B5825 - GLOBAL CHANGE AND EVOLUTION OF HUMAN-MODIFIED ECOSYSTEMS

Learning outcomes

Students will learn the conceptual framework to understand the ecological interactions between natural and social systems in globally changing urban landscapes (terrestrial and marine), how natural systems are expected to evolve under a growing human selective pressure, and will gain analytical basic 'urban-ecology tools' to be applied in e.g. urban monitoring, planning and restoration.

Course contents

Introduction – Principles of urban ecology and the concept of “novel” urban ecosystems.

Unique ecological conditions of urban ecosystems – Land use and surface cover; urban climate and heat island effect; changes in the physical environment (soil properties, hydrological processes); impacts of chemical pollution, urban noise, artificial light and electromagnetic fields. Major drivers of marine urbanization. Resource exploitation, pollution pathways and ocean sprawl and interactive effects. Climate change and marine urbanization.

Patterns of urban biodiversity and controlling factors – Impacts of urbanisation on biodiversity and changes in biodiversity along urban-rural gradients; losers and winners in urban habitats, biotic homogenisation and susceptibility of urban ecosystems to species invasions; habitat loss and fragmentation in urban land/sea-scapes, altered connectivity and dispersal barriers.

Acclimation mechanisms in urban landscapes – Molecular basis of environmentally-induced phenotypic variation in urban contexts; effects of urbanization on gene-expression and epi-genetic patterns of different species and populations; Major metabolic pathways involved in the acclimation to urban conditions.

Patterns of genetic diversity and adaptation in urban landscapes – Effects of urbanization on genetic diversity, gene flow, isolation and genetic structure of populations; genetic adaptation of populations in urban conditions; examples of rapid species’ evolution in urban contexts.

Acclimation and adaptation mechanisms in urban seascapes – Effects of urbanization on patterns of genetic diversity, gene flow and genetic structure in coastal marine ecosystems; examples of coastal marine species acclimation and adaptation to urban-related challenges.

Ecosystem functions and services in urban landscapes – Urban ecosystem services; ecosystem management options to enhance resilience of society and the environment to future climate conditions.

Principles of sustainable urban development – Urban sustainability and governance-related challenges in urban environments; Nature-based solutions and strategies for urban biodiversity conservation and habitat restoration; bioengineering, multifunctional blue/green infrastructures, bioinspired solutions for climate adaptation, disaster risk reduction and coastal protection.

Readings/Bibliography

Elmqvist et al (Editors) 2013 - Urbanization, Biodiversity and Ecosystem Services: Challenges and Opportunities. Springer (open access)

Niemela, J., Breuste, J. H., Guntenspergen, G., McIntyre, N. E., Elmqvist, T., & James, P. (2011). Urban Ecology: Patterns, Processes, and Applications.

Teaching methods

Frontal lessons in person and online lessons (16 hours).

Discussion groups of selected hot topics.

Assessment methods

The evaluation of the course takes into account the level of knowledge and the skills acquired by the student in relation to the course contents.

The learning assessment takes place through an oral exam, which ascertains the acquisition of the knowledge and the expected skills. This will consist in three questions covering different parts of the course program:

1) Unique physico-chemical properties of urban ecosystems;

2) Urban biodiversity and controlling factors, including urban adaptation and evolutionary processes;

3) Urban sustainability, urban planning and Nature-based solutions.

The final grade will be given by averaging the scores obtained for the three questions. The grade of each question will be determined using this evaluation grid Assessment criterion. * Honours (30 cum laude) may be awarded to students who achieve the maximum score and demonstrate outstanding critical thinking, originality, and knowledge of the subject.

The exam evaluation mode will be explained in detail during the first lesson of the course. Other lessons will contain clear moments of training for the evaluation mode. The final lesson of the course will be dedicated to clarify any doubt about the course content and the exam mode and evalutation.

Students with learning disorders and\or temporary or permanent disabilities: please, contact the office responsible (https://site.unibo.it/studenti-con-disabilita-e-dsa/en/for-students ) as soon as possible so that they can propose acceptable adjustments. The request for adaptation must be submitted in advance (15 days before the exam date) to the lecturer, who will assess the appropriateness of the adjustments, taking into account the teaching objectives.

AI can be a useful tool to support individual study with in-depth analysis, summaries, and self-assessment pathways. With regard to the assessment of learning, during the in-person exam the use of AI is prohibited. Any use constitutes a violation of academic integrity.

Teaching tools

Teaching materials: teaching material presented in class will be made available to the student in electronic format via internet, at this address: https://virtuale.unibo.it/

Papers to touch specific hot topics and for discussion groups will also be provided during the course.

Suggested textbooks are intended to be used for deepening some specific topics at the discretion of the students.

Links to further information

https://www.marinesciencegroup.org/

Office hours

See the website of Miriam Ruocco