58465 - Landscape Ecology

Learning outcomes

Through principles and methods of landscape ecology, the student at the end of the course will be able to: understand the central role of the plant component in the landscape; use an ecological approach in landscape analysis in a multi-scalar and multi-temporal framework; use the landscape ecology methods for management, conservation and monitoring of landscapes and habitats in a scenario of global changes.

Course contents

Landscape: definitions. Landscape Ecology: principles and aims. Pattern, processes and scale (spatial and temporal). Landscape hierarchical organization. Patch-corridor-matrix model. Diversity, heterogeneity; connectivity and fragmentation. Abiotic and biotic factors affecting structure and dynamics of the landscape. Disturbance as an ecological factor. Vegetation and landscape. Biodiversity and landscape. Man and landscape. Global changes (particularly land cover changes). Biological invasions and landscape. Ecosystem Services. Types of landscape (e.g. forest, urban and peri-urban, coastal, biocultural): characters and vulnerability. Landscape conservation and management. Ecological Network. European classification of habitats. Habitat Directive (92/43/EEC) and Natura 2000. 

Maps and analyses to detect landscape structure and dynamics. Grain and extent. Data: current maps (vegetation, habitat and land cover) and historical maps; multi-source data. Data harmonization and analysis (e.g. landscape metrics, transition matrix).

 

Readings/Bibliography

- Power Point presentations. These documents will be available at the end of each topic session. A list of references is provided at the end of each lecture together with suggested supplementary study material

- Ferrari C., Pezzi G. 2013. L'ecologia del paesaggio. Collana "Universale Paperbacks il Mulino"

- Papers (English) discussed and/or provided during lectures and practicals

- With K.A., 2019. Essentials of Landscape Ecology. Oxford University Press (selected chapters)

Teaching methods

Lectures, practicals, field excursion. Case studies examined.

In particular, for each lesson or group of lessons a laboratory activity will be coupled (e.g. computer exercises, analysis of case studies) that students will carry out in groups. Results will be discussed in the classroom.

 

Field excursions and practical exercises will be organized according to the guidelines provided by the University for the COVID-19 emergency

Assessment methods

Oral examination of a landscape analysis project presented by the student and of the answers to two questions about the theoretical concepts of the course

Classroom exercises will be preparatory to the project

Teaching tools

- Personal computer, power point presentation, projector

- Scientific papers

- Open source softwares: GIS, for to calculate Landscape metrics, statistical software

- WebGIS and interactive cartography for practicals

 

Office hours

See the website of Giovanna Pezzi