Biodiversity around the corner

This course is part of a 4EU+ educational project in cooperation with University Sorbonne and Charles University.

This interdisciplinary introductory course to biodiversity combines approaches of two academic fields: biology and geography and provides both, theoretical and methodological background (B1), and opportunity to use this knowledge in practice while exploring one’s everyday environment (B2). In B1, we use online materials and follow with online discussions with experts from both natural and social sciences. In B2, students engage in local biodiversity monitoring and use participatory methodologies. Students build a common open-access geospatial database on selected organisms, analyse acquired data and discuss them in seminars, thus learn how biodiversity is understood, measured and studied, take different perspectives, and train methodologies of different disciplines. Participation in this course gives priority when applying for field courses within the project.

This course is part of the “ABC in Biodiversity” educational path realized as a 4EU+ educational project in cooperation with University Sorbonne and Charles University.

This interdisciplinary introductory course to biodiversity combines approaches of two academic fields: biology and geography and provides both, a theoretical and methodological background (B1), and an opportunity to use this knowledge in practice while exploring the student's everyday environment (B2).

In part B1, in the first part of the semester, students and teachers of the partner universities meet online in seminars to discuss relevant biodiversity issues and related methodologies used to address them. These topics include various aspects of spatial and temporal variability: 1. habitat heterogeneity and physical determinants of biodiversity, both at landscape and site scale, 2. island biogeography, 3. invasion ecology, 4. urban ecology, and 5. social dimension of biodiversity, i.e. its perceptions and other interdependencies of the society and the ecosystems. The seminars may encompass more topics, depending on current pressing issues and on students’ interests. The methodological toolbox that is introduced includes collection and analysis of spatial biological and geographic data with the use of open-access application software and databases. This parts is organized around four online meetings of all participants.

In part B2, in the second half of the semester, students engage in local biodiversity monitoring and experience the use of participatory methodologies. Most of the classes will take place in-field (so we expect students to be physically in Paris, Prague or in Warsaw), and will be realized in groups, separately in every country. Depending on location, they may focus e.g. on invasive plant species (Sorbonne University), urban green areas (University of Warsaw) or urban water bodies (Charles University). The in-class / in-field activities may take place in local language or in English, depending on the participants’ communication preferences. During the joint online seminars, in English, students share their experiences, take the opportunity to inspire and be inspired, and together decide on the further course of their undertakings. While building a common open-access geospatial database on selected organisms, analysing acquired data and discussing them in common seminars, students learn how biodiversity is understood, measured and researched, take different perspectives to it, and train methodologies applied by different disciplines.

Participation in this course gives priority when applying for a field course organized in Occitanie, France (“Biodiversity and Ecotoxicology in Mediterranean Ecosystems” 1400-4EU-BAEiME) or in Mazury, Poland (“Biodiversity in cultural landscapes: Mazury” 1400-4EU-BiCLM).

Müller N., Werner P., Kelcey JG. 2010. Urban Biodiversity and Design. Blackwell Publishing Ltd

Ossola A., Niemelä J. 2017. Urban Biodiversity. From Research to Practice. Routledge

Knapp S. et al. 2020. A Research Agenda for Urban Biodiversity in the Global Extinction Crisis. BioScience 71: 268–279.

Korpilo S. et al. 2018. Where are the hotspots and coldspots of landscape values, visitor use and biodiversity in an urban forest? PLoSONE 13: e0203611.

Li E. 2019. An Urban Biodiversity Assessment Framework That Combines an Urban Habitat Classification Scheme and Citizen Science Data. Front. Ecol. Evol. 7: 277.

Zari MP. 2018. The importance of urban biodiversity – an ecosystem services approach. Biodiversity Int J. 2: 357‒360.

and further original and review articles and other materials selected by the teachers.

Knowledge: knows the factors influencing the state of biodiversity (K_W02, P2A_W03); knows modern techniques used in the assessment of the state and methods of biodiversity monitoring (K_W03, P2A_W05); knows the terminology and methods (and research and measurement devices) used in the field of biodiversity assessment (K_W04, P2A_W07); knows the principles of research planning and modern techniques of collecting data (K_W06, P2A_W07);

Skills: applies basic statistical methods and tools to analysis of geospatial data (K_U01, P2A_U05); plans and defines a research goal and plan and carries out its implementation (K_U05P2A_U04); collects and interprets geospatial biodiversity data (K_U10, P2A_U06); proposes an appropriate method of species and habitat monitoring (K_U17, P2A_U05);

Competences: understands the need for constant updating of knowledge on biodiversity, its spatial dimension and societal implications (K_K05, P2A_K01); demonstrates the ability and ability to work in a team (K_K10, P2A_K02).

The following will be assessed: - Activity during discussions and involvement in project realization, - Oral presentations of selected biological problems on the basis of scientific publications recommended by the teacher or self-selected source materials, - Oral or written presentations of the results of the research conducted during the course.