Understanding biodiversity - exploring, collecting and interpreting

Timetable

Module aim (aims)

The aim of the module is to enhance general understanding of diversity of plants and animals in a global and local context. The other purpose is to gain practical knowledge of groups of organisms living in the closest surrounding and exhibited in educational facilities. The other aim is to acquire knowledge necessary for practical protection of biodiversity on a local and a global level.

Pre-requisites in terms of knowledge, skills and social competences (where relevant)

Syllabus

The course is intended for everyone interested in the natural history. It presents issues concerning distribution of living organisms on Earth, its causes and rules. Students will learn how to collect chosen groups of organisms in the field and how to conserve them for scientific purposes. Fieldtrips focused on showing the diversity of living organisms, will be conducted in the vicinity of the Faculty of Biology, in the Poznan Greenhouse, the Botanical Garden and the Citadel City Park. During the meetings the students will learn taxonomic and morphological diversity of plants and animals (with a special emphasis on invertebrates) from tropical, subtropical and temperate parts of the world. The students will be shown how to understand the surrounding nature and how to protect its diversity in the most effective way, mainly in urban areas. Practical collection and conservation of plants and selected groups of invertebrates will be exercised.

Reading list

Materials will be provided during classess.