Bi9661 Selected issues in ecology

Faculty of Science
Autumn 2013
Extent and Intensity
1/0/0. 1 credit(s). Type of Completion: z (credit).
Teacher(s)
Francisco De Borja Jiménez Alfaro González, Ph.D. (lecturer)
Guaranteed by
prof. RNDr. Milan Chytrý, Ph.D.
Department of Botany and Zoology – Biology Section – Faculty of Science
Supplier department: Department of Botany and Zoology – Biology Section – Faculty of Science
Course Enrolment Limitations
The course is offered to students of any study field.
Course objectives
The students will obtain knowledge about topic and subjects which are not taught in regular courses at Masaryk University. This course is offered by external lecturers who talk about their research. There are different lecturers in every semester. Rather than a comprehensive coverage of some subject, the purpose of this course is defining scientific problems in a focused topic, discussion on methods applied to solve these problems, and presentation of results of particular projects. The objective is to demostrate some topic which is not included in regular courses offered at Masaryk University.
Syllabus
  • The topic for Autumn Semester 2013 will be "Mapping and modeling species distributions". The course will be led by Dr. Borja Jiménez-Alfaro (borja@sci.muni.cz) from the Department of Botany and Zoology, Masaryk University.
    This course aims at introducing the theory and methods for assessing species distributions. Students are expected to learn the basic principles and assumptions for mapping and modeling species data obtained from field sampling or biodiversity databases.
    The course includes an introductory part reviewing basic concepts of spatial analysis such as scale, grain or accuracy. Methodological aspects will focus on the understanding of species distribution models using free software such as MaxEnt and Diva-GIS and topographic and climatic variables. Special emphasis will be put on analyzing and interpreting distributional data to address different research questions (assessment of species rarity, ecological niches, climatic change, community patterns, paleo-climate, etc).
    Special skills on spatial analysis or GIS are NOT required (although preferred). Students at any educational degree (Bs, Ms, PhD) are welcome. Participants can bring their own computers and work with their own data. The course will be in English.
    Main topics
  • 1. Species distributions in ecology and biogeography
  • 2. Sources and bias of species occurrences at different scales
  • 3. Methods for mapping and modeling species distributions
  • 4. MaxEnt (I): storing species and environmental data
  • 5. MaxEnt (II): model calibration and validation
  • 6. MaxEnt (III): comparison with other methods
  • 7. Interpreting model outputs and maps
  • 8. Applications for basic and applied research
Literature
    recommended literature
  • Literaturu dodává v případě potřeby zvaný přednášející podle vlastní úvahy.
  • BEGON, Michael, John L. HARPER and Colin R. TOWNSEND. Ekologie : jedinci, populace a společenstva. Translated by Bronislava Grygová - Barbara Köberleová - Zdeněk Brandl. 1. vyd. Olomouc: Vydavatelství Univerzity Palackého, 1997, xxiv, 949. ISBN 8070676957. info
    not specified
  • Literaturu dodává v případě potřeby zvaný přednášející / Literature is supplied by the invited lecturer..
Teaching methods
Lectures.
Assessment methods
To obtain credits for this course students must participate in at least 80% of teaching hours and participate in a class discussion.
Language of instruction
Czech
Further comments (probably available only in Czech)
Study Materials
The course can also be completed outside the examination period.
The course is taught each semester.
The course is taught: in blocks.
The course is also listed under the following terms Autumn 2007 - for the purpose of the accreditation, Autumn 2010 - only for the accreditation, Autumn 2002, Autumn 2003, Autumn 2004, Autumn 2005, Autumn 2006, Autumn 2007, Autumn 2008, Autumn 2009, Autumn 2010, Autumn 2011, Autumn 2011 - acreditation, Autumn 2012, Autumn 2014, Autumn 2015, Autumn 2016.
  • Enrolment Statistics (Autumn 2013, recent)
  • Permalink: https://is.muni.cz/course/sci/autumn2013/Bi9661