SubjectsSubjects(version: 978)
Course, academic year 2025/2026
   
Field methods in plant ecology and phytosociology - MB120T109
Title: Kurz terénních metod ekologie rostlin a fytocenologie
Czech title: Kurz terénních metod ekologie rostlin a fytocenologie
Guaranteed by: Department of Botany (31-120)
Faculty: Faculty of Science
Actual: from 2024
Semester: summer
E-Credits: 2
Examination process: summer s.:
Hours per week, examination: summer s.:0/1, C [TS]
Capacity: unlimited
Min. number of students: unlimited
4EU+: no
Virtual mobility / capacity: no
State of the course: taught
Language: Czech
Additional information: http://botany.natur.cuni.cz/koubek/fytkurz.htm
Note: enabled for web enrollment
priority enrollment if the course is part of the study plan
Guarantor: Mgr. Tomáš Koubek, Ph.D.
Teacher(s): Mgr. Tomáš Koubek, Ph.D.
RNDr. Jan Novák, Ph.D.
Mgr. Martin Weiser, Ph.D.
Annotation -
Please note that the field course is usually given in Czech language. In case of major interest of English speaking people, contact the teacher - we can manage to split the groups probably.

A practical course focused on the current methods in phytosociology, plant population biology and ecology (from data sampling to computer analyses).
Last update: Koubek Tomáš, Mgr., Ph.D. (30.03.2022)
Literature -

There are no compulsory books needed for attending. In case of really great interest, you can try reading Scheiner, Gurevitsch: Design and Analysis of Ecological Experiments. Basic knowledge of R is also welcome so the R book or some online sources might come handy.

Last update: Koubek Tomáš, Mgr., Ph.D. (30.03.2022)
Requirements to the exam -

The credit is given for attendance, active work and final presentation.

Last update: Koubek Tomáš, Mgr., Ph.D. (30.03.2022)
Syllabus -

We teach basic methods of phytosociology and plant population biology, e.g.:

forest relevés and hemispheric photographs for light measurements

phytosociological relevé (Braun-Blanquet scale, head data etc.)

permanent plots, their fixing an finding

Ellenberg indicator values (EIV)

environmental variables (pH půdy, soil depth, soil type and other depending on the study)

plant measurements

biomass measurements and callibration

underground organs measuerments

Last update: Koubek Tomáš, Mgr., Ph.D. (30.03.2022)
Learning outcomes -

Upon successful completion of this course, the student will be able to, for example (tasks vary slightly each year):

1. Field Methods and Data Collection (Apply)

  • Record a phytosociological relevé using the Braun-Blanquet and/or percentage cover scales, and accurately record the corresponding header data.

  • Establish and relocate permanent monitoring plots and individuals in the field.

  • Measure environmental parameters (e.g., soil pH and soil depth) and estimate the degree of shading through the acquisition and analysis of hemispherical photography.

  • Collect biomass samples in the field and/or measure plant functional traits.

2. Data Management and Processing (Analyze and Evaluate)

  • Enter and edit the collected phytosociological data using the Turboveg and Juice database programs.

  • Analyze the acquired vegetation and environmental data using multivariate statistical methods in the R environment (e.g., the vegan package) or CANOCO.

  • Evaluate the ecological requirements of the studied plant communities using Ellenberg indicator values.

  • Demonstrate the ability to calibrate biomass based on field collection and subsequent laboratory weighing of samples.

3. Interpretation and Visualization (Create)

  • Visualize the spatial distribution of the studied populations or plots using GIS tools (e.g., QGIS).

  • Interpret the results of statistical analyses and draw conclusions about the impact of the environment or experimental treatments (e.g., disturbance) on the dynamics of vegetation or populations of rare plant species.

  • Present the results using appropriate graphical tools and answer questions related to the assigned topic.

Last update: Koubek Tomáš, Mgr., Ph.D. (17.05.2026)
 
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