Annotation
This course is intended for English-speaking students (eg. ERASMUS exchange programme). The course is usually held in October, the exact date depends on the time schedule of pond harvesting by the local fisheries in South Bohemia (our field station is located in that area), which is announced around September 15th. The course is mixed with the Czech version (MB160T39), but there will be no problem for English-speaking students to attend, since all the teachers speak English quite well and can give proper instructions and explanations. The course usually looks as follows, although minor changes can occur according to specific conditions of a particular year: In the morning (ca. 8 a.m.) we visit a pond to be harvested, there we listen to a talk by a local fisherman concerning fish industry and history of fisheries in that area. Then we get samples of fish for parasitological dissections. After moving back to the field station, we demonstrate the species of fish we got and perform parasitological dissections. Then we observe and determine the parasite species we found, students make drawings and notes for their protocols. Later afternoon we cook fish soup and other fish delicacies. Students leave late afternoon/evening, when the official part of the course finishes (usually around 5:30 p.m.). Within a month after the course, students must finish their protocols (using informations from literature and internet - ie. write about life cycles of parasites they found during the course etc.), submit them and if everything is OK, they get credit. In case of interest contact Libor Mikes at mikes@natur.cuni.cz in the end of September/beginning of October. Contact mobile phone: (+420)603114711
ALWAYS CONTACT THE ORGANIZERS FOR INFORMATION HOW TO GET THERE. MORE SPECIFIC INFORMATION WILL ALSO BE SENT TO YOU BY E-MAIL ONE WEEK (OR EARLIER) BEFORE THE COURSE.
WITHIN THE WEEK PRECEDING THE COURSE, A MEETING WILL BE ORGANIZED WITH THE ENROLLED ERASMUS STUDENTS WHERE THEY GET ALL DETAILED INFORMATION ABOUT THE COURSE. ALSO, AN INTRODUCTION INTO PARASITES WE MAY FIND WILL BE GIVEN, THEREFORE YOUR PRESENCE IS NECESSARY FOR SUCCESSFUL PROCESS OF THE COURSE - YOU WILL GET AN ANNOUNCEMENT IN ADVANCE BY E-MAIL.
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ADDITIONAL IMPORTANT INFO:
Take warm clothing and hat/cap and good boots - the grass on the meadow around the field station will be wet. Fish blood may appear on your clothing ocassionally :-)
We will dissect the fish outdoors!
Rain cannot be excluded in this part of the year and in the morning/evening it can be quite cold.
The actual weather forecast in English can be found at, e.g., http://160.68.205.237/place/Czech_Republic/South_Bohemia/
Also do not forget a notebook, pen and pencil to make drawings and notes. Digital camera may be also useful.
Most likely we will bring you to the station (and back to Prague) by cars or by bus. This will be specified in good advance. There is also a direct connection from there to Prague main station, we might bring you then to the train station in Veselí nad Lužnicí, if there will be no cars returning to Prague...
The course will finish at ca. 17:30 (5:30 p.m.)
To avoid unwanted surprise, I should point out that heating is local (stove for wood) and there is no water closet (just outhouse latrines) - it is quite a rural style, heavily romantic :-)
Drinking water will be supplied in barrels, hot tea or coffee will be available for free during the course, fish will be grilled after dissections. Please, take with you some refreshment (food) for brunch and a little bit more if you do not like fish. (The closest market is ca. 10 km away but there will be no time to get there).
Take binoculars if you want to watch birds and fishermen at work. A head light (torch) is recommended, but not obligatory.