Syllabus
Recomended literature:
• John Harper (1977) Population Biology of Plants.- HARPER COLLINS PUBLISHERS LTD.
• G. E. Hutchinson (1978) An Introduction to Population Ecology. - Yale University Press.
• J. Silvertown & D. Charlesworth (2001) Introduction to plant population biology. - Blackwell Science.
• M. W. Fenner (2005) Seed Ecology. – Springer.
• Schoonhoven, L.M., van Loon, J.J.A., & Dicke, M. (2005) Insect-plant biology. Second edition.
Introductory lecture: Population biology and population biology of plants. Generative reproduction: Pollen dispersal, pollinators, development of seeds and fruits. Plant reproduction. Diversity of reproductive systems. Generative reproduction: dispersal, germination, and seedling survival. Diversity of population biology in higher plants. Diversity of plant life histories especially in temperate zones. Size structure and density of plant populations, their development and competition. Clonal plants. Vegetative reproduction. Plasticity in plants as adaptation for sessilness: terminology, levels of plasticity. Morphology and morphogenesis in plants: relationship of morphogenetic constraints with changes in shape, number and distribution of plant parts. Coexistence in plants. Local interaction in plants. What determines niche in plants. Herbivory and other interactions of plants with other trophic levels. Genetic structure of plant populations as a result of processes on generative and vegetative level. Evolution in action. Current examples of evolution in plants, their direction, speed and implications for ecology and systematics. Molecular methods in plant population biology. Methods for sampling and analysis of plant population biology data.
Annotation
Recomended literature:
• John Harper (1977) Population Biology of Plants.- HARPER COLLINS PUBLISHERS LTD.
• G. E. Hutchinson (1978) An Introduction to Population Ecology. - Yale University Press.
• J. Silvertown & D. Charlesworth (2001) Introduction to plant population biology. - Blackwell Science.
• M. W. Fenner (2005) Seed Ecology. – Springer.
• Schoonhoven, L.M., van Loon, J.J.A., & Dicke, M. (2005) Insect-plant biology. Second edition.
The lectures can be given in English. Why simple approach to population biology used in zoology does not work in plants. The topics of population biology (natality, mortality, population size) are connected with developmental, genetical and evolution approaches.
Syllabus
Introductory lecture: Population biology and population biology of plants.
Generative reproduction: Pollen dispersal, pollinators, development of seeds and fruits.
Plant reproduction. Diversity of reproductive systems.
Generative reproduction: dispersal, germination, and seedling survival.
Diversity of population biology in higher plants. Diversity of plant life histories especially in temperate zones.
Size structure and density of plant populations, their development and competition.
Clonal plants. Vegetative reproduction.
Plasticity in plants as adaptation for sessilness: terminology, levels of plasticity.
Morphology and morphogenesis in plants: relationship of morphogenetic constraints with changes in shape, number and distribution of plant parts.
Coexistence in plants. Local interaction in plants. What determines niche in plants.
Herbivory and other interactions of plants with other trophic levels.
Genetic structure of plant populations as a result of processes on generative and vegetative level.
Evolution in action. Current examples of evolution in plants, their direction, speed and implications for ecology and systematics.
Molecular methods in plant population biology.
Methods for sampling and analysis of plant population biology data.
