1. komponenta

Lecture type	Total
Lectures	30
Practicum	30

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

COURSE OBJECTIVES:
The objective of Fundamentals of evolution and ecology is to learn basic evolutionary and ecological principles and laws, as well as the impact of human activity on nature and the environment.

COURSE CONTENT:

LECTURES
1) Basic terms of biological evolution. Multidisciplinarity in evolution. Evolution as a scientific discipline and its historical development;
2) Fossils. Living world in the past;
3) Evolution of the universe, the Solar System and the origin of Earth. Objects and phenomena in space;
4) Chemical evolution, first atmosphere and conditions on Earth. Continental drift;
5) Biological evolution. Domains and kingdoms of the living world. Universal ancestor of living beings;
6) Ecology as an inter- and multidisciplinary science, definition of ecology, development of ecology as a science, types of ecology, the importance of ecology in modern society, basic terms in ecology;
7) Solar radiation as an ecological factor: electromagnetic spectrum of sunlight, solar constant, temporal and spatial variability of radiation, photoenergetic effect of radiation on plants - three photosynthetic pathways, anatomical and functional adaptations of schiophytes and heliophytes, photocybernetic effect of radiation, photodestructive effect of radiation;
8) Temperature as an ecological factor: physiological significance of soil and air temperature on plants, cardinal temperature points, anatomical and functional adaptations of plants to extreme temperatures in the habitat, acclimatization of plants, plant temperature;
9) Water and humidity as ecological factors: the role of water in plants, the range of annual precipitation in the world, climate diagrams, types of phytoclimate, the ability of plants to receive water from different types of precipitation, controlling and balancing the process of receiving and losing water from the organism, soil retention capacity, life forms and adaptations of plants in relation to the amount of water in the habitat;
10) Soil as an ecological factor: origin, composition, physical and chemical properties and morphology of the soil, adaptations of acidophilic and calciphilic plants, adaptations of metallophytes, ruderal and weedy plants and psammophytes and halophytes;
11) Basic concepts of animal ecology: ecological valence, ecological niche; abiotic factors: temperature and light and their impact on animals, circadian rhythm and phenological changes; adaptations of animals to extreme conditions;
12) Abiotic factors: water, metabolic gases, and nutrients and their impact on animals; differences between water and land as environments; adaptations of animals to extreme conditions;
13) Characteristics of populations: population density, factors affecting population density, population structure, life cycles and survival rate, developmental strategies;
14) Concept and importance of biocenosis (communities); community structure: horizontal and vertical; biological diversity and measures of biological diversity;
15) Changes in biocenoses (successions); human impact on the environment: changes in abiotic conditions such as temperature, humidity, pollution by toxic substances, fragmentation of habitats, disturbance of biodiversity - an introduction to global changes.

EXERCISES
1) Introduction to fossils. Fossils of the city of Zagreb. Collection of the Division of Zoology (fossils). Possible visit: Archaeological Museum;
2) Microfossils. Maps of the universe. Possible visits: Planetarium, Zagreb Observatory;
3) Macrofossils;
4) Pre-cellular formations-coacervate droplets. Biologically important macromolecules;
5) Corresponding phylogenetic trees and e-learning resources;
6) Soil sampling, soil moisture and water retention;
7) Soil density, porosity and air capacity;
8) Mechanical composition of the soil;
9) Organic matter in soil, transpiration, basic parameters of leaf water regime;
10) Soil pH measurements in H2O and in KCl, soil pH buffering capacity;
11) Ideal plankton - adaptations of organisms to habitat conditions;
12) Spatial distribution of individuals in habitat;
13) Methods of determining population density;
14) Succession in protozoan culture;
15) Biological diversity and similarity indices.

1. Ekologija biljaka sa osnovama fiziološke ekologije biljak, B. M. Stevanović, M. M. Janković, Ekologija biljaka sa osnovama fiziološke ekologije biljaka (NNK, Beograd, 2014.), B. M. Stevanović, M. M. Janković, NNK, Beograd, 2014.
2. Terenske i laboratorijske vježbe i statističke metode u ekologiji, I. Ternjej, A. Brigić, S. Gottstein, M. Ivković, M. Kerovec, Z. Mihaljević, A. Previšić, Terenske i laboratorijske vježbe i statističke metode u ekologiji (Školska knjiga, Zagreb, 2019.), I. Ternjej, A. Brigić, S. Gottstein, M. Ivković, M. Kerovec, Z. Mihaljević, A. Previšić, Školska knjiga, Zagreb, 2019.
3. Evolution, D. J. Futuyma, Evolution, (Sinauer Associates Inc. Publishers. Sunderland, 2013.), D. J. Futuyma, Sinauer Associates Inc. Publishers. Sunderland, 2013.
4. Postanak čovjeka i kulturna evolucija, F. Facchini, Postanak čovjeka i kulturna evolucija (Kršćanska sadašnjost, Zagreb, 2007.), F. Facchini, Kršćanska sadašnjost, Zagreb, 2007.

Mandatory course - Regular study - Biology and Chemistry Education