Ecology of the Cryosphere - MB162P30

• Title: Ecology of the Cryosphere
• Czech title: Ekologie kryosféry
• Guaranteed by: Department of Ecology (31-162)
• Faculty: Faculty of Science
• Actual: from 2022
• Semester: summer
• E-Credits: 3
• Examination process: summer s.:oral
• Hours per week, examination: summer s.:2/0, Ex [HT]
• Capacity: unlimited
• Min. number of students: unlimited
• 4EU+: no
• Virtual mobility / capacity: no
• State of the course: taught
• Language: English
• Level: specialized
• Note: enabled for web enrollment
• Guarantor: Mgr. Marek Stibal, Ph.D.
• Teacher(s): Mgr. Petra Klímová, Ph.D.; Mgr. Marek Stibal, Ph.D.; Mgr. Jakub Žárský, Ph.D.

Annotation

English

The aim of this course is to introduce the cryosphere as an important and rapidly changing yet relatively unknown
part of the Earth’s system and a biome that contains distinct ecosystems and communities. Emphasis will be
placed on recent and/or current research by the lecturers. This course will be principally focused on ecosystem-
scale processes within the cryosphere and is complementary to the courses Winter Ecology and Polar Ecology.
The course will be in English.

Last update: Sacherová Veronika, RNDr., Ph.D. (28.04.2015)

Czech

Cílem kurzu je představit kryosféru jako důležitou a rychle se měnící, přesto však stále poměrně neznámou součást planetárního ekosystému a biom zahrnující unikátní biotopy a společenstva. Důraz je kladen na současný výzkum přednášejících. Kurz je zaměřen na ekosystémové procesy v kryosféře a je komplementární ke kurzům Zimní ekologie a Polární ekologie. Jazykem kurzu je angličtina.

Last update: Stibal Marek, Mgr., Ph.D. (24.10.2019)

Literature

English

Anesio A.M., Laybourn-Parry J. (2012) Glaciers and ice sheets as a biome. Trends Ecol. Evol. 27, 219-225.

Benn D., Evans D. J. A. (2010) Glaciers and Glaciation. Hodder Arnold Publication.

Hodson A. J. et al. (2008) Glacial ecosystems. Ecol. Monogr. 78, 41-67.

Jansson J. K, Taş N. (2014) The microbial ecology of permafrost. Nat. Rev. Microbiol. 12, 414-425.

Jones H. G. et al. (2011) Snow Ecology. An Interdisciplinary Examination of Snow-Covered Ecosystems. Cambridge University Press.

Laybourn-Parry J., Tranter M., Hodson A. J. (2012) The Ecology of Snow and Ice Environments. Oxford University Press.

Stibal M., Šabacká M., Žárský J. (2012) Biological processes on glacier and ice sheet surfaces. Nat. Geosci. 5, 771-774.

Last update: Sacherová Veronika, RNDr., Ph.D. (29.04.2015)

Requirements to the exam

English

5 min presentation of a recent study on cryospheric ecology; understanding of cryosphere ecosystem processes dueing an oral exam.

Last update: Stibal Marek, Mgr., Ph.D. (24.10.2019)

Czech

5minutová prezentace recentní studie v rámci ekologie kryosféry; porozumění ekosystémovým procesům v kryosféře během ústní zkoušky.

Last update: Stibal Marek, Mgr., Ph.D. (24.10.2019)

Syllabus

1. Introduction to the cryosphere: Physics of frozen water • Cryosphere as part of the Earth’s system • The icy biome
2. Snow ecology
4. Glaciers and ice sheets (guest lecturer Jacob Yde, Sogndal University) Formation of glacial ice • Glacier types • Glacier hydrology • History of glaciation • Glaciers as landscape architects
5. Glacier ecology I: The supraglacial ecosystem (Marek) Energy and nutrient sources for glacier surfaces • Cryoconite holes • Surface ice • Supraglacial lakes • Real world example: Ice algae and albedo feedback on the Greenland ice sheet
6. Glacier ecology II: The subglacial ecosystem (Marek) Energy and nutrient sources for glacier beds • Basal ice • Subglacial sediments • Subglacial lakes • Real world example: The bed of the Antarctic ice sheet as a methane reservoir
7. Glacier ecology III: The englacial ecosystem (Marek) Limitations for life within glacial ice • Ice cores as past climate proxies
8. Glacier ecology IV: Glacial ecosystems in the warming world (Petra Klímová) Transition to proglacial ecosystems • Ecological succession of deglaciated land • Export of organisms and nutrients from glaciers to downstream ecosystems • Real world example: Export of microbial activity from beneath the Greenland ice sheet
9. Sea ice ecoogy
11. Permafrost ecology: Energy and nutrient sources for permafrost • Permafrost thawing and greenhouse gas release • Real world example: Seasonal change in the microbial community in the active layer of permafrost in Svalbard 
12. The future of the cryosphere

Last update: Stibal Marek, Mgr., Ph.D. (23.01.2026)

Learning outcomes

Upon completing the course, the student will be able to

 

·        define the cryosphere

·        describe its significance for the global climate and hydrological system

·        distinguish between the main cryospheric ecosystems and describe their geographical distributions and the time scales on which they operate

·        explain the key differences between cryospheric and non-cryospheric ecosystems

·        describe the ‘hard limits’ for life in the cryosphere and the adaptations of organisms for these conditions

·        describe the principal sources of energy and nutrients in all cryospheric ecosystems

·        explain the limited diversity of life forms in cryospheric ecosystems

·        discuss the potential scenarios of the future of cryosphere ecosystems based on projected climate change trajectories

·        summarise principles, strengths, and limitations of major approaches for ecological research in the cryosphere

·        demonstrate critical thinking when assessing cryosphere research-related news 

Last update: Stibal Marek, Mgr., Ph.D. (23.01.2026)