Course code Biol1022

Credit points 3

Dendrology

Total Hours in Course81

Number of hours for lectures8

Number of hours for laboratory classes24

Independent study hours49

Date of course confirmation16.03.2021

Responsible UnitInstitute of Forest Management

Course developer

author Mežsaimniecības institūts

Viesturs Šulcs

Dr. biol.

Course abstract

Dendrology and its history in Latvia. Life forms of woody plants and their role in the world’s terrestrial biome. Morphological and physiological peculiarities of woody plants; introduction and acclimation. Taxa of woody plants, their hierarchy and nomenclature (scientific and national). Description of various taxa of woody plants (diagnostic and additional traits), ecology, geographical occurrence in Latvia and worldwide, economic importance.

Learning outcomes and their assessment

1. Students will gain a deeper understanding of tree morphology, biology, ecology related to forested ecosystems, as well as the taxonomic structure of forest tree structure, species, taxon migration, and their floristic status in the Latvian flora and vegetation (1st, 2nd, and 3 rd colloquium).
2. Students will acquire analytical and evaluation skills on tree phenotypic traits and taxonomic value as well as will be able to identify taxa (1st, 2nd, and 3 rd colloquium).
3. Students will be able to evaluate tree taxon interaction with the environment, to analyze the adaptation of the taxon for specific ecological conditions, as well as determine the replacement of the species with more suitable species or reduce its occurrence in plant community (1st, 2nd, and 3 rd colloquium).

Course Content(Calendar)

1. Dendrology, the importance of dendrological research and topicality nowadays – 1 h.
2. Division of woody plants. Life forms and growth forms. Biological spectrum – 1 h.
3. Physiological and ecological behaviour of woody plants – 1 h.
4. Floristic status, migration, migration ways of woody plants – 1 h.
5. Introduction and acclimation of woody plants. History of introduction of woody plants in Latvia – 1 h.
6. Classification of woody plants. The main taxonomic categories – 1 h.
7. Description of gymnosperms and angiosperms, autohtone taxa – 1 h.
8. History of dendrology in Latvia. History of forest development in Latvia and regional characteristics – 1 h.
Laboratory work
1. Gymnosperms (Gymnospermae) – autohtone and main introduced species – 4 h
Colloquium 1: Gymnospermae.
2. Angiosperms (Magnoliophyta) – Berberidaceae, Fagaceae, Betulaceae, Salicaceae, Ericaceae,
Tiliaceae, Thymelaeaceae, Grossulariaceae, Hydrangeaceae, Rosaceae – 10 h
Colloquium 2: (Magnoliophyta) – Berberidaceae, Fagaceae, Betulaceae, Salicaceae, Ericaceae, Tiliaceae, Thymelaeaceae, Grossulariaceae, Hydrangeaceae, Rosaceae.
3. Angiosperms (Magnoliophyta) – Leguminosae, Anacardiaceae, Aceraceae, Hippocastanaceae, Cornaceae, Celastraceae, Rhamnaceae, Oleaceae, Elaeagnaceae, Caprifoliaceae: autohtone and the main introduced species – 10 h
Colloquium 3: Angiosperms (Magnoliophyta) – Leguminosae, Anacardiaceae, Aceraceae,
Hippocastanaceae, Cornaceae, Celastraceae, Rhamnaceae, Oleaceae, Elaeagnaceae,
Caprifoliaceae: autohtone and the main introduced species.

Requirements for awarding credit points

Three successfully passed (orally) colloquiums and an exam (written).
The exam assignments consist of:
one question from the general part of the study course programme, two questions from the woody plants’ systematics part (characteristics of genus, characteristic species, their diagnostic characteristics, biology, ecology and importance).

Description of the organization and tasks of students’ independent work

Three colloquiums (taxa of woody plants): Latin and Latvian name of the taxon, diagnostic characteristics, ecology, geographic occurrence and importance.

Criteria for Evaluating Learning Outcomes

1. Colloquiums are assessed according to the required procedure (woody plants should be recognized, their Latin and Latvian names as well as their biology and ecology should be learnt).
2. If the test and colloquium grades are 7 or higher, the examination is not compulsory; The examination grade equals the arithmetic mean of the grades obtained in the tests and colloquiums.
3. The examination grade is the arithmetic mean of the examination grade and the arithmetic mean of the semester’s grade (calculated as arithmetic mean of the grades obtained in tests and colloquiums).

Compulsory reading

1. Roze D. Dendroloģija. Ozolnieki: Latvijas Lauksaimniecības konsultāciju centrs, 2002. 127 lpp.
2. Lange V., Mauriņš A., Zvirgzds A. Dendroloģija. Rīga: Zinātne, 1978. 304 lpp.
3. Mauriņš A., Zvirgzds A. Dendroloģija. Jelgava: LU Akadēmiskais apgāds, 2006. 448 lpp.
4. Roloff A., Bärtels A. Gehölze. Stuttgart: Ulmer. (Gartenflora, Bd. 1.), 1996. 694 S.

Further reading

Broks J. (galv. red.). Meža enciklopēdija. 1. sēj. Rīga: apgāds „Zelta grauds“, 2003. 368 lpp.

Periodicals and other sources

Svilāns A., Roze D. Koki daiļdārzā: koki un krūmi sētā, dzīvžogā, alejā zālienā, pie ūdens: Lauku Avīzes tematiskā avīze. Rīga, AS „Lauku Avīze ”, 2007. 64 lpp.

Notes

The course is included in the compulsory part of the full-time Bachelor’s degree programme Forest Engineer of the Forest Faculty, Ist year,2nd semester