Biology

Objectives of the course

The objective of the course is to offer the students knowledge about general and systematic botany and zoology. This knowledge is needed in understanding related biological courses like Marine Ecology, Ecology, Environmental Biology, Life Processes and the Environment, Biodiversity and Protection of Nature, etc. The course focuses on connections between structure and function in living systems, it gives an overview on the plant and animal systems (systematic botany, systematic zoology), and it leads the students toward recognizing the role of living organisms in the nature as well as their importance for the mankind. At the same time the course introduces phylogenetic evolution of autotrophic and heterotrophic organisms. The students will get insight into autecology, with emphasis on abiotic and biotic factors and they will be acquainted with synecology with a review of the vegetation in Slovenia and on the Earth.

Prerequisites

Knowledge on biology (secondary school level) and basics of chemistry and physics is needed.

Assessment methods

Successfully performed laboratory and field work, written examination (with additional oral examination if needed).

Course contents

The course covers topics such as: botany (general botany, systematic botany, introduction to plant ecology), zoology (general and systematic zoology, elements of the cell biology).

Recommended reading

• H.C.D. De Wit (1987): Rastlinski svet 1,2,3. MK, Ljubljana
• J. Hadži, (1972): Razvojna pota živalstva. Ilustrirana enciklopedija živali. Ljubljana
• J. Hadži, (1964): Razvoj mnogoceličarjev. Opera SAZU. 386 str.
• B. Krajnčič (1994): Botanika - funkcionalna anatomija z morfologijo rastlin. VKŠ, Maribor
• G. Hegi, M. Merxmüller, H. Reisigl (1980): Alpska flora. DZS, Ljubljana
• A. Martinčič, F. Sušnik in sodelavci (1984): Mala flora Slovenije. DZS, Ljubljana
• K. Magdefrau, F. Ehrendorfer (1978): Udžbenik botanike za visoke škole. Sistematika, evolucija i geobotanika. Školska knjiga, Zagreb
• I. Matoničkin (1978): Beskralješnjaci - Biologija nižih avertebrata. Školska knjiga, Zagreb
• J.W. Nybakken (1988): Marine biology - An ecological approach. Harper & Row, Publishers, NY
• M. Stachowitsch (1992): The invertebrates: An illustrated Glossary. Willey-Liss
• H. Strassburger (1991): Lehrbuch der Botanik für Hochschulen. 33. Aufl. neubearb. von P. Sitte etc. Fischer Verlag, Stuttgart
• H.V. Thurman & H.H. Weber (1984): Marine biology. Scott, Foresman & Co.
• C.A. Villee, E.P. Solomon, D.W. Martin, L.R. Berg, P.W. Davis (1989): Biology. Saunders, Philadelphia