Bi7533 Soil ecotoxicology

Faculty of Science
Autumn 2011
Extent and Intensity
2/0/0. 2 credit(s) (plus extra credits for completion). Type of Completion: zk (examination).
Teacher(s)
prof. RNDr. Jakub Hofman, Ph.D. (lecturer)
Guaranteed by
prof. RNDr. Ivan Holoubek, CSc.
RECETOX – Faculty of Science
Contact Person: prof. RNDr. Jakub Hofman, Ph.D.
Timetable
Tue 13:00–14:50 409-stara KAM1
Prerequisites
NOW( Bi7533c Soil ecotox. - lab. course )
This lecture also gives an overview of soil science basics. Thus, no absolved pedology course is needed. On the contrary, the basics in ecotoxicology are requested for better understanding of the lecture topic. Useful is also knowledge from lectures of environmental chemistry.
Course Enrolment Limitations
The course is also offered to the students of the fields other than those the course is directly associated with.
fields of study / plans the course is directly associated with
Course objectives
After this course, students should be able to:
- define soil ecotoxicology and defend its use in soil protection
- characterize main soil properties and their importance in the fate of soil contaminants
- explain bioavailability in soil environment, its significance and basic principles
- characterize main methodology of soil ecotoxicology: individual bioassays and methods for the assessment of soil biota in situ
- combine knowledge of chemical fate in soil, ecology of soil organisms and soil properties
- interpret and discuss the results of soil bioassays and studies with regard to ecological risk assessment
- propose approaches to assessment of soil contamination or chemical substances, pesticides etc.
Syllabus
  • 1. Soil. What is soil?; Ecological soil function; Soil fertility and quality; Soil texture and structure; Soil classification; Physico-chemical properties; Soil biota; Trophic chains; Biochemical cycles; Organisations related to soil
  • 2. Soil contamination. Fate of chemicals in soil;Contamination with heavy metals and persistent organic pollutants (POPs); Soil as environmental matrix and its specifics; Bioavailability; Legislative; Biotransformation of soil contaminants; Biodegradation and bioremediation
  • 3. Soil biota. Microorganisms; Protozoa; Turbelaria; Nematoda; Annelida; Crustacea; Mollusca; Mites; Spiders; Diplopoda; Collembola; Coleoptera; Ants; Higher plants
  • 4. Ecotoxicology of soil organisms. General aspects and definitions; Studies in real ecosystems; Soil sampling; Soil bioassays; Soil microecosystems (lysimeters, TME); Dose - response relationship and its evaluation; Soil ecotoxicology specifics
  • 4. Ecotoxicology of soil microorganisms. Biomass and process level approach; Summary parameters of soil microorganisms; Specific processes of soil microorganisms; Community approach, biodiversity; Bioindication with soil microorganisms and assessment of soil biological quality; Laboratory tests with soil microflora
  • 5. Ecotoxicology of soil invertebrates. Ecotoxicology of all groups of invertebrates: Nematodes, Enchytraeids, Earthworms, Springtails, Mites, Mollusca, Crustacea, beneficial arthropods, Insecta; Studies in real ecosystems; Laboratory bioassays; Standardization of the tests; Endpoints; Aspects and importance of ecotoxicology of these organisms etc.
  • 6. Ecotoxicology of higher plants. Effects of chemicals to higher plants; Studies in ecosystems; Community approach; Bioassays and their endpoints; Ecotoxicology of interactions (mycorrhiza, symbiosis)
  • 7. Micocosms and their use in soil ecotoxicology. Types, schemes, endpoints
  • 8. Ecological risk assessment for soils. General scheme; Effects evaluation; Soil environment specifics; Species sensitivity distribution (SSD); Tiered approach (Tier I - III); Endpoints and their use; Extrapolations; Specifics for chemical substances testing; Specifics for pesticides
Literature
  • Handbook of ecotoxicology. Edited by Peter Calow. Oxford: Blackwell scientific publications, 1993, 478 s. ISBN 0632035730. info
  • Soil ecotoxicology. Edited by Joseph Tarradellas - Gabriel Bitton - Dominique Rossel. Boca Raton: Lewis Publishers, 1996, 386 s. ISBN 1-56670-134-1. info
  • LOKKE, H. AND VAN GESTEL, C.A.M. (1998): Handbook of soil invertebrate toxicity tests. John Wiley & Sons, Chichester. ISBN 0-471-97103-0. 281p.
  • DONKER, M.H., EIJSACKERS, H., AND HEIMBACH, F. (1994): Ecotoxicology of soil organisms. CRC Press, Inc., Boca Ranton. ISBN 0-87371-530-6.
  • ROMBKE, J. AND MOLTMANN, J.F. (1996): Applied ecotoxicology. CRC Press LLC, New York. ISBN 0-56670-070-1.
  • Sumner M.E. et al. (2000): Handbook of Soil Science. CRC Press. ISBN 0-8493-3136-6
  • HOFFMAN, D.J. and B.A. RATTNER. Handbook of Ecotoxicology. Boca Raton, FL, USA: CRC Press, 1994. info
  • PANKHURST, C.E., DOUBE, B.M., GUPTA, V.V.S.R. (1997): Biological indicators of soil health. CAB International, Wallingford. ISBN 0851991580.
  • DORAN, J.W., COLEMAN, D.C., BEZDICEK, D.F., AND STEWART, B.A. (1994): Defining soil quality for a sustainable environment. SSSA Special Publication Number 35. Soil Science Society of America, Inc.
  • SUTER, G.W. II, EFROYMSON, R.A., SAMPLE, B.E., AND JONES, D.S. (2000): Ecological risk assessment for contaminated sites. Lewis Publishers, Boca Ranton. ISBN 1-56670-525-8. 437p.
Teaching methods
Education is performed as lectures with Powerpoint prezentation. Understanding of mechanisms and consequences is emphasized. Students are frequently asked questions to think about actual topic. They are encouraged to ask questions and be in interaction with the lecturer.
Assessment methods
Attendance of the lectures is not mandatory but strongly recommended for fluent understanding of the educated subjects. During the lectures, students are asked about subjects of past lecture. Final assesment (at the end of semester) is by written examination. It is not multiple choice test but 50 questions, which frequently require description, explanation or schematization of asked topic. Questions have 1 - 3 points according to their difficulty. Total count is 100 and to pass at least 30 points are needed.
Language of instruction
Czech
Follow-Up Courses
Further comments (probably available only in Czech)
Study Materials
The course can also be completed outside the examination period.
The course is taught annually.
Teacher's information
http://www.recetox.muni.cz
The course is also listed under the following terms Spring 2008 - for the purpose of the accreditation, Autumn 2010 - only for the accreditation, Autumn 2002, Autumn 2003, Autumn 2004, Autumn 2005, Autumn 2006, Spring 2008, Spring 2009, Spring 2010, Autumn 2010, Autumn 2011 - acreditation, Autumn 2012, Autumn 2013, Autumn 2014, Autumn 2015, Autumn 2016, autumn 2017, Autumn 2018.
  • Enrolment Statistics (Autumn 2011, recent)
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