LITHUANIAN UNIVERSITY OF EDUCATIONAL SCIENCES
Study programme
Study programme title
Biology
Study programme code
6 2 1 0 1 B 1 0 2
DESCRIPTION OF STUDY SUBJECT
Study subject code
Global Biodiversity
Faculty of Natural Sciences
Department of Biology and Science education
Position, name, surname
Professor Habil. Dr. Jonas Rimantas Stonis
2. Coordinating
teacher/s:
3. Volume of study subject and its place in the study programme
Volume (in academic hours)
Type of
Group of
study Mode of
Contact work
ECTS
Non-contact work
study
subjects studies
(self-dependent Total no. credits
Contact
subjects*
Lectures
Consultations
*
studies)
practical classes
PD
PR
32
60
20
48
160
8
Semester
1. Study subject title
Faculty:
Department:
Spri
ng
Language of
instruction
English
*Study subjects of general university education – BD; study subjects of major study field (specialisation)– SK; optional deepening study subjects of study field (specialisation)– PD;
study subjects of minor study field – GR;
** Obligatory – PR; optional (freely)– LP; optional (from alternatives)– AP.
4. Goal of study subject
Goal of subject – to introduce students to global biodiversity assessment and to the strategy of biodiversity
research and conservation.
Students, having heard the theoretical course and performed Field Research Practice and self-study
assignments:
– will acquire knowledge: a) will know major data about Global and Lithuanian Biodiversity;
– will develop abilities: a) will be able to identify main taxonomic groups of organisms; b) will form skills of
Biodiversity terminology application; c) will form skills of fieldwork research and will be able to conduct
scientific observation and research; d) will be able to analyse biodiversity data; c) will form skills of
fieldwork research and will be able to conduct scientific observation and research; facts with life and future
profession;
– will self-develop: a) will perceive importance of Biodiversity to ecosystems and life in general; b) will form
positive attitude to protection of natural diversity; c) will self-develop concept of nature.
5. Abstract
Genetic diversity, systematics and the measurements of biodiversity. Species concepts, nature of species,
speciation, principles and terminology in biological systematics, aims of classification, centres of systematics.
Taxa, taxonomic characters and their analysis. Phylogenetic trees, testing phylogenetic trees, characters and
reconstruction of phylogenies (incl. reconstruction of monophily, apomorphies and plesiomorphies, sister
taxa, ect.). Kariosystematics. Aplication of molecular data to phylogenetic classification. International Code
of Zoological Nomenclature (principles, concepts, incl. type series). Species inventory, higher plant
diversity, higher vertebrate diversity, global centres of species diversity, species extinction, threatened
species, global habitat classification, biodiversity and global climate change, tropical moist forest, mangroves
and coral reefs, lost of biodiversity as an economic process, ecotourism, conservation and management of
biodiversity (incl. national legislation, international policy, biodiversity conventions).
Note. Subjects, which have to be studied previously: Zoology and Botany, pref. but not necessary Environmental Research).
6. Learning outcomes of study programme, learning outcomes of study subject, methods of study and
student achievement assessment
Study learning
Learning outcomes of
Methods of study
Study methods
outcomes
study subject
achievement assessment
Will acquire
Will develop abilities: a)
Data analysis and
Evaluation of
knowledge: a) will
will be able to identify
Individual research work;
presentation of an
know major data
main taxonomic groups of
also: observation of natural individual research, and
about Global and
organisms; b) will form
history objects, illustration
an Exam.
Lithuanian
skills of Biodiversity
and description of
Biodiversity.
terminology application; c) biodiversity trends,
will form skills of
graphical methods, etc.
fieldwork research and will
be able to conduct scientific
observation and research;d)
will be able to analyse
biodiversity data; c) will
form skills of fieldwork
research and will be able to
conduct scientific
observation and research;
facts with life and future
profession;
– will self-develop: a) will
perceive importance of
Biodiversity to ecosystems
and life in general; b) will
form positive attitude to
protection of natural
diversity; c) will selfdevelop concept of nature.
7. Plan of study subject
No.
Topic, short description of content
Lectures
Volume (in academic hours)
Total
Practical
Self-dependent no. of
Consultations
hours
classes
work
2
4
Genetic diversity, systematics and the
measurements of biodiversity.
2
Species concepts, nature of species,
speciation, principles and terminology in
biological systematics, aims of
classification, centres of systematics.
4
2
2
4
12
Taxa, taxonomic characters and their
analysis. Phylogenetic trees, testing
phylogenetic
trees,
characters
and
reconstruction of phylogenies (incl.
reconstruction of monophily, apomorphies
and plesiomorphies, sister taxa, ect.).
