General information
| Course type | AMUPIE |
| Module title | Invasion ecology of plants |
| Language | english |
| Module lecturer | prof. UAM dr hab. Marcin Dyderski |
| Lecturer's email | mardyd1@amu.edu.pl |
| Lecturer position | AMU Professor |
| Faculty | Faculty of Biology |
| Semester | 2026/2027 (winter) |
| Duration | 30 |
| ECTS | 4 |
| USOS code | 01-INVECOPLANT-PIE |
Timetable
In total 30 hours, including 15 hours of lectures and 15 hours of classes, max one group
The schedule week by week will be given at the beginning of the winter semester.
Tentative schedule:
07.10.2026 Wednesday 08:00 - 09:30 Invasion ecology of plants L C
14.10.2026 Wednesday 08:00 - 09:30 Invasion ecology of plants L C
21.10.2026 Wednesday 08:00 - 09:30 Invasion ecology of plants L C
28.10.2026 Wednesday 08:00 - 09:30 Invasion ecology of plants L C
04.11.2026 Wednesday 08:00 - 09:30 Invasion ecology of plants L C
18.11.2026 Wednesday 08:00 - 09:30 Invasion ecology of plants L C
25.11.2026 Wednesday 08:00 - 09:30 Invasion ecology of plants L OWALNA
17.12.2026 Thursday 10:30 - 12:45 Invasion ecology of plants EX S2 KOMPUTEROWA
07.01.2027 Thursday 10:30 - 12:45 Invasion ecology of plants EX S2 KOMPUTEROWA
14.01.2027 Thursday 10:30 - 12:45 Invasion ecology of plants EX S2 KOMPUTEROWA
21.01.2027 Thursday 10:30 - 12:45 Invasion ecology of plants EX S2 KOMPUTEROWA
28.01.2027 Thursday 10:30 - 12:45 Invasion ecology of plants EX S2 KOMPUTEROWA
Module aim (aims)
- To increase the knowledge about the environmental and economic consequences of biological invasions, and their scale, as one of the major components of global environmental changes
- To understand factors determining the success of non-native plant species
- To learn how to identify non-native species and find information about their biology and ecology
- To learn how to assess the risks of invasions and negative impacts in a changing world
Pre-requisites in terms of knowledge, skills and social competences (where relevant)
- Basic knowledge about plant ecology (at the level of undergraduate studies)
Syllabus
Lectures:
Introduction to biological invasions – glimpse of the current situation, overview of the main problems, and environmental impacts. Why is it important?
History of introductions – pathways, trends, examples. General model of biological invasion. Level of invasion success and its variability. Main concepts in invasion ecology.
Determinants of invasive species success – biological traits of non-native species (invasiveness)
Determinants of invasive species success – characteristics of the recipient community (invasibility)
Determinants of invasive species success – propagule pressure
Impacts of invasive plant species on ecosystems – biodiversity and ecosystem functioning
Impacts of invasive plant species on human economy and well-being
Management of invasive plant species
Classes:
Identification of selected non-native plant species
Data sources on non-native plant species
Data sources on species ecology
Data sources on species distributions
Assessments of invasive plant species impacts – data sources
Risk analysis for invasive plant species
Wrapping up – presentations and discussion
Own work:
Review of a chosen invasive taxa and risk assessment based on data sources learned during classes - presentation
Reading list
Richardson D.M. 2010. Fifty years of invasion ecology. The legacy of Charles Elton. Blackwell Publishing Ltd.
Chosen articles in journals NeoBiota and Biological Invasions
Chosen risk assessments and reviews on invasive species