Habitat studies

obligatory courses

Rudimentary concepts from ecology, including definition of habitat. Genesis, differentiation and characteristics of aquatic and terrestial habitats. Relations between habitat, biotop and biocenosis. Physical and geographical conditions determining characteristics of aquatic and terrestial habitats. Natural and antropogenic transformations of habitats. Sediments and soils as integral multifunctional constituents of aquatic and terrestial ecosystems. Genesis, differentiation and characteristics of sediments and soils. Systematics and identification of the most common soils and sediments. Types of habitats and their practical use in environmetal protection.

The following topics will be explain during the lectures:

- factors influencing establishment and development of terrestial habitats

- characteristics and ecological significance of aquatic habitat

- hydrochemistry of surface waters

- wetland ecosystems

- types of wetland ecosystems

- role of soil in the energy flow, water cycle and biogeochemical cycles

- basic physical, chemical and biological features of mineral nad organic soils

- main soil and soil-forming processes

- management of natural resources in protected areas

-factors differentiating global soil surface

During field part students will learn to identify soils according to thier morphological features and to assess impact of plant communities, bedrock and water balance on soil properties.

Samples taken during field part will be analysed in the laboratory, where students will learn methods for analyses of the most important soil (mineral and organic) and water properties.

Seminar will help students to arrange (statistically), interpret and present obtained results.

Bednarek R., Dziadowiec H., Pokojska U., Prusinkiewicz Z. 2004. Badania ekologiczno-gleboznawcze. Wydawnictwo Naukowe PWN, Warszawa.

Bednarek R., Prusinkiewicz Z. 1999. Geografia gleb. Wydawnictwo Naukowe PWN, Warszawa.

Dobrzański B., Zawadzki S. (Red.)1995. Gleboznawstwo. PWRiL, Warszawa.

Hermanowicz W., Dożańska W., Dijlido J., Koziorowski B. 1999. Fizyczno-chemiczne badanie wody i ścieków. Wydawnictwo Arkady, Warszawa

Jaroszewski W. (Red.) 1978. Przewodnik do ćwiczeń z geologii dynamicznej. Wydawnictwa Geologiczne, Warszawa.

Kabata-Pendias A., Pendias H. 1999. Biogeochemia pierwiastków śladowych. Wydawnictwo Naukowe PWN, Warszawa.

Kabata-Pendias A., Pendias H. 2001. Trace elements in soils and plants. CRC Press, Floryda.

Kajak Z. 1998. Hydrobiologia-Limnologia. Ekosystemy wód śródlądowych. Wydawnictwo Naukowe PWN, Warszawa.

Lampert W., Ulrich S. 1996. Ekologia wód śródlądowych. Wydawnictwo Naukowe PWN, Warszawa.

Lazar J. 1976. Gleboznawstwo z podstawami geologii. PWN, Warszawa-Poznań.

Mannion A.M. 2001. Zmiany środowiska Ziemi. Historia środowiska przyrodniczego i kulturowego. Wydawnictwo Naukowe PWN, Warszawa.

Prusinkiewicz Z. 1994. Leksykon ekologiczno-gleboznawczy. Wydawnictwo Naukowe PWN, Warszawa.

Schoenholtz S.H., Van Miegroet H., Burger J.A. 2000. A review of chemical and physical properties as indicators of forest soil quality: challenges and opportunities. For. Ecol. Manage. 138: 335-356.

Systematyka Gleb Polski. Wyd. IV. Roczn. Glebozn. 40, 3/4, 1989.

Szmeja J. 2006. Przewodnik do badań roślinności wodnej. Wydawnictwo Uniw. Gdańskiego.

Tobolski K. 2000. Przewodnik do oznaczania torfów i osadów jeziornych. Ser. Vademecum Geobotanicum. Wydawnictwo Naukowe PWN.

Uggla H., Uggla Z. 1979. Gleboznawstwo leśne. PWRiL, Warszawa.

Zawadzki S. 2002. Podstawy gleboznawstwa. PWRiL, Warszawa.

Knowledge:

1. on genesis, differentiation and characteristics of aquatic and terrestial habitats (K_W05, KW_07)

2. on relations between habitat, biotop and biocenosis (K_W05, KW_07)

3. on natural and anthropogenic transformations of habitats (K_W05, KW_07)

4. on factors differentiating global soil surface (K_W05, KW_07)

5. on practical use of habitat studies in environmental protection (K_W05, KW_07)

6. on common methods of analysis and assessment of aquatic and terrestial habitats (K_W17)

Abilities:

1. use of common methods for description and identification of soil (mineral and organic) and waters (K_U01)

2. use of graphical and statistical methods for results interpretation (K_U_03)

3.interpretation of mutual relations between habitat and biocenosis (K_U03)

4. individual studies on proposed literature and internet resources (K_U05)

5. proper presentation of results with bibliography (K_U06)

Social abilities:

1. team work (K_K04)

2. proper use of health and safety rules in laboratory (K_U18)

3. discriminating analysis of information acessible in mass media and scientific literature (K_K02)

4. broadening and updating knowledge on practical aspects of habitat studies (K_K01)

Lecture - written exam (test). Practical course - individual scientific project (evaluation of realisation and presentation of its results).

ATTENTION! There is a one-week long field trip that is an integral part of this course. Field trip takes place in the second half of September (exact dates will be given for every academic year separately).