Kariosystematics. Aplication of molecular
data to phylogenetic classification.
4
6
4
6
20
International Code of Zoological
Nomenclature (principles, concepts, incl.
type series).
2
-
2
4
8
Species inventory, higher plant diversity,
higher vertebrate diversity.
6
46
4
20
76
Global centres of species diversity.
4
2
2
4
12
Species extinction, threatened species,
global habitat classification, biodiversity
and global climate change, tropical moist
forest, mangroves and coral reefs.
4
2
2
4
12
Lost of biodiversity as an economic
process, ecotourism.
2
2
2
2
8
Conservation and management of
biodiversity (incl. national legislation,
international policy, biodiversity
conventions).
4
-
2
2
8
32
60
20
48
160
Total no. of hours for study subject:
8. Assessment criteria
Level of achievement
Highest (9–10 points): if a student knows major data about Global and Lithuanian Biodiversity, is be able to
identify main taxonomic groups of organisms, can demonstrate skills of Biodiversity terminology application,
and is able to analyse biodiversity data.
Average (7–8 points): if a student knows major data about Global Biodiversity, is able to identify main
taxonomic groups of organisms, can demonstrate skills of Biodiversity terminology application.
Minimal satisfactory (5–6 points): if a student knows only some data about Global (or Lithuanian)
Biodiversity, can demonstrate some skills of Biodiversity terminology application.
Unsatisfactory (2–4 points): if a student doesn‘t know about Global and Lithuanian Biodiversity and can not
demonstrate skills of Biodiversity terminology application.
9. Procedure of student assessment
No.
1.
2.
3.
4.
Content
An Active participation of the
classes and discussions
An Individual research and a
report on a selected subject of
the Global (or Lithuanian)
biodiversity
A Field-work
No. of hours
for one
assignment
No. of
assignment
s
Total
no. of
hrs.
Time of
completion
(week of
semester)
Cumulative
assessment
(%)
2
32
64
n/a
10
48
1
22
n/a
20
6
10
60
An Exam
10. Recommended literature
No.
Main literature
1.
Puplesis (=Stonis) R. Biodiversity. An introduction to global
animal and plant diversity] (in Lithuania). Lututė, Kaunas, 154
pp. ISBN 9955-452-73-0
2.
Biodiversity Assessment. A guide to good practice. Field
Late Juneearly July
n/a
14
No. of copies
in LUES
library
15
-
20
50
Other libraries
(indicate)
Biosystematics
Research Centre,
LEU (6)
Biosystematics
Manual. HMSO, – London, 1996.
3.
Research Centre,
LEU (1)
Biosystematics
Research Centre,
LEU (5)
World Conservation Monitoring Centre. Global Biodiversity:
Status of the Earth’s living resources. London, 1992.
No.
Additional literature
1.
International Code of Zoological Nomenclature. University of
California Press. 1985
Puplesis, R., Diškus, A. 2003. The Nepticuloidea &
Tischerioidea (Lepidoptera) – a global review, with strategic
regional revisions. Lututė, Kaunas, 512 pp., figs 612. ISBN
9955-575-09-3
3.
Stonis J. R. Biodiversity projects. http://www.life4diversity.com
4.
Davis, D. R., Stonis, J. R. 2007. A revision of the New World
plant-mining moths of the family Opostegidae (Lepidoptera:
Nepticuloidea). Smithsonian contribution to Zoology, 625.
Smithsonian Institution Scholarly Press, Washington, D.C. 212
pp. ISSN 0081-0282
5.
Stonis, J. R., Diškus, A. 2011. Learn more about exotic fauna.
Praying insects, Cockroaches, Termites, Rock Crawlers,
Heelwalkers, Webspinners and Angel Insects. Lututė, Kaunas.
120 pp. ISBN 978-9955-37-139-7
6. Diškus, A., Stonis, J. R. 2012. Leaf-mining insects of Lithuania. The
Nepticulidae (Lepidoptera): taxonomy, chorological composition
and trophic relationships. Monograph]. Lututė, Kaunas. 220 pp.
ISBN 978-9955-37-148-9
7.
Diškus, A., Stonis, J. R. 2012. Learn more about exotic fauna.
Stick Insects. Lututė, Kaunas. 112 pp. ISBN 978-9955-37-140-3
-
Biosystematics
Research Centre,
LEU (1)
2
Biosystematics
Research Centre,
LEU (10)
2.
n/a
Unlimited/
An
Electronic
n/a
Biosystematics
Research Centre,
LEU (1 +
unlimited, an
electronic version)
15
Biosystematics
Research Centre,
LEU (40)
10
Biosystematics
Research Centre,
LEU (15)
12
Biosystematics
Research Centre,
LEU (45)