Applied Ecology

The course deals with the main issues related to adverse effects of anthropic activities on ecosystem functions and biotic communities, describing the approaches and methods currently available for monitoring, reducing and/or managing such effects. For simplicity, these issues will be addressed separately for aerial, aquatic and terrestrial environments.

Aerial environments: Effects of natural emissions and anthropic activity on atmosphere composition and dynamics that regulate its components. Methods of monitorning air pollution, and techniques to assess emission, diffusion, transport and deposition of airborne pollutants. Effects of air pollution at the local and global scale: acid rain, smog, greenhouse effect alterations, thinning of the ozone layer. Methods of monitoring and control of emissions. Indoor pollution.

Aquatic environments: Sources and processes that regulate the distribution of contaminants in aquatic environments. Eutrophication and chemical pollution. Methods for the monitoring of contamination and effects of aquatic contaminants. Techniques of wastewater treatment, phytodepuration, biofiltration and biomanipulation of eutrophic ecosystems. Overexploitation of aquatic resources: fisheries and aquaculture, overfishing, and principles of fisheries management.

Terrestrial environments: Sources of degradation and pollution of soils, including erosion, deforestation and chemical contamination. Green Revolution and agroecosystems. Alternative methods to reduce the use of pesticides: biological pest control methods. Principles of solid waste and their management. Agricultural intensification and loss of biodiversity in agroecosystem: biodiversity monitoring techniques, reconciling biodiversity conservation and agricultural practices.