Bi8300 Quaternary environments

Faculty of Science
Spring 2025
Extent and Intensity
2/0/0. 2 credit(s) (fasci plus compl plus > 4). Type of Completion: zk (examination).
In-person direct teaching
Teacher(s)
prof. RNDr. Michal Horsák, Ph.D. (lecturer)
doc. Mgr. Jan Roleček, Ph.D. (lecturer)
Guaranteed by
prof. RNDr. Michal Horsák, Ph.D.
Department of Botany and Zoology – Biology Section – Faculty of Science
Contact Person: prof. RNDr. Michal Horsák, Ph.D.
Supplier department: Department of Botany and Zoology – Biology Section – Faculty of Science
Prerequisites (in Czech)
Bi1030 Inverteb. phylog. & divers. && Bi2030 High. plant phylog. & divers. && Bi5080 Basics of ecology
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
there are 7 fields of study the course is directly associated with, display
Course objectives
At the end of the course students should be able to understand history and methods of quaternary biota research; to describe an overview of climatic cycles since the Tertiary; to explain nature development through Pleistocene and Holocene, with the emphasis on the area of the Czech Republic and the European context.
Learning outcomes
Students will gain ability to: - understand the history and methods of quaternary biota research - understand causes of climatic changes since the Tertiary - explain nature development through Pleistocene and Holocene, with the emphasis on the area of the Czech Republic and the European context
Syllabus
  • 1) History of quaternary environments and biota research. Overview of quaternary sediments and palaeoecological methods: pollen analysis, plant macroremains analysis, analysis of mollusc and vertebrate fossils.
  • 2) Climate change in Earth's history and its causes: detailed overview since the Neogene. Division of the Quaternary and an overview of its chronology.
  • 3) Quaternary climatic cycle: glacials and interglacials, environments of the last interglacial in Europe.
  • 4) Environments of the last glacial in Europe and the area of Czech Republic (Central Asian analogues), glacial refugia of plants and animals (southern and cryptic).
  • 5) Transition to Holocene, its stratigraphy, late Pleistocene extinctions.
  • 6) Stratigraphy of Holocene, different climatic models.
  • 7) Refugia and Holocene migrations of trees in Europe and the Czech Republic.
  • 8) Palaeomalacology: changes in Central European mollusc communities since the Last Glacial Maximum.
  • 9) The environments of early Holocene and the Mesolithic in Europe and the Czech Republic.
  • 10) The environments of middle Holocene and the Neolithic and Eneolithic in Europe and the Czech Republic.
  • 11) The environments of late Holocene and late cultures in Europe and the Czech Republic.
  • 12) The Age and origin of recent habitats of Central Europe.
Literature
  • Ložek V. (1973): Příroda ve čtvrtohorách. Academia, Praha.
  • Sádlo J., Pokorný P., Hájek P., Dreslerová D., Cílek V. (2008): Krajina a revoluce. Významné přelomy ve vývoji kulturní krajiny Českých zemí. 3. upravené vydání. Malá Skála, Praha.
  • Ložek V. (2011): Po stopách pravěkých dějů. O silách, které vytvářely naši krajinu. Dokořán, Praha.
  • Elias S.A. (ed.) (2007): Encyclopedia of quaternary science. Elsevier, London.
  • Ložek V. (2007): Zrcadlo minulosti. Česká a slovenská krajina v kvartéru. Dokořán, Praha.
  • Lang G. (1994) Quartäre Vegetationsgeschichte Europas: Methoden und Ergebnisse. G. Fischer, Jena, Stuttgart, New York.
  • Pokorný P. (2011): Neklidné časy. Kapitoly ze společných dějin přírody a lidí. Dokořán, Praha.
  • Roberts N. (1998): The Holocene: an environmental history (2nd ed.). Blackwell, Malden.
Teaching methods
2 h lectures (12 per semester)
Assessment methods
oral exam consists of broader discussion on three lectured topics, 50% of correct student's answers is needed to pass
Language of instruction
Czech
Follow-Up Courses
Further Comments
The course can also be completed outside the examination period.
The course is taught annually.
The course is taught: every week.
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 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.
  • Enrolment Statistics (Spring 2025, recent)
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