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 activities on atmosphere composition and dynamics that regulate its components. Methods of monitorning air pollution, and the effects of air pollution at the local and global scale: acid rains, smog, greenhouse effect alterations, thinning of the ozone layer. Methods of monitoring air quality (IBL).

Aquatic environments: Water Pollution. Eutrophication and chemical pollution. Methods for the monitoring of contamination and effects of aquatic contaminants: EBI; STAR_iCMI and NISECI. Techniques of wastewater treatment, phytodepuration, biofiltration and biomanipulation of eutrophic ecosystems. Overexploitation of aquatic resources: fisheries and aquaculture, overfishing, and principles of fisheries management. Aquaculture and approaches towards a sustainable aquacuture.

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. Methods to assess biological quality of soils (QBS). Principles of solid waste and their management.