Address: Branišovská 31, 370 05 České Budějovice, Czech Republic

Standard period of the study: 2 years (4 semesters), previous bachelor degree is necessary

Form of the study: presence (term we use is that the student must be a resident student, i.e. doing research and attending lectures at the university)

Responsible person: Prof. Karel Prach, Department of Botany, Faculty of Biological Sciences, University of South Bohemia, Branišovská 31, CZ-370 05 České Budějovice, tel. –38-7772220, e-mail: prach@bf.jcu.cz
 

Characteristics of the field:
Geobotany in the traditional continental view is a discipline dealing with spatial and temporal pattern of vegetation in relation to environmental factors, including various human activities. It is based both on experimental results, and empirical field knowledge. The discipline has a strong tradition in the Czech Republic and at a good standard. Presently, it is more or less equal to vegetation ecology (or vegetation science) in Anglo-American sense, and exploits the theoretical base of ecology in general. In practical consequences, geobotanical information is necessary, especially for Environmental Impact Assessment, and increasingly in all activities connected with the reparation of damaged or destroyed ecosystems (restoration ecology).

Aims of the study:
The main aims of the study program are to supply students with: (a) knowledge of the modern ecological theory; (b) an ability to apply theoretical information to particular case studies on vegetation pattern(s); (c) an ability to collect data using statistically proper designs and describe the data using modern quantitative methods; (d) good field experiences, including the ability to successfully recognise objects of the study, i.e. species, communities, and underlying environmental factors; (e) an ability to synthesise information from various fields important for an explanation of vegetation pattern (geology, pedology, climatology, zoology, human history, present economic and social circumstances, etc.); and (f) an ability to present the results both on scientific and public platforms by publishing in journals, participation in seminars and conferences, and if possible study abroad programs.

Profile of a graduate:
A graduate would be able to study and understand both theoretical and practical problems connected with vegetation pattern from a local, to landscape or a regional scale. He or she can be employed in either scientific institutes or in nature conservancy administration and environmental agencies (especially in Administrations of Protected Landscape Areas, National Parks, Ministry of Environment, including its regional branches). Moreover, it can be expected that graduates will be engaged in Environmental Impact Assessment and in activities connected with restoration ecology, i.e. in an effort to repair damaged or destroyed ecosystems. Because of the increasing  future need of restoration or reclamation of the damaged ecosystems, an increasing demand for the graduates is expected.

Background and facilities:
In the Faculty of Biological Sciences the master’s program was already accredited in Czech when the faculty was approved of the master study. Since then, the program has become well established, with the rather high number of students (19 students graduated since 1996, presently, early 2001, 15 students are engaged in the program). The program is one of the most desired programs within the Faculty. The graduates (90%) obtained jobs as outlined above, and many of them continue into doctoral study. The Department has sufficient facilities, however some activities (joint projects, external lecturers, facility use as  needed) are conducted in close collaboration with the Institute of Botany, Czech Academy of Sciences in Třeboň and Průhonice, and also with the Department of Ecology. The main problem, sufficient spatial capacity, will be hopefully soon resolved.
 

Study plan:
Entrance conditions – Candidates have had to pass through the following special courses (“entrance minimum”) during their previous (bachelor) study, besides all compulsory courses common to all specializations, if graduated in the Faculty of Biological Sciences:
Phycology (algology)
Mycology and lichenology
Botany of higher plants (extensive course)
Vegetation Ecology/Geobotany
Geology
For those who graduated with their bachelor studies in any University abroad, equivalent courses are demanded. If an applicant did not pass the courses, he or she must do so as soon as possible during the current period of study.

Obligatory courses during the study – Consist of the following courses:
Ecology and biogeography of world biomes
Palynology
Design and evaluation of ecological experiments
Historical development of the central European landscape
Introduction to soil science

Recommended courses – A student can freely select from many announced courses up to the total number of 30 credit points per a semester, regarding his or her interest and the theme of the master’s thesis. The following courses are especially recommended: Archeobotany, Ecological Invasions, Flora and Vegetation of Central Europe, Plant Population Ecology, Introduction to Landscape Ecology, Changes of Communities and Ecosystems in Time, Plants as Indicators, Field Methods in Plant Ecology, Methods of Study of Root Systems, Botanical Syntaxonomy, Dendrology, Field course in Bryology. Generally, attendance of as many excursions as possible is recommended. The Department offers various regular or occasional excursions to close or distant regions as mentioned above. A part of the course Vegetation Ercology/Geobotany is a bus excursion demonstrating main vegetational types over the country (“Czech” or “Moravian” route). All excursions are open also to students of other programs.

Closing exams and defence of thesis – The closing exams follow the Study Regulations, the official acts of the University and the Faculty, reflecting the School Law. An integral part of the structured exam must be a part Vegetation Ecology/Geobotany, covering all courses listed above. Attention is paid especially to understanding  problems in a broader context and in interdisciplinary overview. The thesis should be written also in a broader context, not only consisting of a presentation of detailed results.

Usual time-table –  The master program is generally scheduled for 4 semesters, i.e. 2 years. It is a nature of the discipline that it is closely related to seasonality, and the character of the most diploma themes must reflect this.
The particular courses listed above can be selected by the students more or less freely, regarding a logistics and pre-requisites.

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