Ecology

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.

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.