere; know Goldschmidt classification of elements; can characterize main biogenic elements; know basic chemical and toxicological features of selected xenobiotics; can distinguish between renewable and non-renewable resources; know the bases of sustainable use of resources;

Biogeography: Students know aims and tasks of biogeography; can name main factors that currently shape distribution of living organisms on Earth; know how the current distribution is related to the past events; knows how plants and animals disperse; understand the concept of geographical ranges and know how they are established and modified; understands regionalization of the biosphere; can assess human impact on the biosphere, especially on distribution of living organisms.