Ecology
A.Y. 2023/2024
Learning objectives
The teaching aims at providing the basic principles of ecology, i.e. the scientific investigation of the distribution and abundance of organisms and of the interactions that determine distribution and abundance, as well as of the fluxes of energy and matter of the ecosphere. It aims at providing an integrative outlook to ecosystem functioning and to the hierarchical levels of organization of the biosphere, from individuals to populations and ecosystems, highlighting the human impact on the biosphere and the interactions between ecosystem processes and human activities.
All these contents will help students to get acquainted with ecosystems structure and function, and - together with the class of Agricultural systems and soil science - will lie down the bases to be used in subsequent classes to understand the practical applications of living organisms in forestry, nature-based solutions, water management, and environmental remediation.
Most of the contents will be delivered via lectures, integrated with short sessions dedicated to calculations.
All these contents will help students to get acquainted with ecosystems structure and function, and - together with the class of Agricultural systems and soil science - will lie down the bases to be used in subsequent classes to understand the practical applications of living organisms in forestry, nature-based solutions, water management, and environmental remediation.
Most of the contents will be delivered via lectures, integrated with short sessions dedicated to calculations.
Expected learning outcomes
Knowledge and understanding. The students will:
· know and understand the ecological interactions between the environment and living organisms.
· know and understand how populations grow, and how different species can interact.
· know and understand energy flows in ecosystems.
· know and understand trophic networks in ecosystems.
· know and understand the main biogeochemical cycles.
· know and understand the fundamental concepts relating to biodiversity and its measurement.
· know and understand the causes and effects of climate change.
· know and understand ecosystem services.
Applying knowledge and understanding. The students will be able to:
· analyse a given environment, highlighting its ecological characteristics, its functioning, and the ecosystem services it provides.
· know and understand the ecological interactions between the environment and living organisms.
· know and understand how populations grow, and how different species can interact.
· know and understand energy flows in ecosystems.
· know and understand trophic networks in ecosystems.
· know and understand the main biogeochemical cycles.
· know and understand the fundamental concepts relating to biodiversity and its measurement.
· know and understand the causes and effects of climate change.
· know and understand ecosystem services.
Applying knowledge and understanding. The students will be able to:
· analyse a given environment, highlighting its ecological characteristics, its functioning, and the ecosystem services it provides.
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
Introduction to ecology: ecological organization levels: organisms, populations, communities, ecosystems, landscapes, biomes and biosphere; the biological control of the geochemical environment. Examples and general properties of ecosystems, biotic and abiotic components, production and decomposition (1 CFU-university educational credit).
Energy flux through the ecosystem: energy sources for organisms: autotrophy and heterotrophy, entropy law, productivity in the ecosystems, methods for measuring the productivity; food chain, food web and trophic levels (1 CFU-university educational credit).
Biogeochemical cycles: general description, qualitative and quantitative approaches; classification of cycles and specific cycles of water (desertification), carbon (greenhouse effect), nitrogen (eutrofication), phosphorous (eutrofication) and sulphur (acid rains), nutrients cycling in the tropics, the recycle index and turnover times (1 CFU-university educational credit).
Physical environment and limiting factors: Liebig's low of the minimum and Shelford's low and consequences, analysis of the most important limiting factors: temperature and solar radiation, water availability, inorganic and organic nutrients, pH, redox potential, current (1 CFU-university educational credit).
Organisms and the environment: evolutionary ecology: theory of life history, concepts of fitness and reproductive investment; adaptations of organisms to the environment, ecophysiology, tolerance and avoidance reactions, acclimatization and adaptation (1 CFU-university educational credit).
Populations: dynamics and regulation of populations, intraspecific competition and external forcing; exponential and logistic growth; life tables. Community: species diversity, communities in geographical gradients, ecotones and concept of edge effect. Successions in ecosystems: the ecosystem development, concept of the climax, types of climax and examples of succession (1 CFU-university educational credit).
Energy flux through the ecosystem: energy sources for organisms: autotrophy and heterotrophy, entropy law, productivity in the ecosystems, methods for measuring the productivity; food chain, food web and trophic levels (1 CFU-university educational credit).
Biogeochemical cycles: general description, qualitative and quantitative approaches; classification of cycles and specific cycles of water (desertification), carbon (greenhouse effect), nitrogen (eutrofication), phosphorous (eutrofication) and sulphur (acid rains), nutrients cycling in the tropics, the recycle index and turnover times (1 CFU-university educational credit).
Physical environment and limiting factors: Liebig's low of the minimum and Shelford's low and consequences, analysis of the most important limiting factors: temperature and solar radiation, water availability, inorganic and organic nutrients, pH, redox potential, current (1 CFU-university educational credit).
Organisms and the environment: evolutionary ecology: theory of life history, concepts of fitness and reproductive investment; adaptations of organisms to the environment, ecophysiology, tolerance and avoidance reactions, acclimatization and adaptation (1 CFU-university educational credit).
Populations: dynamics and regulation of populations, intraspecific competition and external forcing; exponential and logistic growth; life tables. Community: species diversity, communities in geographical gradients, ecotones and concept of edge effect. Successions in ecosystems: the ecosystem development, concept of the climax, types of climax and examples of succession (1 CFU-university educational credit).
Prerequisites for admission
Basic knowledge in chemistry, physics, mathematics, zoology and botany.
Teaching methods
The course will employ a variety of instructional methods to accomplish its objectives, including lectures, laboratory experiences, field work, multimedia resources, individual and/or team projects.
Teaching Resources
W.D. Bowman, S. D. Hacker (2017). Ecology. International Fifth Edition. OUP USA
Assessment methods and Criteria
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, ability of critical reasoning, the quality of the exposure, the use of a specialized lexicon. Marks out of thirty.
During the tests, the student cannot consult books, manuals or notes except for the mental / conceptual maps for DSA certified students only and who have agreed on the compensatory tools with the teachers. There are no differences in teaching materials and exam methods between attending and non-attending students.
During the tests, the student cannot consult books, manuals or notes except for the mental / conceptual maps for DSA certified students only and who have agreed on the compensatory tools with the teachers. There are no differences in teaching materials and exam methods between attending and non-attending students.
BIO/07 - ECOLOGY - University credits: 6
Field activity: 16 hours
Lessons: 40 hours
Lessons: 40 hours
Professors:
De Felice Beatrice, Tremolada Paolo Carlo Maria
Educational website(s)
Professor(s)