Ecology
A.Y. 2023/2024
Learning objectives
The course aims at providing students with basic knowledge of ecology, defined as the study of the distribution and abundance of organisms and of the interactions that determine them as well as of the matter and energy fluxes within ecosystems. An integrated view of ecosystems functioning will be given, as well as of the different levels of ecological organization, from organisms to populations, communities and ecosystems. The human impact on the biosphere will be considered, as well as the interactions between human activities and ecological processes, with particular reference to ecosystem services. The main aim will be to stimulate a scientific approach to the concept of sustainability.
Expected learning outcomes
At the end of the course the student will know and understand the fundamental concepts of ecology, in particular: the main terrestrial and aquatic biomes, the adaptations of organisms to their environment, the populations of organisms, their dynamics, the factors that determine them, the relationships that are established between populations within a community, the biodiversity and the possible ways to evaluate it, the ecosystems and the flows of matter and energy that occur within them, the landscapes and the management of the environment; the biogeochemical cycles taking place on a global scale, the main challenges linked to sustainability. The student will develop skills to apply this knowledge to the resolution of practical cases of environmental analysis. In particular, he or she will be able to analyze, individually or in groups, an environment, highlighting its ecological characteristics. This activity also intends to develop the critical capacity of the student in analyzing the ecological characteristics of the environments. Furthermore, the student will develop competences that will allow him or her to effectively communicate these results through a short report and a presentation, to be held also through a short video.
Lesson period: First semester
Assessment methods: Esame
Assessment result: voto verbalizzato in trentesimi
Single course
This course can be attended as a single course.
Course syllabus and organization
Single session
Responsible
Lesson period
First semester
Course syllabus
Ecology: definition and purposes. Ecological organization levels: organisms, populations, communities, ecosystems, landscapes, biomes and biosphere.
Physical environment, terrestrial and aquatic biomes.
Biotic and abiotic stresses and ecophysiology, tolerance and avoidance reactions, acclimatization and adaptation. Energy sources for organisms: autotrophy and heterotrophy.
Evolutionary ecology: theory of life history, concepts of fitness and reproductive investment; adaptations of organisms to the environment.
Populations: dynamics and regulation of populations, intraspecific competition and external forcing; exponential and logistic growth; life tables.
Interspecific interactions: general characteristics, ecological niche and interspecific competition; negative interactions: predation and parasitism; positive interactions: commensalism, mutualism, symbiosis.
Community: the concept of biodiversity and consequences of changes in biodiversity on the functioning of ecosystems; trophic networks; ecological successions.
Ecosystems: energy and matter flow through ecosystems; biogeochemical cycles and anthropic impact; primary and secondary productivity; ecosystem services, anthropic impact on the biosphere and environmental sustainability.
As transferable skills, students will learn to perform bibliographic research, which is the structure of a scientific paper, and to prepare a short presentation with the acquired information. They will also learn to use Excel and to prepare graphs and tables.
Physical environment, terrestrial and aquatic biomes.
Biotic and abiotic stresses and ecophysiology, tolerance and avoidance reactions, acclimatization and adaptation. Energy sources for organisms: autotrophy and heterotrophy.
Evolutionary ecology: theory of life history, concepts of fitness and reproductive investment; adaptations of organisms to the environment.
Populations: dynamics and regulation of populations, intraspecific competition and external forcing; exponential and logistic growth; life tables.
Interspecific interactions: general characteristics, ecological niche and interspecific competition; negative interactions: predation and parasitism; positive interactions: commensalism, mutualism, symbiosis.
Community: the concept of biodiversity and consequences of changes in biodiversity on the functioning of ecosystems; trophic networks; ecological successions.
Ecosystems: energy and matter flow through ecosystems; biogeochemical cycles and anthropic impact; primary and secondary productivity; ecosystem services, anthropic impact on the biosphere and environmental sustainability.
As transferable skills, students will learn to perform bibliographic research, which is the structure of a scientific paper, and to prepare a short presentation with the acquired information. They will also learn to use Excel and to prepare graphs and tables.
Prerequisites for admission
It is a fundamental basic course. All the introductory notions of biology and climatology that students should have acquired during the first year are taken for granted. They are not presented during the course but can be recalled if necessary.
Teaching methods
This course will employ a variety of instructional methods to accomplish its objectives, including some of the following:
Lectures
Laboratory activities
Field Work
Multimedia
Individual and/or team Projects
Small-group discussions
Lectures
Laboratory activities
Field Work
Multimedia
Individual and/or team Projects
Small-group discussions
Teaching Resources
Cain M.L., Bowman W.D., Hacker S.E. (2014) Ecology (3rd edition), Sinauer Associated
Smith T.M., Smith R.L. (2015) Elements of ecology (9th edition). Paerson Education
Short videos on census methods of ungulates are available on the ARIEL platform.
Slides of the lessons will be available to students through the ARIEL platform.
Smith T.M., Smith R.L. (2015) Elements of ecology (9th edition). Paerson Education
Short videos on census methods of ungulates are available on the ARIEL platform.
Slides of the lessons will be available to students through the ARIEL platform.
Assessment methods and Criteria
An oral test aimed at evaluating the understanding of the key concepts of ecology illustrated in the lessons. The following will be evaluated: the level of understanding and knowledge of the contents of the subject, the ability of critical reasoning, the quality of the exposure, and the use of a specialized lexicon.
During the tests, the student cannot consult books, manuals or notes except for the mental/conceptual maps only for DSA-certified students who have agreed on the compensatory tools with the teachers.
Marks out of thirty.
During the tests, the student cannot consult books, manuals or notes except for the mental/conceptual maps only for DSA-certified students who have agreed on the compensatory tools with the teachers.
Marks out of thirty.
BIO/07 - ECOLOGY - University credits: 9
Practicals: 16 hours
Lessons: 64 hours
Lessons: 64 hours
Professors:
Ambrosini Roberto, De Felice Beatrice
Educational website(s)
Professor(s)
Reception:
Tuesday 10-12 am by appointment to be requested via email a few days before
tower C, 6th floor, Via Celoria 26