Ecological and Evolutionary Biology

The study programme Evolutionary and ecological biology provides theoretical knowledge and basic practical skills in the wider field of biology, with focus on botany, zoology and ecology. The primary objective is to prepare the student for his or her further studies in the subsequent Master's programmes of study and to enable him/her to make a qualified choice about further specialization, in particular in the subsequent Master's study programmes Botany, Zoology (former courses of study within the current Master's study programme Evolutionary and ecological biology) and Nature Conservation (a new Master's study programme under preparation). For this choice the student is already getting prepared within this Bachelor's study programme by selecting specialized courses or entire comprehensive blocks of those (since work on the Bachelor's thesis, including those seeking to provide outputs of use in the nature conservation context, usually requires the student to acquire more in-depth knowledge either in botany or zoology, the choice is primarily between these two fields). Work on the Bachelor's thesis, in particular, shall allow the student to adopt scientific methods including those of literature review, basic statistical analysis of obtained data and their interpretation. Stress is also put on the student's skill to present results in writing and giving a talk (techical but comprehensible language, visualization of results). The obtained knowledge, skills and experience should help those students, who do not continue with their studies after graduation, to find a qualified job.

After successfully completing his/her studies the graduate is able to:

• name the major taxonomic groups of organisms (in particular eucaryotic ones) and to describe their phylogenesis and the resulting systematic position.
• explain the basic terms and principles used in plant and animal systematics and, in particular, in phylogenetic systematics;
• describe major evolutionary trends, body plans of major taxa from the cell to organs and their systems to entire organisms and their colonies, mode of reproduction;
• give typical representatives of the major taxa and characterise them in terms of ecology and typical behavioural traits
• define ecology as a scientific discipline, describe its major subdisciplines and explain the fundamental terms used;
• describe the major abiotic ecological factors and processes connected to energy flow and the cycling of elements/nutrients (in particular the major biochemical cycles);
• describe the conditions and processes in aquatic and terrestrial (soil) environments and the corresponding adaptations of organisms (on a general level);
• describe the major types of interactions between individuals, populations and species (incl. technical terms), major traits of populations and types of their ecological strategy;
• define the terms community, succession, ecosystem and biome, describe the major biomes of the Earth and types of ecosystems in Europe;
• list and explain major antopogennic threats for nature (conservation of species, habitats/ecosystems and processes);
• explain the conservation relevance of edge effect and the theory of island biogeography as well as the terms biodiversity, minimum viable population and minimum dynamic area;
• excerpt relevant information from technical literature (incl. such in foreign languages), make a critical synthesis and cite sources correctly;
• propose a methodological approach for a simple research project, to conduct this research including a basic statistical data analysis and its interpretation;
• put his/her results into a wider context and to present them in writing and orally, complying with formal standards and using technical language in an appropriate way.

The graduates have basic theoretical knowledge and practical skills covering the field of biology in general and botany, zoology and ecology in particular. They know how to work with technical literature, have adopted the basic methodology of research, are able to conduct basic data analysis, and know how to report on research results and how to discuss them. Most graduates are expected to continue their studies within the directly connected Master's programmes of study. They can also find a job directly on the labour market, particularly, in the areas of nature conservation and environmental protection (local and national authorities and private bodies), research and development or education, provided they receive further training on the job (or get required knowledge and skills, exceeding those obtained during their study, by a more formalized process). However, it has to be considered that these will be less qualified jobs or that they will compete for these positions with graduates of the Master's study programmes.

This course of study does not include obligatory practical training. Students acquire practical skills during regular training, particulary within lab and field courses and during work on their Bachelor's theses.

By the Bachelor's thesis, the student is to show his/her ability to to orient him/herself in the assigned subject , to define the objectives intelligibly and to present the obtained results. The thesis can be either a literature review or research resulting in the student's own data and results. In any case it is to be an alone-standing and comprehensive piece of work. Guidelines for the Bachelor's thesis in the given study programme can be accessed on-line at the internet address http://botzool.sci.muni.cz/theses/pokyny_bc.pdf . A detailed specification of the topic, expected work steps, deliverables and recommended literature are part of a written assignment signed by the supervisor of the thesis, the head of the research group, the head of the department and the student (potentially also any assigned consultant).

The student should work on his/her thesis as independently as possible. The supervisor or other experts can assist with those tasks/problems that are more complicated, such as the identification of difficult taxa or the analysis of data by more sophisticated statistical methods. However, even in such cases it is expected that the student does most of the data collecting, identification, analytical and synthesis work independently and will have a good understanding of all parts of the thesis, including those which he or she did not elaborate fully independently. Parts not done by the student alone, e.g. statistical analyses, shall be clearly stated in the acknowledgements.

Additionally to the uploading of the electronic version to the MU's Information System and to submitting two bound copies, the student also hands over one copy of the thesis (in any type of binding agreed upon with the supervisor) together with a CD with the raw data and analyses directly to his/her supervisor.

Graduates of the Bachelor's study programme Ecological and Evolutionary Biology can continue (after satisfying the admission requirements) in one of the three directly connected Master's programmes of study: Botany, Zoology (hitherto fields of study within the current Master study programme) and Nature Conservation (in preparation). They can also continue in their studies of zoology, botany or ecology in similar Master's study programmes at another university either in Czechia or abroad.