Population ecology - MB162P23
Title: Populační ekologie
Czech title: Populační ekologie
Guaranteed by: Institute for Environmental Studies (31-550)
Faculty: Faculty of Science
Actual: from 2025
Semester: winter
E-Credits: 3
Examination process: winter s.:written
Hours per week, examination: winter s.:2/0, Ex [HT]
Capacity: unlimited
Min. number of students: unlimited
4EU+: no
Virtual mobility / capacity: no
State of the course: taught
Language: Czech
Note: enabled for web enrollment
Guarantor: prof. RNDr. Pavel Kindlmann, DrSc.
Teacher(s): prof. RNDr. Pavel Kindlmann, DrSc.
Opinion survey results   Examination dates   WS schedule    E-learning course
Annotation -
The course acquaints students
- with basic models and approaches used for analysis of the dynamics of one or more populations (metapopulation dynamics),
- with the impact of spatial aspects (landscape composition, spatial distribution of individual populations) on biodiversity in the landscape
- with the application of these theories in biological pest control and nature conservation.
Last update: Kindlmann Pavel, prof. RNDr., DrSc. (05.10.2025)
Literature -

A.A. Berryman, P. Kindlmann (2008): Population Systems. Springer, Dordrecht.

N.J. Gotelli (1998): A Primer of Ecology. Sinauer Assoc., Sunderland, MA, USA.

J.Rajchard, P. Kindlmann, Z. Balounová (2003): Ekologie II. Kopp, Č. Budějovice.

V. Jarošík (2005): Růst a regulace populací. Academia, Praha.

R.B. Primack, P. Kindlmann, J. Jersáková (2011): Úvod do biologie ochrany přírody. Portál, Praha.

P. Kindlmann & F. Burel (2008): Connectivity measures: a review. Landscape Ecology 23: 879-890.

Hanski, I. (1999): Metapopulation Ecology. Oxford University Press, Oxford.

R.J. Whittaker (2005): Island Biogeography: Ecology, Evolution, and Conservation. 7th ed. Oxford Univ. Press, Oxford.

M. Begon, J.L. Harper, C.R. Townsend (2000) Ecology. 3rd ed. Blackwell, Oxford.

Last update: Kindlmann Pavel, prof. RNDr., DrSc. (05.10.2025)
Requirements to the exam -

Written examination: multiple-choice test.

Last update: Kindlmann Pavel, prof. RNDr., DrSc. (05.10.2025)
Syllabus -
PE01 Functions. Interpolation of function data, fitting of function data in EXCEL.
PE02 Population dynamics models - introduction. Static models in biology  – interpolation of function data, overview of elementary and other functions used in biological models.
PE03. Basic continuous models of population dynamics of an isolated species. Exponential growth, its analytical solution, its numerical simulation on a computer.
IP1. 20.10. Interactive lecture, discussion P1-P3.
PE04. More complex continuous and discrete models of population dynamics of an isolated species. Analysis of the stability of their equilibrium points; simulation of their behavior on a computer and estimation of their parameters.
PE05. From population to metapopulation. Basic concepts and models. Connectivity in the landscape. Possibilities of nature protection in a mosaic environment. Metapopulation dynamics of the predator-prey system on the example of aphids and their predators.
PE06. Leslie model. Inclusion of age structure in the model: Leslie model of population dynamics of an isolated species.
IP2. 24.11. Interactive lecture, discussion P4-P6.
PE07. Population dynamics of two species. Models of population dynamics of the predator-prey system and two competing species, simulation of their dynamics on a computer. Tilman's resource-consumer models.
PE08. Predator-prey models in biological pest control. Empirical examples of metapopulation dynamics: the ladybug-aphid system. Population dynamics of insect pests and factors that influence it - a specific case of the bark beetle in the Šumava Mountains.
PE09. Island biogeography. Application of island biogeography in the metapopulation context and in nature conservation (SLOSS). Factors influencing species diversity; species-area and species-abundance relationships.
IP3. 15.12. Interactive lecture, discussion P7-P9.
IP4. 5.1. Interactive lecture, discussion P1-P9, course summary, preparation for exam.

Last update: Kindlmann Pavel, prof. RNDr., DrSc. (05.10.2025)