Annotation
The course will introduce students to the basic methods of ecosystem research, including the study of primary production, respiration of soil and whole ecosystem decomposition, nutrient turnover, and most commonly used proxies for these parameters in both terrestrial and aquatic ecosystems. The course includes a theoretical background of the methods, principles and demonstration.
It includes technics using stable isotopes and other tracers, eddy covariance technics, modern analytical methods including NIR FTYR and other cutting edge techniques to evaluate whole ecosystem functioning, including practical tasks in laboratory facilities and two field excursions one focused on terrestrial and second on aquatic ecosystems.