300148 VO Introduction to Desert Biology. Life communities of subtropical and tropical deserts (2017W)

2.00 ECTS (2.00 SWS), SPL 30 - Biologie

1. Teil: Wüsten (im engeren Sinn Heißwüsten) der Welt und ihre Entstehung, klimatische, pedologische, physikalische Faktoren, Oasen, Böden, Vegetation, Fauna und ihre Anpassungen an die Umwelt
2. Teil: Verwüstung (Desertifikation) von Trockengebieten durch den Menschen
3. Teil: Möglichkeiten der Revitalisierung, Zukunftsaussichten der globalen Entwicklung von Trockengebieten

Moodle

Details

Language: German

Examination dates

Lecturers

Wolfgang Waitzbauer

Classes

First lecture Friday 6.10., 15.00-16.30, SR 3 (Zoology)

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 by desertification (human made desert), especially in the last century. The lecture also refers to ecological changes and consequences concerning this worldwide growing problem.
The lecture serves to prepare for a "desert field course and excursion to South Jordan (Wadi Rum) in SS 2018

Assessment and permitted materials

written examination over the whole subject (60 minutes) at the end of the semester

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 as well as chances for recultivations.

Examination topics

lecture including discussion possibilities, documentation with power point as pdf in 12 parts on tropbox available

Reading list

BUSCHE D., 1998: Die zentrale Sahara- Perthe Verlag Gotha
GEORGE U., 1982: Die Wüste. Vorstoß zu den Grenzen des Lebens. Geo Verlag Hamburg
KINGSFORD R., 2006: Ecology of desert rivers. Cambridge University Press.
KRÜGER C., ed., 1975: Sahara. Schroll Verlag Wien & München
MARTIN M., 2004: Die Wüsten der Erde. Kirchner Verlag Berlin
MASOOD E., SCHAFFER D., 2006: Dry. Life without water. Harvard University Press
MAINGUET M., 1999: Aridity. Droughts and human development. Springer-Verlag Berlin
MONOD T., DUROU J-M, 1992: Wüsten der Welt. Bucher Verlag München
PEARCE F., 2006: Wenn die Flüsse versiegen. Kunstmann Verlag München
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.
SIELMANN H., ed. 1980: Knaurs Tierleben in der Wüste.Knaur Verlag München
STÜBEN P. & THURN V., 1991: Wüsten Erde. Der Kampf gegen Durst, Dürre und Desertifikation. Focus: Ökozid 7, Focus-Verlag Gießen.
(small selection!)

Association in the course directory

B-WZB, WZB,

Last modified: Sa 22.10.2022 00:29