Soil Biodiversity, Functions and Ecosystem Services

Lectures

1. Diversity of soil organisms in different ecosystems (natural and managed ecosystems). Patterns of soil biodiversity. Factors influencing soil biodiversity.

2. The role of soil organisms in the processes of soil formation and organic matter transformation.

3. The importance of soil biodiversity. Ecosystem services provided by soil biota. The economic value of soil biodiversity.

4. Use of soil invertebrates in soil biodiversity assessment and as soil biological quality indices (monitoring of pollutant effects; evaluation of environmental impact of agricultural management practices; using soil invertebrates as bioindicators of urban soil quality). Parameters of soil animal communities used for soil quality evaluation.

5. Current threats to soil biodiversity. Management strategies for soil biodiversity restoration, conservation and sustainable production.

Classes

1. Standard sampling methods (frequency of sampling, number and storage of samples) used in soil ecology. Quantitative and qualitative methods for assessing the abundance of soil animals (including nematodes, springtails, mites, earthworms, snails, etc.). Biotests using soil invertebrates.

2. Methods for extraction of animals from soil, preservation of samples, microscopic preparations. Microscopy techniques, creating photographic documentation.

3. Analysis of the abundance (density) of different groups of soil fauna in selected habitats.

4. Diversity analysis of soil fauna in collected samples - species richness, ecological groups and sentinel species.

5. Summary and interpretation of obtained results - presentations. Discussion on the practical use of soil animals as bioindicators - possibilities and limitations.

Knowledge

Students discuss basic concepts about the role of soil biodiversity for the soil services and sustainabilility

Skills:

Students perform lab experiments indicating the role of soil organisms in soil processes (decomposition) and pointing out their indicator function

ECTS+ 180/30 = 6 ECTS

attendance - 30 h

learning new specialised vocabulary (30h)

preparing for the discussion on a given sunbject (30 h)

preparing for the classess (30 h)

final laboratory classes report in the form of a presentation (30 h)

preparing for the final test (30 h)

Lectures

1. Diversity of soil organisms in different ecosystems (natural and managed ecosystems). Patterns of soil biodiversity. Factors influencing soil biodiversity.

2. The role of soil organisms in the processes of soil formation and organic matter transformation.

3. The importance of soil biodiversity. Ecosystem services provided by soil biota. The economic value of soil biodiversity.

4. Use of soil invertebrates in soil biodiversity assessment and as soil biological quality indices (monitoring of pollutant effects; evaluation of environmental impact of agricultural management practices; using soil invertebrates as bioindicators of urban soil quality). Parameters of soil animal communities used for soil quality evaluation.

5. Current threats to soil biodiversity. Management strategies for soil biodiversity restoration, conservation and sustainable production.

Classes

1. Standard sampling methods (frequency of sampling, number and storage of samples) used in soil ecology. Quantitative and qualitative methods for assessing the abundance of soil animals (including nematodes, springtails, mites, earthworms, snails, etc.). Biotests using soil invertebrates.

2. Methods for extraction of animals from soil, preservation of samples, microscopic preparations. Microscopy techniques, creating photographic documentation.

3. Analysis of the abundance (density) of different groups of soil fauna in selected habitats.

4. Diversity analysis of soil fauna in collected samples - species richness, ecological groups and sentinel species.

5. Summary and interpretation of obtained results - presentations. Discussion on the practical use of soil animals as bioindicators - possibilities and limitations.

basic knowledge in biology and ecology