Course code MežZ5035
Credit points 4.50
Forest Geography
Total Hours in Course120
Number of hours for lectures32
Number of hours for seminars and practical classes16
Independent study hours72
Date of course confirmation16.03.2021
Responsible UnitInstitute of Forest Management
Course developer
Mežsaimniecības institūts
Viesturs Šulcs
Dr. biol.
Prior knowledge
MežZ5017, Principles of Forests Science
Course abstract
Plant geography. Flora and vegetation. Flora kingdoms. World dry land biomes, their classification. Key syntaxa of Latvian forests, historical development and geography.
Learning outcomes and their assessment
1. Knowledge about the versatility of world forests, their dimensional and floristic structure and geographical occurrence depending on ecological conditions, dry land biomes and flora kingdoms, development of Latvian forests in post-ice age, structure and occurrence of forests in landscape areas. Test 1-2. 2. Skills to evaluate Latvian forests from the forest industry and landscape aspects in the context of world forests; to classify them depending on the floristic contents and structure. Test 1-2. 3. Competence to evaluate the significance of the mosaic structure of Latvian forests, their multi functionality; to forecast the development of the forest and its rational usage in the changing environment resulting from global warming and anthropogenic effects. Presentation.
Course Content(Calendar)
1. Floristic division of dry land. Flora kingdoms - 3 h
2. Dry land biomes, their classification – 3 h
3. Forest and grassland biomes in the world - 15 h
Test 1. Dry land flora kingdoms and biomes.
4. Phytosociologic classification of Latvian forests, syntaxa –3 h
5. Historical development of Latvian forests – 3 h
6. Geography of Latvian forests from the 20 th – 21 st century – 3 h
Test 2. Classification of Latvian forests, characterisation of syntaxa.
7. Zones of European vegatation – 2 h
Pracical work
Presentation on biomes – preparing and presenting it – 16 h
Requirements for awarding credit points
Successfully written 2 tests and a presentation prepared. Written exam consisting of the following tasks: One question on world forests’ biomes and Latvian forests’ geography, One question on flora kingdoms (geography, characteristics, endemic taxa).
Description of the organization and tasks of students’ independent work
Two tests on world forests’ biomes and flora kingdoms and a presentation on forest biomes.
Criteria for Evaluating Learning Outcomes
1. The tests are assessed according to the required procedure.
2. If the test and presentation grades are 7 or higher, the examination is not compulsory; The examination grade equals the arithmetic mean of the grades of the tests and the presentation.
3. The examination grade is the arithmetic mean of the examination grade and the arithmetic mean of the semester’s grade (calculated as the arithmetic mean of the grades obtained in tests and the presentation).
Compulsory reading
1.Fukarek F. Pflanzenwelt der Erde. Leipzig, Jena, Berlin: Urania Verlag. 1980, 290 S.
2. Priedītis N. Augu ģeogrāfija un daudzveidība. Rīga: Apgāds Zvaigzne ABC. 2009. 176 lpp.
3. Walter H. Vegetation of the Earth and Ecological Systems of the Geo-biosphere. 3rd, Revised and Enlarged Edition. Translated from the 5th, Revised German. Edition by Owen Muise. Berlin, Heidelberg, New York, Tokyo: Springer, 1985. 318 p.
4.Archibold O.W. Ecology of World Vegetation. London, Glasgow, Weinheim, New York, Tokyo, Melbourne, Madras: Chapman & Hall, 1995. 510 p.
5.Richards P. W. The tropical rain forest. Cambridge University Press, Cambridge, UK. 1996. 575 p.
6.Barbour M. G., Billings W. D. North American Terrestrial Vegetation. 2nd ed. Cambridge University Press. 2000. 708 p.
7.Körner Ch. Die Vegetation der Erde. Die Biome der Erde. Strasburger Lehrbuch der Botanik. 36. Aufl. Spektrum Akademischer Verlag Heidelberg, 2008. S. 1079 – 1120.
8. Latvijas meža tipoloģija: Mācību līdzeklis LLU Meža fakultātes studentiem un nozares speciālistiem. I. Liepa , O. Miezīte, S. Luguza u.c. Jelgava: Studentu biedrība "Šalkone" 2014. 118 lpp.
Further reading
1. Eihe V. Latvijas mežu ģeogrāfiskais iedalījums. No: Mežkopja darbs un zinātne, I/II. Rīga: Šalkone, 1940. 471.-565. lpp.
2. Strods H. (zin. red. un sast.). Latvijas mežu vēsture līdz 1940. gadam. Rīga: WWF, 1999. 364. lpp.
3. Dubrovskis D. Meža resursu vērtējums. [meza_resursu_vertejums_DagnisDubrovskis.pdf]
4. Priedītis N. Augu dzīve. Rīga: Apgāds Zvaigzne ABC. [2008]. 68 lpp.
Periodicals and other sources
1. Latvijas Veģetācija. Rīga: Latvijas Universitāte. ISSN 1407-3641.
Notes
Compulsory full-time course of the academic Master’s programme Forest Science of the Forest Faculty 2nd year, 3rd semester.