Course: Ecology of Parasites and Their Role in the Environment

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Course title Ecology of Parasites and Their Role in the Environment
Course code KZP/0EPRE
Organizational form of instruction Lecture
Level of course unspecified
Year of study not specified
Semester Winter and summer
Number of ECTS credits 8
Language of instruction English
Status of course unspecified
Form of instruction Face-to-face
Work placements This is not an internship
Recommended optional programme components None
Lecturer(s)
  • Kyriánová Iveta Angela, Ing. Ph.D.
Course content
1. Introduction to Parasitology - Definition of parasitism, differences from commensalism and symbiosis, historical aspects. 2. Basic Taxonomy of Parasites - Protozoa, helminths, arthropods; examples and characteristics. 3. Life Cycles of Parasites - Direct and indirect cycles, transmission strategies. 4. Hosts and Their Defense Mechanisms - Immune responses, parasite adaptations. 5. Parasite Ecology - Parasites in food webs, as population regulators. 6. Parasites in Terrestrial Ecosystems - Impact on biodiversity and landscape succession. 7. Parasites in Aquatic Ecosystems - Parasites of fish, amphibians, aquatic invertebrates. 8. Parasites and Environmental Change - Climate change, invasive species. 9. Parasites of Humans and Domestic Animals - Zoonoses, ecological impacts of livestock. 10. Methods in Parasite Ecology - Field sampling, laboratory analysis, molecular methods. 11. Applications of Parasitology in Ecosystem Management - Biological control, restoration ecology. 12. Future of Parasite Research in Ecology - Emerging trends and ethical considerations.

Learning activities and teaching methods
unspecified
Recommended literature
  • COMBES, Claude. Parasitism: The Ecology and Evolution of Intimate Interactions. Chicago: University of Chicago Press, 2001. ISBN 978-0-226-11472-8.
  • HATCHER, M. J.; DICK, J. T. A.; DUNN, A. M. Parasites in Ecological Communities: From Interactions to Ecosystems. Cambridge: Cambridge University Press, 2012. ISBN 978-0-521-74299-8.
  • POULIN, Robert. Evolutionary Ecology of Parasites. Princeton: Princeton University Press, 2007. ISBN 978-0-691-12085-0.


Study plans that include the course
Faculty Study plan (Version) Category of Branch/Specialization Recommended year of study Recommended semester