The course builds on the basic knowledge of the limnology of standing and running waters and targets the following objectives:
(i) to explain the complexity of the functioning of different types of freshwater ecosystems;
(ii) to introduce students to the ecology of freshwater organisms and their specific adaptations to different types of freshwater habitats;
(iii) to apply this complex knowledge to:
* understanding and mitigating biological invasions in freshwater ecosystems,
* reconstruct past conditions of the freshwater ecosystems for their better understanding and prediction under changing climate,
* use a new method of environmental DNA addressing both (and others) issues.
Last update: Tátosová Jolana, RNDr., Ph.D. (26.08.2024)
Requirements to the exam
Examination: three online tests with open questions in Moodle environment. The test follows each of the three thematic blocks. Each test is graded as follows: 100 - 86 % = grade 1 85 - 71 % = grade 2 70 - 60 % = grade 3 The final grade represents the average of all three tests.
In case of failure in one of the three tests, the student will be examined orally.
Last update: Tátosová Jolana, RNDr., Ph.D. (26.08.2024)
Syllabus
Session: Freshwater biota
4.10.
Canclled
11.10.
Fish ecology The role of fish in the ecosystem. Food ecology: trophic groups and morphological adaptations. The adaptation of fish in extreme environments. Species-specific and cohort-specific habitat use in different lake and/or reservoir conditions.Ecology of ichthyoplankton. Ecology and behaviour of apex freshwater fish predators
Martin Čech
18.10.
Ecology of zooplankton Main zooplankton groups in inland waters and their trophic position. Meroplankton in freshwaters. Antipredator strategies. Phenotypic plasticity. Diel vertical migrations. Dispersal and diapause.
Martin Černý
25.10.
Bacterial community, nutrient fluxe
Martin Rulík
1.11.
Benthic community Functional feeding groups of macrozoobenthos, periphyton community, Water Framework Directive and monitoring
Veronika Sacherová
First session test (Moodle)
Session: Freshwater ecosystems
8.11.
Mountain lake ecosystems Catchment-lake interaction: (1) Effects of atmospheric acidification on soil and water composition (changes in concentrations of ions, aluminium, dissolved organic carbon and nutrients in lake water). (2) Effects of vegetation condition on terrestrial nutrient export (changes in N and C cycling and in soil pools and fluxes of base cations following forest disturbances). (3) Effects of climate change on soil-water interactions (changes in hydrology, residence time of elements and weathering). (4) Links between water composition and biota (effects of changes in water composition on fish, zooplankton and phytoplankton).
Jiří Kopáček & Jiří Kaňa
15.11.
Water reservoirs General functioning and specifics + quarry/pit lakes (meromixis)
Petr Znachor
22.11.
Fish ponds
Veronika Sacherová
29. 11.
River ecosystem Water balance in the catchment, the effect of the hydroelectric power plants on discharge and water biota, climate change - drying up of streams and foods (ephemeral and periodic streams/rivers).
Martin Rulík
Second session test (Moodle)
Session: Advanced research approaches in Limnology
6. 12.
Biological invasions in inland waters Basic concepts of invasion biology. Distinction of native, non-native and invasive species. Main introduction pathways of non-native species in standing and running waters: deliberate vs. accidental introductions. Interactions with native species and communities. Ecological and socioeconomic impacts of invasions. Prominent invasive species in Central European waters.
Adam Petrusek
13. 12.
Introduction to Paleolimnology Proxies related to lake changes in time and briefly pollen and vegetation changes in catchment,. Quantitative climate reconstruction. Extinct lakes.
Jolana Tátosová
20.12.
Environmental DNA Origin and forms of DNA in the environment. Where to sample eDNA in aquatic environments: water-borne and sedimentary eDNA. Sample collection and downstream analyses: metabarcoding vs. single-species detection. Research questions to address with eDNA, limitations and caveats.
Adam Petrusek
10. 1.
Ecology of phytoplankton (Due to the teacher's workload, we were forced to reschedule the lecture on phytoplankton, which would logically belong to the first block, to the end of the semester)
Linda Nedbalová
Third session test (Moodle)
Last update: Tátosová Jolana, RNDr., Ph.D. (20.09.2024)
Entry requirements
General knowledge of limnology or hydrobiology.
Students without limnological knowledge are advised to enrol MO550P126ELimnology with Advanced Limnology in the same semester to gain the basics that help them understand the complex functioning of aquatic ecosystems and their differences.
Last update: Tátosová Jolana, RNDr., Ph.D. (26.08.2024)