Soil Zoology

Course unit

title

Scientific direction

Scientific code

Faculty

Department (s)

Soil Zoology

Zoology N 014

Life Sciences Center

Institute of Biosciences

Mode of studies

Number of credits

Mode of studies

Number of credits

Lectures

0

Consultations

2

Self-studies

8

Seminars

0

Aims of course

To assess personal, social abilities and knowledge related to soil protozoa and animal biodiversity, distribution, significance for soil formation and functioning.

Main topics

Soil as an energy and food source for biota: soil enzymes; mineral part as a food source; organic part as food source; living biomass as a food source; food chains and networks of decomposers.

Cycles of the main elements and the influence of animals on them.

Influence of soil structure on animals and influence of animals on soil structure.

Soil aeration, soil Oxidatiion - Reduction Potential and its influence on soil animals.

Influence of soil pH on animals.

Soil temperature and its effect on soil animals.

Soil biodiversity. Significance of soil animals and their adaptations to life in soil. Soil animal collection methods.

Soil bioindication., The properties and types of animals soil bioindicators.

Ecological relationships among soil biota.

Main literature

Brady N. C., Ray R. W. 2017. The nature and property of soils. Pearson Education

Kilham, K. 2005. Soil ecology. Sinauer Associates, Inc. Publishers

Wall D. H. (ed.). 2012. Soil ecology and ecosystem services. Oxford University press

Assessment strategy

Assessment criteria

Exam

Requirements: 3 questions in the exam. Each exam question is evaluated with 10 points. 10 (excellent) - excellent, exceptional knowledge and abilities (the question is exceptional well analyzed, scientifically argued and well presented); 9 (very good) - very good knowledge and abilities (the question is well analyzed, scientifically argued and well presented); 8 (good) - better than average knowledge (the essence of the question is clearly analyzed and well presented); 7 (average) - average knowledge and skills, there are insignificant mistakes (the essence of the question is analyzed, scientifically argued and presented); 6 (satisfactory) - knowledge and skills (skills) worse than average, there are errors (the essence of the question is inconsistently analyzed, argued and presented) 5 (weak) - knowledge and abilities (skills) meet the minimum requirements (the essence of the question is inconsistently and unclearly analyzed, argued and presented) 4-1 (unsatisfactory) - unsatisfactory minimum requirements.

Virginija Podėnienė

Dr.

Prof. Assoc.

Approved by the Council of Graduate School of Life Sciences Center No 600000-…-… on the …. of …… 2021

Chairman