Methods in Applied Ecology
A.Y. 2024/2025
Learning objectives
The teaching aims to provide to students the basics to evaluate the main problems related to anthropic pollution and the potential critical issues regarding natural ecosystems. The focus will be mainly on the problems of the main compartments that characterize natural ecosystems.
Expected learning outcomes
At the end of the course the student should be able to:
1) Describe the main issues related to anthropic impacts in the different environmental matrices (atmosphere, hydrosphere, lithosphere and biosphere)
2) Identify the main methodological and instrumental approaches for environmental pollution monitoring and managing
3) Critically examine the environmental issues discussed during the course to identify the correct mitigation strategies
1) Describe the main issues related to anthropic impacts in the different environmental matrices (atmosphere, hydrosphere, lithosphere and biosphere)
2) Identify the main methodological and instrumental approaches for environmental pollution monitoring and managing
3) Critically examine the environmental issues discussed during the course to identify the correct mitigation strategies
Lesson period: Second semester
Assessment methods: Esame
Assessment result: voto verbalizzato in trentesimi
Single course
This course cannot be attended as a single course. Please check our list of single courses to find the ones available for enrolment.
Course syllabus and organization
Single session
Responsible
Lesson period
Second semester
Course syllabus
-Typologies of environmental pollutants.
-Atmosphere: origin and structure of the Earth's atmosphere, principles of climatology and meteorology.
-Air pollution: effects of natural emissions and human activities on the atmosphere. Oxidizing and reducing smog, acid deposition and particulate matter. Mechanisms of transport, dispersion and deposition of pollutants. Ozone depletion, global warming and climate change.
-Indoor pollution.
-Hydrosphere: main chemical/physical properties of water. Lentic, lotic and marine ecosystems, transitional envrionments, ground and drinking waters. The sediments of water bodies.
-Water pollution: trophic states and eutrophication. Pollution by priority and emerging contaminants, with a focus on (micro)plastics and non-conventional plastics (tire rubbers and water soluble polymers). Conventional, alternative and experimental techniques of wastewater treatment. Biomanipulation and bioremediation. Thermal pollution of waters. Marine pollution and acidification. The problem of overfishing and aquaculture.
-lithosphere and pedosphere: soil types, soil organisms and edaphic communities.
-Soil pollution: Sources of soil degradation and pollution, green revolution and sustainable agriculture. The biological pest control. Impermeabilization, salinization, erosion and desertification. The problem of municipal solid waste. An introduction to the agroecosystem, the use of compost, manure and sludge in agriculture.
-Monitoring and effects of pollutants: chemical analyses, biochemical oxygen demand (BOD) and chemical oxygen demand (COD). (Bio)monitoring of environmental pollutants, bioindicators. Measurement of adverse effects (acute and chronic toxicity) of pollutants (benthic macroinvertebrates and biotic indices, conventional ecotoxicological assays, biomarkers and "Omics techniques").
-Biosphere: concept of biodiversity, loss of habitat and biodiversity, zoonoses, alien species, biodiversity conservation. The protected areas.
-Possible solutions and mitigation strategies: the ecological transition and renewable energies.
-Atmosphere: origin and structure of the Earth's atmosphere, principles of climatology and meteorology.
-Air pollution: effects of natural emissions and human activities on the atmosphere. Oxidizing and reducing smog, acid deposition and particulate matter. Mechanisms of transport, dispersion and deposition of pollutants. Ozone depletion, global warming and climate change.
-Indoor pollution.
-Hydrosphere: main chemical/physical properties of water. Lentic, lotic and marine ecosystems, transitional envrionments, ground and drinking waters. The sediments of water bodies.
-Water pollution: trophic states and eutrophication. Pollution by priority and emerging contaminants, with a focus on (micro)plastics and non-conventional plastics (tire rubbers and water soluble polymers). Conventional, alternative and experimental techniques of wastewater treatment. Biomanipulation and bioremediation. Thermal pollution of waters. Marine pollution and acidification. The problem of overfishing and aquaculture.
-lithosphere and pedosphere: soil types, soil organisms and edaphic communities.
-Soil pollution: Sources of soil degradation and pollution, green revolution and sustainable agriculture. The biological pest control. Impermeabilization, salinization, erosion and desertification. The problem of municipal solid waste. An introduction to the agroecosystem, the use of compost, manure and sludge in agriculture.
-Monitoring and effects of pollutants: chemical analyses, biochemical oxygen demand (BOD) and chemical oxygen demand (COD). (Bio)monitoring of environmental pollutants, bioindicators. Measurement of adverse effects (acute and chronic toxicity) of pollutants (benthic macroinvertebrates and biotic indices, conventional ecotoxicological assays, biomarkers and "Omics techniques").
-Biosphere: concept of biodiversity, loss of habitat and biodiversity, zoonoses, alien species, biodiversity conservation. The protected areas.
-Possible solutions and mitigation strategies: the ecological transition and renewable energies.
Prerequisites for admission
Good knowledge of ecology and zoology is required.
Teaching methods
Interactive lectures supported by slides.
The teaching material will be provided on the myARIEL website.
The teaching material will be provided on the myARIEL website.
Teaching Resources
Ecologia applicata. Per un uso consapevole dell'aria, dell'acqua e del suolo. Roberto Bargagli. Amun, seconda edizione (2020).
Course slides.
Course slides.
Assessment methods and Criteria
Oral exam on the topics covered during the course.
Professor(s)