1. komponenta

Lecture type	Total
Lectures	30
Practicum	15
Seminar	15

* Load is given in academic hour (1 academic hour = 45 minutes)

LEARNING OUTCOMES
1. Understanding of basic biogeography principles;
2. Describe general distributional patterns of plants and animals;
3. Interpret and understand the processes that control the distribution, ecological radiation evolution and speciation of main taxonomic groups of plants and animals;
4. Develop ability to apply and analyse data using standard biogeographically methodology;
5. Understand human impact on species distribution, and implementation of biogeography in contemporary conservation strategies.


COURSE CONTENT
What is biogeography? Introduction to geobotany
Range and geographical dispersion
Ecology of dispersal and adaptations of plants
Flora and vegetation: historical changes
Floristic regions of the world
World climate and vegetation zones
Origin and distribution of cultivated plants
Dispersal routes and distribution of animals
Ecological factors and animal dispersal
Geological changes and animal distribution
Wallace biogeographical regions
Biogeography of mammals
Island Biogeography
Human influence on zoogeography of species

SEMINARS
Fossil fuel
Amber
Mesozoic relicts in the Botanical Garden, Zagreb
Carnivorous plants
Cactaceae vs. Euphorbiaceae
Epiphytes of a tropical rainforests used as ornamental plants
Mangroves
Peat bogs
Five o clock tea or coffee?
Exotic fruits in supermarkets of Zagreb
Monsters from the past: carnivorous animals through Earths geological past
Cartoon characters zoogeography
Alfred Russel Wallace: geographical distribution of animals
Homo neandertalensis vs Homo sapiens
Europian Pleistocene fauna
Messinian salinity crisis: animal dispersion
National cuisine: reflection of zoogeography?
Diversity of Columbiformes
Sea currents and animal distribution
Cat vs dog

Include written essay on proposed subjects and presentation actual literature findings
New themes each term

EXERCISES
Biogeographical mapping
Plants dispersal
Floral patterns and vegetation distribution in geological history
Floral kingdom and their distinctive plant life
Climazonal vegetation: distribution and characteristics
Cultivated plants: present and past
World geography
Tectonic plates
Zoogeographic regions
Ecological radiation of mammals
Horse (Equus) evolution
Islands

1. C. B. Cox & P. D. Moore 2005: Biogeography, An ecological and evolutionary approach. 7 th edition, Blackwell Science, Oxford.
2. Frey W., Lösch R., 2004: Lehrbuch der Geobotanik. Pflanze und Vegetation in Raum und Zeit (2.Aufl.). Gustav Fischer Verlag, Stuttgart
3. Schroeder F.-G., 1998: Lehrbuch der Pflanzengeographie. Quelle & Meyer Verlag,Wiesbaden.
4. Willis K.J., McElwain J.C., 2002: The Evolution of Plants. Oxford University Press Inc., New York

Enrollment :
Passed : Vertebrates
Attended : Systematic Botany

Mandatory course - Regular study - Biology and Chemistry Education