SUBJECT

Title

Migration, Orientation, Navigation I

Type of instruction

lecture

Level

Master

Part of degree program
Credits

2

Recommended in

Semesters 1-4

Typically offered in

Autumn/Spring semester

Course description

1. Movements of animals (diurnal, seasonal) planktons, arthropods, fishes (anadrom-katadrom), amphibians, reptiles, mammals birds: cc. 9 000 species, about half of them are migrant species In Europe 5 billions and in the world 50 billions Records of avian flight Morphology, anatomy, physiology: double respiration, type of hemoglobin, structure of muscles, morphology of wing etc.

2. Importance of the bird migration - stream of the biomass - Gaia theory - damage of hunting and agriculture  - public health – spreading of infectious diseases Origin of bird migration

3. Development of the current bird migration patterns - continental drift - climate change - competition Migratory routes  Expansion, dispersion

4. Duration of the migratory periods Weather and climate To stay or to migrate? Factors of the mortality Types of migration (introduction)

5.Types of migration 1. - nomadism  - following migration, - escape migration, - partial migration and types of it  

6. Types of migration 2. - moult migration - interrupt migration - leap-frog migration - loop migration - reverse migration - vertical migration - obligate migration (short-, medium-, long-distance) Shape of migratory routes

7. By night or by day?  Advantages, (predation pressure, time and energy benefit, direction and power of the wind, vertical turbulence, hypertermia, star compass)

8. Preparation for the migration Finish of the breeding - moult - hyperphagy Change of the food Fat as fuel Restlessness Crossing of the barriers 9-15. field work 

 

Readings
  • Davis Hugh Dingle: Migration : The Biology of Life on the Move, Oxford University Press, USA, 1996