Advanced Field Methods - MB162QM05
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Opinion survey results Schedule
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This course provides practical foundations in the design, implementation, and analysis of biodiversity field studies by integrating field ecology, experimental design, biodiversity monitoring, and quantitative data collection. Students will explore key field methods used to assess and monitor biodiversity across multiple levels of biological organization, from genes and species to communities and landscape and across terrestrial and freshwater environments. Through a guided fieldwork expedition in the Italian Alps, collaborative projects, and independent exercises, students will acquire methodological competence and critical awareness of the challenges involved in biodiversity data collection, standardization, replication, and interpretation, with particular emphasis on scalable quantitative approaches.
The course will prepare students for scientific research and applied careers in conservation, restoration, and environmental assessment. By the end of the course, students will be able to: understand and apply key field methods used to measure biodiversity and key ecological processes; design field studies by formulating hypotheses, identifying potential mechanisms, defining sampling strategies, and selecting appropriate quantitative approaches; collect and manage field biodiversity data using modern tools and standardized protocols; integrate spatial, temporal, and functional components of biodiversity into study designs; evaluate data quality and uncertainty, recognizing sources of bias and methodological limitations; communicate field results effectively, through oral presentations and written scientific reports; collaborate in teams to design and carry out original field-based research. Course coordinator: Prof. Marco Caccianiga Last update: Gáliková Kristýna, Mgr. et Mgr., DiS. (21.11.2025)
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