Plant and animal ecophysiology

elective courses
optional courses

Classroom

Topics:

• The subject of ecophysiology. Decisive factors in organism distribution. Holistic approach in ecophysiology – bringing together microbe, plant and animal ecophysiology.

• Organisms in variable environments – adaptation, acclimatization and stress.

• Ecophysiological adaptations of microorganisms to aquatic environments

• Distribution and activity of aquatic microorganisms in diverse ecological niches.

• Ecophysiology of photosynthesis.

• Anatomical and physiological background of plant adaptation and acclimatization to high- and low temperature and water stresses.

• The role of nutrient and oxygen availability, and salinity on plant growth and distribution. 12. Animal’s respiration and blood circulation in the different environmental conditions.

• Animals on the land and in the extreme environments.

• Influence of climatic and anthropogenic changes in the environments on ecophysiological interactions between plants – animals and microorganisms.

Lectures:

1. The subject of ecophysiological studies. Decisive factors in organism didtribution: light, temperature, water availability, soil properties (nutrient content, salinity, redox state). Holistic approach in ecophysiology – bringing together microbe, plant and animal ecophysiology.

2. Organisms in variable environments – adaptation, acclimatization and stress. Do organisms (bacteria, plants and animals) differ in response to stress? Response to abiotic (thermal, hypoxia, drought) and biotic (eg parasites) stress in bacteria, plants and animals.

3. Ecophysiological adaptations (structural and biochemical) to aquatic environments

4. Distribution and activity of aquatic microorganisms in diverse ecological niches.

5. Aquatic microbial production of organic matter (photosynthesis and chemosynthesis)

6. Degradation and utilization of organic matter by aquatic microbial communities – trophic relationships, microbial loop.

7. Ecophysiology of photosynthesis: C3, C4 and CAM plants. The relevance of different modes of photosynthesis in relation to changing environmental conditions. Adaptation of plants to growth under different light regimes on organismal, cellular and organelle level. Photomorphogenesis and photoperiodism in plants from different climatic zones.

8. Anatomical and physiological background of plant high- and low temperature adaptation and acclimatization. Climatic factors and agriculture.

9. Water balance in plantsAnatomical and physiological adaptations to environments with seasonal and permanent low water availability.

10. The role of nutrient and oxygen availability, and salinity on plant growth and distribution. The importance of transport tissue in plant water and nutrient balance.

11. Water balance. Osmoregulation. Secretion and excretion.

12. Respiration and blood circulation in the different environmental conditions.

13. Biochemical and physiological effects of temperature changes.

14. Animals on the land and in the extreme environments. Osmosis. Water budget, thermal adaptation, respiration and other physiological processes in the aquatic environments (sea, estuaries, freshwaters).

15. Influence of climatic and anthropogenic changes in the environments (increase in temperature, elevated CO2 content in an atmosphere) on ecophysiological interactions between plants – animals and microorganisms.

Laboratory:

Part one – plant science:

1. Adaptations to low temperature in different plant groups - evaluation using differential temperature analysis (DTA).

2. Adaptations and reactions of different plant groups to hypoxy and anoxy stress.

3. Complex ecophysiological analysis of salt stress response in C3 and C4 grasses. Presentation of different tools used in plants ecophysiology (biometry, water potential and chlorophyll fluorescence measurements as plant condition markers, determination of metabolites and enzymes induced by salt stress, determination of lipid peroxidation). The task is a mini-research project realized in groups.

Part two – zoology:

1. The effect of temperature on the rate of metabolism in the different animals. Acclimation and acclimatization. Adaptation to extreme temperature conditions.

2. Reactions of organisms to changes of photoperiod. Control of reproduction and metamorphosis.

3. How to survive in adverse environmental conditions? Diapause. Hibernation.

4. Ecoimmunology. Influence of season on the immune system and the immunological response.

• Larcher W, 2003. Physiological Plant Ecology. Springer-Verlag, Berlin

• Nobel PS, 2005. Physiochemical and Environmental Plant Physiology. Elsevier Academic Press, Amsterdam

• Jenks MA, Hasegawa PM, 2005. Plant Abiotic Stress. Blackwell Publishing, Oxford

• Filek M, Biesaga-Kościelniak J, Marcińska I, 2004. Analytical Methods in Plant Stress Biology. Institute of Plant Physiology, PAS, Kraków.

• Overbeck, J., Chróst, R.J. (eds.) (1990): Aquatic Microbial Ecology: Biochemical and Molecular Approaches. Springer Verlag, New York, pp. 190.

• Chróst, R.J. (1991): Microbial Enzymes in Aquatic Environments. Springer Verlag, New York, pp. 385.

• Overbeck, J. & Chróst, R.J. (eds.) (1994): Microbial Ecology of Lake Plußsee. Springer-Verlag, New York, pp. 392

• Wetzel, R.G. 2001. Limnology. Lake and River Ecosystems. Third Ed. Academic Press, San Diego, 1006 pp.

• Azam, F., A. Z. Worden. 2004. Microbes, molecules, and marine ecosystems. - Science 303: 1622-1624

• Grossart HP, Simon M. 2007. Interactions of planktonic algae and bacteria: effects on algal growth and organic matter dynamics? - Aquatic Microb. Ecol. 47: 163-176

• Pat Willmer, Graham Stone, Ian Johnston Environmental 2004Physiology of Animals, Wiley-Blackwell

• William H. Karasov, Carlos Martínez del Rio 2007Physiological Ecology: How Animals Process Energy, Nutrients, and Toxins Princeton University Press

• G. Louw, D. Mitchell 1996 Physiological Animal Ecology Prentice Hall

Knowledge

1. Student knows and understands biochemical, anatomical and physiological background of plant, animal and microbial organism function and their interactions on both organism and ecosystem level.

2. Student understands organism-environment interactions, using hypotheses on the temporal and spatial determinants of biodiversity in plants, animals and microorganisms.

3. Student is acquainted with terms used in microbiology, plant and animal biology, environmental biology, as well as with scientific literature and state of the art in this area.

Skills

1. Student can choose and apply research techniques used in plant, animal and microbial ecophysiology, depending on environmental context of the experiment.

2. Student can, with the help of a supervisor, plan and carry out an experiment using already known research techniques. They can propose methods for a given type of experiment and assess both suitability and limitations of those methods, depending on the material studied.

3. Student is able to work in a team, realizing advanced research projects in plant, animal and microbial ecophysiology.

Social competences

1. Student demonstrates the ability to work in a team and is able to organize workspace for themselves and other members of the team.

2. Student can recognize, what do the ethics and fairness during the research and result interpretation mean for the society.

3. Student demonstrates responsibility for assessing the risks arising from the use of research techniques and the creation of ergonomic and safe working conditions.

Laboratory evaluation criteria: attendance and written or multimedial presentation of obtained results

Lectures - Exam in a written form after obtaining a positive grade of the laboratory part.

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