Bi6540 Vegetation and habitats of the Czech Republic

Faculty of Science
Spring 2026
Extent and Intensity
3/0/0. 3 credit(s) (plus extra credits for completion). Type of Completion: zk (examination).
In-person direct teaching
Teacher(s)
prof. RNDr. Milan Chytrý, Ph.D. (lecturer)
Guaranteed by
prof. RNDr. Milan Chytrý, Ph.D.
Department of Botany and Zoology – Biology Section – Faculty of Science
Contact Person: prof. RNDr. Milan Chytrý, Ph.D.
Supplier department: Department of Botany and Zoology – Biology Section – Faculty of Science
Timetable
Mon 16. 2. to Fri 22. 5. Wed 9:00–11:50 D31/238
Prerequisites (in Czech)
( Bi2130 Field course of system. botany || Bi2230 Field course of botany )&&( Bi2030 High. plant phylog. & divers. )
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
Abstract
The course provides basic overview of main types of natural, semi-natural and anthropogenic vegetation of the Czech Republic, based on the phytosociological classification system. The students will understand species composition, habitat conditions, distribution and dynamics of particular vegetation types.
Learning outcomes
Students will be able to:
- recognize the main vegetation types and habitats of the Czech Republic (and through them also those of Central Europe);
- know their ecology and distribution;
- able to assign more common species of the Czech flora to habitats and vegetation types;
- master the use of phytosociological nomenclature;
Key topics
1. Introduction.
  • 1a. Phytosociology and its history in the Czech Republic
  • 1b. Phytosociological units and nomenclature: International Code of Phytosociological Nomenclature
  • 1c. Habitat classification and its applications in nature conservation: Habitat Catalogue of the Czech Republic, Natura 2000, habitat mapping, Red List of Habitats of the Czech Republic
2. Natural environment and history of the Czech vegetation
  • 2a. Natural environment and flora: topography, geology and climate of the Czech Republic and their effects on vegetation, biogeographical influences, migration routes
  • 2b. Development of the Czech vegetation since the last glacial
3. Forests - introduction: main forest trees, their habitat requirements and competitive relationships, dynamics of natural forests, historical and current forest management, modification of site conditions by the tree layer
4. Deciduous forests and scrub: beech, oak-hornbeam, ravine, floodplain, acidophilous oak and thermophilous oak forests, alder carrs, scrub
5. Coniferous forests and scrub: spruce forests, boreo-continental and peri-Alpidic pine forests, krummholz
6. Alpine and subalpine treeless habitats: alpine timberline, vegetation complex of glacial cirques, alpine grasslands, tall-forb vegetation
7. Vegetation of cliffs, screes, and poorly developed soils
8. Aquatic vegetation
9. Wetland habitats: marshes, tall-sedge beds and ephemeral wetland vegetation
10. Springs and mires: springs, fens, transitional mires, bogs, bog pine forests, subalpine mires, fen meadows
11. Meadows, pastures and heathlands: history of grassland and heathland vegetation, its dynamics and management, main types of meadows, pastures, heathlands and saline habitats
12. Synanthropic vegetation: the origin of synanthropic flora, ecology of arable weeds, main types of weed and ruderal vegetation
Study resources and literature
Approaches, practices, and methods used in teaching
Lectures.
Method of verifying learning outcomes and course completion requirements

Written test with 20 open-ended questions. Knowledge of the material covered in lectures and lecture presentations is required, including introductory chapters on history, phytosociological nomenclature, the use of habitats in the conservation context, and the natural conditions of the Czech Republic. Most questions will focus on dominant species, ecology, distribution, and dynamics of vegetation types and biotopes of the Czech Republic. For students of the bachelor's degree in Ecological and Evolutionary Biology, specialization in Botany, and students of the master's degree in Botany and Nature Conservation, specialization in Botany, knowledge of the species composition of individual vegetation types and the relationships of the most important species of the Czech flora to vegetation types and biotopes is also required. The species composition of individual vegetation types is not included in lectures and must be studied from web resources (Vegetation of the Czech Republic, Habitat Catalogue of the Czech Republic, Pladias).

A maximum of 20 points can be obtained from the final examination test, with the minimum number of points for individual grades being A - 18, B - 16, C - 14, D - 12, E - 10. During lectures, students can take an optional test on each topic after the topic is presented. Each of these optional tests will have 10 closed questions. If the student answers at least 9 correctly, they will receive 1 point, which will be added to the points earned in the final examination test.

Examples of test questions:
- What is the ecology and distribution of the alliance XY in the Czech Republic?
- List four species commonly found in the alliance XY.
- In which syntaxon is the combination of species A, B and C commonly found?
- Create the name of the phytosociological order from the names of species A and B.

Language of instruction
Czech
Follow-Up Courses
Further comments (probably available only in Czech)
Study Materials
The course is taught annually.
Teacher's information
http://www.sci.muni.cz/botany/chytry/veg-cr/
The course is also listed under the following terms Spring 2008 - for the purpose of the accreditation, Spring 2011 - only for the accreditation, Spring 2003, Spring 2004, Spring 2005, Spring 2006, Spring 2007, Spring 2008, Spring 2009, Spring 2010, Spring 2011, Spring 2012, spring 2012 - acreditation, Spring 2013, Spring 2014, Spring 2015, Spring 2016, Spring 2017, spring 2018, Spring 2019, Spring 2020, Spring 2021, Spring 2022, Spring 2023, Spring 2024, Spring 2025.
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