Quaternary paleoecology, or in other words, long-term ecology, will explore methods, processes, and narratives of the last ca. 2.5 million years of environmental history. The course focuses on Europe, but also explores major contexts from other regions.
Poslední úprava: Kuneš Petr, doc. RNDr., Ph.D. (06.10.2025)
Quaternary paleoecology, or in other words, long-term ecology, will explore methods, processes, and narratives of the last ca. 2.5 million years of environmental history. The course focuses on Europe, but also explores major contexts from other regions.
Poslední úprava: Kuneš Petr, doc. RNDr., Ph.D. (06.10.2025)
Literatura -
Je přístupná v Moodle. Prosím zapište se do Moodle min. 1 týden před začátkem kurzu.
Poslední úprava: Kuneš Petr, doc. RNDr., Ph.D. (28.09.2017)
Is accessible in Moodle. Please signup into Moodle at least 1 week prior to the course start!
Poslední úprava: Kuneš Petr, doc. RNDr., Ph.D. (28.09.2017)
Požadavky ke zkoušce -
Portfolio of assessments including:
- Student’s active participation in group assignments involving paper reading and discussion.
- Several in-class assessments in form of test on range of topics concluded in the class (1 in a month)
- Take home exam – assay on selected topic.
Poslední úprava: Kuneš Petr, doc. RNDr., Ph.D. (19.09.2018)
Portfolio of assessments including:
- Student’s active participation in group assignments involving paper reading and discussion.
- Several in-class assessments in form of test on range of topics concluded in the class (1 in a month)
- Take home exam – assay on selected topic.
Poslední úprava: Kuneš Petr, doc. RNDr., Ph.D. (19.09.2018)
Sylabus -
1. Pojetí času - klima, počasí. Hlavní otázky studia paleoekologie. Princip aktualismu, příklady paleoekologické argumentace, další principy. Historie a aspekty studia. Klima a stratigrafie kvartéru a jejich pozadí (klimatický systém, mořské proudy, NAO), klimatické modely.
2. Sedimentační prostředí pro studium paleoekologie, typy a vývoj jezer, paleolimnologie. Popis sedimentů. Odběrové metody. Metody datování jezerních sedimentů.
3. Principy pylové analýzy. Vznik pylu, funkce a morfologie. Aeropalynologie. Faktory ovlivňující přítomnost pylu v atmosféře, disperze pylu, lokální vs. regionální pylová data, vztah pylu a vegetace, sedimentace pylu, typy dekompozice pylu.
4. Flóra a vegetace během miocénu, pliocénu a pleistocénu. Fosilní doklady o terciérní flóře z hnědouhelných pánví, současné rozšíření terciérních reliktů. Dlouhé sekvence z pleistocénu v jižní Evropě, vývoj mediteránního prostředí, hlubokomořské vrty. Datování starých sedimentů - luminiscense, paleomagnetismus.
5. Starší a střední kvartér a jeho interglaciály. Marinní isotopová stádia a rámec období kvartéru, glaciální/interglaciální cyklus, hlavní interglaciály středního kvartéru a jejich charakteristika. Vývoj interglaciálního prostředí.
6. Poslední glaciální cyklus. Začátek interglaciálu, Eem, časný Weichsel, vrcholný glaciál a glaciální maximum. Stratigrafie, vývoj klimatu a vegetace.
7. Rostlinné makrozbytky a jejich využití. Vznik, šíření a proces ukládání. Interpretace záznamů makrofosilií, hlavní problémy řešení na příkladech.
8. Rekonstrukce flory a vegetace - problémy využití pylu jako indikátoru výskytu rostlin, korekční faktory, akumulace pylu jako indikátor biomasy, rekonstrukce klimatu a prostředí, indicator species, modern analogues, transfer functions. Kvantitativní rekonstrukce vegetace (LRA).
9. Prostředí a vegetace v pozdní fázi Weichselu - přehled v Evropě a na území ČR, biotické reakce na výkyvy klimatu, sopečná činnost, rostlinné makrozbytky, hmyz.
10. Glaciální refugia, teorie, stadiály a interglaciály, identifikace refugií, mechanismus vymírání druhů rostlin, migrační cesty, studium diverzity v minulosti, genetické analýzy paleobotanického materiálu, využití ke studiu migrace, populací.
11. Kvartérní historie savců a člověka, hromadné vymírání savců a jeho příčiny, vliv megaherbivorů na přirozené lesy.
12. Paleoekologie a současná ochrana přírody. Co je přirozené? Příklady na oceánických ostrovech. Požárová dynamika v minulosti. Odlišnosti a podobnosti současného interglaciálu.
Poslední úprava: Kuneš Petr, doc. RNDr., Ph.D. (07.10.2013)
1. Time scales - climate and weather. Main objectives and questions of palaeoecology. Uniformitarism, examples of palaeoecological argumentation, other principles. History and aspects of the study. Climate and quaternary stratigraphy and their background (climatic system, ocean circulation, NAO), climatic models.
2. Sedimentation environments for palaeoecological purposes, types and evolution of lakes, palaeolimnology. Sediments description. Dating methods of lakes sediments.
