Universität Wien

300148 VO Introduction to Desert Biology. Life communities of subtropical and tropical deserts (2009W)

2.00 ECTS (1.00 SWS), SPL 30 - Biologie

Dienstag 11:00 -12:00 Uhr im Übungsraum 4 (Zool.). Beginn: 06. 10. 2009, letzter Termin 26. 1. 2010

Details

Language: German

Lecturers

Classes

Currently no class schedule is known.

Information

Aims, contents and method of the course

The lecture deals with the origin of deserts, the physical factors and adaptation mechanisms of fauna and flora. Human intervention has lead to an enormous extention of arid areas, especially in the last century. The lecture also refers to ecological changes and consequences concerning this worldwide growing problem.

Assessment and permitted materials

written examination (60 minutes)

Minimum requirements and assessment criteria

Inpart of knowledge about hot deserts as extreme habitats for specialized life communities with high ecological adaptation fitness and physiological power. Discussion of growing risks caused by worldwide increasing desertification of arid regions on the ecological and economical level.

Examination topics

lecture including discussion possibilities, documentation with slides and 2 ppt-CDs (could be loaded down at the end of the lecture als pdf-file), script (at the beginning of the lecture).

Reading list

KINGSFORD R., 2006: Ecology of desert rivers. Cambridge University Press.
MAINGUET M., 1999: Aridity. Droughts and human development. Springer-Verlag Berlin
POSTEL S., 1999: Der Kampf ums Wasser. Worldwatch Paper 21., Wochenschau-Verlag Schwalbach/Ts.
SCHIFFERS H., 1971: Die Sahara und ihre Randgebiete. 1. Physiogeographie. Weltforum-Verlag München.
STÜBEN P. & THURN V., 1991: Wüsten Erde. Der Kampf gegen Durst, Dürre und Desertifikation. Focus: Ökozid 7, Focus-Verlag Gießen.

(kleine Auswahl, zahlreiche Literaturunterlagen werden in der VO vorgelegt)

Association in the course directory

WZB

Last modified: Mo 07.09.2020 15:43