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Course, academic year 2025/2026
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Introduction to study of plant evolution and diversity - MB120P153E
Title: Introduction to study of plant evolution and diversity
Czech title: Úvod do studia evoluce a diverzity rostlin
Guaranteed by: Department of Botany (31-120)
Faculty: Faculty of Science
Actual: from 2025
Semester: winter
E-Credits: 3
Examination process: winter s.:oral
Hours per week, examination: winter s.:2/1, C+Ex [HT]
Capacity: unlimited
Min. number of students: 5
4EU+: no
Virtual mobility / capacity: no
State of the course: taught
Language: English
Additional information: http://ibot.sav.sk/usr/Karol/teaching_mat.html
Note: enabled for web enrollment
priority enrollment if the course is part of the study plan
Guarantor: prof. RNDr. Karol Marhold, DrSc.
Teacher(s): prof. RNDr. Karol Marhold, DrSc.
Incompatibility : MB120P23
Annotation -
Aim of the lecture is to provide an overview of basic methodical approaches in taxonomy and to show their application, based on practical examples from literature. Special attention is paid to the basic terminology of taxonomy, classification of polyploid complexes, evaluation of molecular and morphological data, formal presentation of the results of taxonomical work and to some problems of botanical nomenclature.
Last update: Marhold Karol, prof. RNDr., DrSc. (07.10.2025)
Literature -

Stuessy, T.F., 2009: Plant taxonomy. The Systematic evaluation of comparative data. Ed. 2. Columbia University Press, New York.

Stuessy, T.F., 1990: Plant taxonomy. The Systematic evaluation of comparative data. Columbia University Press, New York.

Stuessy, T. F., 1994: Case studies in plant taxonomy. Columbia University Press, New York.

Stace, C.A., 1991: Plant Taxonomy and Biosystematics. Cambridge University Press, Cambridge. Stebbins, G.L., 1971: Chromosomal evolution in higher plants. E. Arnold, New York.

Greuter W. et al., eds. 2000: International code of botanical nomenclature (Saint Louis Code).

Papers in journals Taxon, Systematic Botany, Plant Systematics and Evolution, Mycotaxon, Folia Geobotanica, Preslia.

Last update: Štefánek Michal, Mgr. (04.05.2022)
Requirements to the exam -

Oral examination.

Last update: Štefánek Michal, Mgr. (04.05.2022)
Syllabus -

Position of taxonomy in biological sciences; history of taxonomy; delimitation of taxa; evolutionary relationships; species, subspecies, variety, forma; different approaches to infraspecific classification; taxonomical studies (Marhold)

Taxonomic publications as a source of information and as a product of taxonomic research I. Bibliographies, distribution atlases, identification keys, Index Herbariorum, chromosome number surveys (Marhold)

Taxonomic publications as a source of information and as a product of taxonomic research II. Floras, checklists, monographs (Marhold)

Herbaria, their role in biodiversity studies, basic rules of work in herbarium (Mráz)

Botanical nomenclature, International Code of Botanical Nomenclature, alternative approaches to botanical nomenclature (Marhold)

Multivariate morphometrics, geometrical morphometrics, reconstruction of evolution, building of phylogenetic trees (Marhold)

Cytotaxonomy, karyology, cytogenetics (history, questions, methods) I (Suda)

  • data in cytotaxonomy (chromosome numbers, karyotypes, meiotic behaviour, genome size, banding)
  • methods (squashes, specific staining, FISH, GISH)

  • Cytotaxonomy, karyology, cytogenetics (history, questions, methods) I (Suda)
  • flow cytometry (methods, history, comparison of plant and animal flow cytometry, advantages, disadvantages)
  • questions addressed by FCM (taxon delimitation, hybridisation, cytogeography, reproduction modes)
  • case studies

  • Molecular approaches in biodiversity studies, in taxonomy and reconstruction of evolution I (Fér)
  • methods (isozymes, RAPD, AFLP, microsatellites, sequences) and their application in phylogenetic, hybridisation, polyploid and phylogeographic studies

  • Molecular approaches in biodiversity studies, in taxonomy and reconstruction of evolution I (Fér)
  • case studies

Last update: Štefánek Michal, Mgr. (04.05.2022)
Learning outcomes

After completing the course, students will be able to:

  1. Explain the fundamental principles of plant taxonomy, classification, and nomenclature in the context of evolutionary biology.

  2. Describe major methodological approaches used in the study of plant diversity, including morphological, cytogenetic, and molecular techniques.

  3. Apply basic taxonomic terminology and distinguish between different hierarchical and infraspecific levels of classification.

  4. Comprehend use of morphological and molecular data in the delimitation of taxa and reconstruction of phylogenetic relationships.

  5. Evaluate the role of polyploidy, hybridization, and genome size variation in plant evolution and diversification.

  6. Describe basic procedures of herbarium work and recognize the importance of taxonomic collections in biodiversity research.

  7. Highlight the benefits and limitations of using low cytometry and molecular markers in modern taxonomic and evolutionary studies.

  8. Critically analyse published taxonomic and systematic works, and summarize their findings in accordance with the principles of botanical nomenclature.

Last update: Gáliková Kristýna, Mgr. et Mgr., DiS. (21.10.2025)
 
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