P a r t B r y o p h y t e s

1. Physiological adaptations
Specific aspects of physiological adaptations of bryophytes. Photosynthesis and respiration. Optimal and extreme values of limiting factors of environment (water relation, temperature, radiation, mineral nutrition). Symbiosis and saprophytism. Ecophysiology of xerotherm and hydrophytic bryophytes.

2. Reproduction ecology
Reproduction (time of the first reproduction, reproduction affort, size and number of spores, dormancy), life spain and mortality, alternative adaptations against stress (avoidance and tolerance). Klassification of types of life strategies anf life forms.

3. Phytosociology
Ecology and classification of communities of bryophytes. Historical and actual theories on the classification system of bryophytes.

4. Population ecology
Common reproduction scheme. Generative and vegetative types of reproduction. Phenology, forming of spores, distribution and bank of spores. Germination and establishment. Common aspects of methodology of population ecology of bryophytes.

5. Bryophytes in ecosystems
The role of bryophytes in individual types of ecosystems with the speial respect on extreme types (polar, arid and high-mountain regions).

6. Bryophytes - indicators of environments
Specific aspects of bionidication efficiency of bryophytes (responses of bryophytes to air and water pollution). Biomonitoring.

7. Threatened bryophytes
The reasonds of threatening of bryophytes. Regional and national Red Lists and Red Books. Actual stage of threatening of bryopflora of the Czech Republic and comparision with European as well as the whole world stages.

P a r t L i c h e n s

1. Substrate ecology
Lichen habitats. Substrate in mycological vs. lichenological sense. Types of substrates and limiting factors. Ecological amplitude and substrate specificity. Effect of lichens on their substrate.

2. Ecology of lichens in extreme environments
Ecophysiology, specific characters of lichens. Extreme values of environmental factors (water relations, temperature, radiation, mechanical influences) and response to environmental stress.

3. Lichens of polar regions and high mountain areas
Cold deserts, definition, zonation and characteristics. Arctic, Antarctic, high mountain areas as specific environment, flora and types of distribution. Role of lichens in terrestrial ecosystems. Adaptations, mechanisms of dispersal.

4. Lichens of arid and semiarid regions
Hot deserts, world patterns, characteristics, ecological aspects in different regions, fog oases. Lichen flora, differences in various areas. Adaptations, specialized growth forms. Factors affecting dispersal. Ecological role of lichens in deserts.

5. Endolithic lichens
Terminology, characteristics. Endolithic lichens of cold and hot deserts. Marine endolithic lichens.

6. Water environment as extreme habitat
Wet and humid habitats. Seashore and zonation. Foliicolous lichens.

7. Ecological strategies
Reproduction ecology, life forms and strategy, classification. Lichens in different systems of ecological strategies (CRS modell, r and K strategy modell). Types of strategy in lichens. Biotic interactions and communities development, role of competition, ecological specialization, allelopathic effect.

8. Interations of lichens with other organisms
Lichen-invertebrate associations. Lichens as food and protective environment. Evolutionary aspects. Lichens and vertebrates. Lichens as food, mimicry, camouflage. Lichens and man, use of lichens in various cultures, effect of man on lichen habitats.

Literature for further study

AHMADJIAN V. & HALE M.E., eds. (1973): The lichens. - Academic Press, London.
BARKMAN J.J. (1958): Phytosociology and ecology of cryptogamic epiphytes. - Van Gorcum, Assen.
KERSHAW K.A. (1985): Physiological ecology of lichens. - Cambridge Univ. Press, Cambridge.
SCHOFIELD W.B. (1985): Introduction to bryology. - Macmillan Publishing Company, New York.
SEAWARD M.R.D., ed. (1977): Lichen ecology. - Academic Press, London.