3. Principles of pollen analysis. Pollen: formation, function and morphology. Aeropalynology. Factors affecting presence of pollen in the air, pollen dispesal, local vs. regional pollen data, relationship of pollen and vegetation, pollen sedimentation, pollen decomposition.
4. Flora and vegetation during Miocene, Pliocene and Pleistocene. Fossils documenting Tertiary flora of brown-coal deposits, current distribution of tertiary relicts. Pleistocene long sequences from Southern Europe, genesis of mediteranean vegetation, deap-sea cores. Dating of old sediments - luminiscence, palaeomagnetism.
5. Early and Mid- Quaternary and their interglacials. Marine isotopic stages (MIS) and Quaternary framework, glacial/interglacial cycle, main interglacials of Mid-Quaternary and their characteristics. Evolution of interglacial environments.
6. Last interglacial/glacial cycle. Interglacial start, Eemian, early Weichselian, full glacial and last glacial maximum. Stratigraphy, climate and vegetation development.
7. Plant macroremains and their use in palaeoecology. Formation, dispersal and sedimentation processes. Interpretation of macroremain records, main problems and solutions on examples.
8. Reconstruction of flora and vegetation - problems of use of pollen as an indicator of presence of plants, correction factors, pollen accumulation as an indicator of biomass, reconstruction of climate and environment, indicator species, modern analogues, transfer functions. Quantitative vegetation reconstruction (LRA).
9. Vegetation and environment of the late glacial - ovierview of Europe and the Czech Republic, biotic responses on climate fluctuations, vulcanic aktivity, plant macroremains, insects.
10. Glacial refugia, theories, stadials and interstadials, indentification of refugia, mechanisims of plant species extinctions, migration routes, diversity in the past, genetic analyses of palaeobotanical materiál and its use in plant migration studies, populations.
11. Quaternary history of mammals and humans, causes of mass extinctions of mammals, impact of megaherbivores on natural forest vegetation.
12. Palaeoecology and nature conservation. What is natural? Examples from oceanic islands. Past fire dynamics. Differences and similarities of present interglacial.
Poslední úprava: Kuneš Petr, doc. RNDr., Ph.D. (01.06.2014)
Výsledky učení - angličtina
Participants completing the course will achieve the following learning outcomes:
Knowledge and understanding
Understand ecological processes and environmental change during the Quaternary (last ca. 2–2.5 million years) and explain major climatic phases, glacial–interglacial cycles, and their drivers at multiple temporal scales.
Describe the main patterns of Quaternary biotic history in Central Europe and other key regions, including major vegetation shifts, species migrations, extinctions, and refugial dynamics. Explain the principles, advantages, and limitations of major palaeoecological methods (pollen analysis, plant macrofossils, diatoms, chironomids, cladocerans, tree rings, vertebrate fossils) and compare their information content for reconstructing past environments.
Characterize key Quaternary periods (e.g. Late Glacial, Holocene, main interglacials, Last Glacial Maximum) and relate them to vegetation, fauna, and landscape development.
Methodological and analytical skills
Evaluate different depositional environments (lakes, peatlands, soils, other archives) as sources of palaeoecological evidence and discuss suitable sampling and dating strategies for each.
Critically assess primary palaeoecological literature, identify the methods used, interpret diagrams and quantitative reconstructions, and evaluate the robustness and limitations of the evidence.
Formulate research questions that can be addressed with palaeolimnological and terrestrial palaeoecological data, and outline appropriate designs for data collection, analysis, and interpretation.
Application to conservation and global change
Explain how long-term records inform baselines, reference conditions, resilience, and alternative stable states, and apply this understanding to ecosystem restoration and conservation planning.
Discuss Quaternary perspectives on biological invasions, biodiversity dynamics, and extinction rates, and relate them to current biodiversity crises and ecosystem services.
Analyse human impact on ecosystems from early hunter-gatherers through agricultural and industrial phases to the Anthropocene, and evaluate implications for present and future landscapes.
Research, communication, and critical thinking
Identify “hot” scientific questions in Quaternary palaeoecology, justify their relevance for present and future environmental issues, and design realistic strategies to address them.
Develop concise argumentative essays on selected Quaternary palaeoecology topics, formulating hypotheses, marshalling evidence, and clearly articulating and defending a position.
Engage actively in group discussions, present key findings from readings and essays, respond constructively to peer questions, and provide thoughtful peer feedback.
Poslední úprava: Kuneš Petr, doc. RNDr., Ph.D. (29.01.2026)
Vstupní požadavky -
The course is aimed for both master students and bachelor students. Basic knowledge in botany, ecology and Earth's history is expected.
Students are required to signup into Moodle (Elearning) prior to the start of the course and follow the instructions. Please, contact the teacher if you need the password to signup the course!
Poslední úprava: Kuneš Petr, doc. RNDr., Ph.D. (28.09.2017)
The course is aimed for both master students and bachelor students. Basic knowledge in botany, ecology and Earth's history is expected.
Students are required to signup into Moodle (Elearning) prior to the start of the course and follow the instructions. Please, contact the teacher if you need the password to signup the course!
Poslední úprava: Kuneš Petr, doc. RNDr., Ph.D. (28.09.2017)
