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 as well as most commonly used proxies for these parameters in both terrestrial and aquatic ecosystems. The course includes theoretical background of the methods, principles and demonstration.
It include technics using stable isotopes and other tracers, eddy covariance technics, modern analytical methods including NIR FTYR and other techniques cutting edge to evaluate whole ecosystem functioning including practical tasks in laboratory facilities as well as two field excursions one focused on terrestrial and second on aquatic ecosystems.