Courses list

Wersja polska

Course code: RESS20179f12
Semester: 2012/2013 summer
Name: Biodiversity and productivity of agroecosystems
Major: Economics
Study Type: second cycle
Course type: optional
Study Semester: 2
ECTS points: 4
Hours (Lectures / Tutorials / Other): 30 / 0 / 0
Lecturer: dr hab. Piotr Sobkowicz, prof. nadzw.
Language of instruction: Polish


Learning outcomes: KNOWLEDGE: Student gains basic knowledge on the relationship between plant ecology and human activity. Defines concept of plant productivity. Determines indices of plant productivity. Explains basics of system theory and complexity. Describes complex influence of the environmental factors on crops. Defines biodiversity and distinguishes its types. Illustrates biodiversity with examples of intercrops. Analyses crop mixture in terms of its productivity and interaction of the components. SKILLS: Student obtains abilities to complex analyzing of phenomena occurring in the agroecosystem. Interprets various cause-and-effect relationships and feedbacks between its components. Evaluates given agroecosystem using biodiversity indices. Illustrates intercrop productivity with the indices. Shows how to make better use of ecological processes in order to increase crop productivity.

Competences: SOCIAL COMPETENCES: Organizes and conducts studies in a team, in which performs different functions. Appreciates the importance of biological diversity in global and local scale and biological and economical risk associated with simplified perception of an agroecosystem. Appreciates necessity of self-improvement and the need for permanent learning.

Prerequisites: Fundamentals of crop production.

Course content: Productivity of crops, complexity of interactions between crop and environment, system and complex systems theory, biodiversity, indicators of biodiversity, unconventional methods of increasing of agroecosystem biodiversity, types of intercrops, interactions in intercrops, assessment of intercrop productivity, energy in agroecosystem.

Recommended literature: Waltner-Toews D., Kay J. J., Lister N. E. The Ecosystem Approach: Complexity, Uncertainty, and Managing for Sustainability

Assessment methods: Written exam

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