Biology

This course is part of the programme
Bachelor's programme in Environment (first cycle)

Objectives and competences

The primary goal of this course is to give students the theoretical and practical knowledge for understanding the general biology by means of the presentation of the main topics and selected examples for each of the chosen concepts. Students learn about the different levels of biological organization, and they develop ability to understand the structure of organisms from individual organ systems, tissues, cells, organelles, molecules. Students develop skills for understanding and distinction between professional terms such as populations, communities and ecosystems.

Prerequisites

Basic knowledge of biology, chemistry and physics.

Content

  • The Cell
  • Genetics
  • Mechanisms of Evolution
  • The Evolutionary History of Biological Diversity
  • Plant Form and Function
  • Animal Form and Function
  • Ecology

Intended learning outcomes

Knowledge and understanding:
Students learn how the cell and its organelles are the basic structural and functional unit of all living organisms, both plants and animals. Structure and function are related at all levels of biological organization. Students learn about the individual levels of biological organization. They are trained for their analytical evaluation and interpretation and understanding of the energetic, structural and functional connection between the different components of organisms, their evolutionary history and mechanisms of evolution.

Readings

Basic:

  • Campbell, N. A., Reece, J. B., Urry, L. A., Cain, M. L., Wasserman, S. A., Minorsky, P. V., Jackson, R. B. 2008. Biology. Pearson Benjamin Cummings, San Francisco. Catalogue E-version

Additional:

  • Freeman, S. 2008. Biological Science. Pearson Benjamin Cummings, San Francisco. Catalogue E-version
  • Keeton, W. T., Gould, J. L., Gould, C. G. 1993. Biological Science (5th edition). W. W. Norton & Company, New York. E-version
  • Lomolino, M. V., Heaney, L. R. 2004. Frontiers of Biogeography. New Directions in the Geography of Nature. Poglavje/chapter 1. Sinauer Associates, Inc. Publishers, Massachusetts. E-version
  • Matoničkin, I. 1978. Beskralješnjaci. Biologija nižih avertebrata. Školska knjiga, Zagreb. Catalogue
  • Matoničkin, I. 1981. Breskralješnjaci. Biologija viših avertebrata. Školska knjiga, Zagreb.
  • Ruppert, E. E., Barnes, R. D. 1994. Invertebrate Zoology (6th edition). Saunders College Publishing, New York. E-version
  • Sket, B., Gogala, M., Kuštor, V. (uredniki) 2003. Živalstvo Slovenije. Tehniška založba Slovenije, Ljubljana. Catalogue
  • Tarman, K. 1992. Osnove ekologije in ekologija živali. Državna založba Slovenije, Ljubljana. Catalogue
  • Tome, D. 2006. Ekologija. Organizmi v prostoru in času. Tehniška založba Slovenije, Ljubljana. Catalogue
  • Selected articles from scientific journals.

Assessment

Positive grades from the laboratory work and individual work (50 %). The exam (50 %).

Lecturer's references

Prof. dr. Tanja Pipan is a associate professor of Biology at the University of Nova Gorica

CULVER, David C., PIPAN, Tanja. Shallow subterranean habitats : ecology, evolution, and conservation. Oxford: Oxford University Press, 2014. 258 str., ilustr. ISBN 978-0-19-964617-3. [COBISS.SI-ID 36933421]
CULVER, David C., PIPAN, Tanja. Subterranean ecosystems. V: LEVIN, Simon Asher (ur.). Encyclopedia of biodiversity. 2nd ed. San Diego [etc.]: Academic Press, 2013, vol. 7, str. 49-62, ilustr. [COBISS.SI-ID 35307053]
CULVER, David C., PIPAN, Tanja. The biology of caves and other subterranean habitats, (Biology of habitats). New York: Oxford University Press, 2009. XVI, 254 str., ilustr. ISBN 978-0-19-921992-6. ISBN 978-0-19-921993-3. [COBISS.SI-ID 29605933]
CULVER, David C., PIPAN, Tanja, SCHNEIDER, Katie. Vicariance, dispersal and scale in the aquatic subterranean fauna of karst regions. Freshwater Biology, ISSN 0046-5070, 2009, issue 4, vol. 54, str. 918-929. http://www.blackwell-synergy.com/doi/abs/10.1111/j.1365-2427.2007.01856.x. [COBISS.SI-ID 27133485]
PIPAN, Tanja, CULVER, David C. Regional species richness in an obligate subterranean dwelling fauna - epikarst copepods. Journal of biogeography, ISSN 0305-0270, 2007, 34, str. 854-861, ilustr. [COBISS.SI-ID 26450221]