96684 - Plant Biodiversity and Landscape Ecology

Learning outcomes

At the end of the course, the student knows how to correctly use scientific nomenclature with regard to wild species, cultivars, selections and hybrids. They know the basics of the main groups of autotrophic living beings, as well as some notions of the biology of bacteria and fungi and the role they play in the ecosystem and in the relationships with plants. The student knows the gamic reproduction and vegetative propagation modes of Angiosperms. Furthermore, the student is familiar with the main approaches to the study of plant diversity, from floristic to community analysis. He also has notions of phytogeography and plant ecology and is able to identify the relationships between biodiversity and ecosystem services. He is familiar with the tools for identifying plant species and has acquired practice in the determination of tree/shrub species. Finally, he/she knows the main regulations for the protection of biodiversity and landscape, also in the perspective of possible applications to spatial planning.

Course contents

PART 1 - TAXONOMY AND SYSTEMATICS

Introduction to Plant Diversity

• Plant diversity
• What is a plant
• What is an individual
• What is a species
• Overview of plant evolution

Short history of the Eart

Taxonomy and classification

• Classification & taxonomic ranks
• Cladistics & phylogenetics
• Morphological characters useful for distinguishing species
  

Classification of plant organisms and fungi Biodiversity of terrestrial plants and main taxonomic groups

• Archaea
• Fungi
• Cyanobacteria
• Algae
• Bryophytes
• Pteridophytes
• Spermatophytes (Angiosperms + Gymnosperms)

Identification of plant species and creation of a herbarium

 

PART 2 - PLANT ECOLOGY

Biodiversity: Definition and measurements

• Taxonomic, phylogenetic and functional diversity
• Genetic, organismic and ecosystm diversity
• Alpha\beta\gamma diversity

General patterns of plant biodiversity

• Latitudinal and altitudinal gradient
• Alpha\beta\gamma diversity
• Diversity hotspots
• Patterns of local diversity

Patterns of species distribution

• floristic kingdoms
• ranges,
• chorotypes of the Italian flora,
• alien species

Relations between plants and climate

• Climatic classification of the world
• Biomes

Functional characteristics of species

• biological forms

Plant communities

• classification, dynamics
• The vegetation belts of Italy

The protection of biodiversity

• The Birds Directive and the Habitats Directive.
• SPAs, SCIs and the Natura 2000 European Ecological Network
• Biodiversity and ecosystem services.
• Rationale for the protection of biodiversity

Readings/Bibliography

Due to the breadth of topics covered, there is no single recommended text.
For the first part of the course, that on Plant Taxonomy and Systematics, the student may refer to the text:

MAUSETH J.D. 2019. Botanica. Fondamenti di biologia delle piant. IV edizione Italiana. IDELSON-GNOCCHI

Which covers the topics at a much greater level of detail than is necessary to prepare for the exam. The student will therefore have to select within the topics covered in the text those that have been covered in the slides. However, Mauseth's book has the advantage that it can also be used for the preparation of the class 96683 - PLANT BIOLOGY AND GENERAL BOTANY - 5 cfu.

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For the second part of the course, that on Plant Ecology, there is no recommended reference text in Italian.

For the entire course, the lecturer will distribute the pdf of the slides projected in class containing an annotated bibliography to help the student prepare on the topic. In case this includes book chapters, these are available for reference in the Unibo libraries, in most cases, at the one in Palazzo Vespignani, Imola.

Teaching methods

Lectures, seminars. Expert seminars. Student seminars. Workshops and practical and demonstration experiences. Excursions.

In view of the types of activities and teaching methods adopted, attendance of this training activity requires all students to complete modules 1 and 2 in e-learning mode [https://www.unibo.it/it/servizi-e-opportunita/salute-e-assistenza/salute-e-sicurezza/sicurezza-e-salute-nei-luoghi-di-studio-e-tirocinio] and to participate in module 3 of specific training on health and safety in the workplace. Information on the dates and procedures for attending module 3 can be found in the appropriate section of the course website.

Assessment methods

The teaching is part of the integrated course 6682 BOTANICS, LANDSCAPE ECOLOGY AND ZOOLOGY (C.I.). The verbalizing lecturer is Prof. Annalisa Tassoni.

The preparation of a 50-species herbarium (with priority given to woody species) is a prerequisite for admission to the examination

The knowledge and skills imparted by this teaching are assessed through an oral interview. The evaluation is based on the individual student's knowledge of the topics in the syllabus and the content of the exercises and the quality of the exposition. The oral examination lasts normally 45 minutes, and consists of three questions of which at least one is on each of the two parts of the course.

The exam grade will be calculated on the basis of four evaluation criteria:

1. Knowledge and understanding of content (weight 4/12)

2. Ability to apply knowledge (weight 3/12)

3. Ability to analyze and synthesize the information (weight 3/12)

4. Communication skills and organization of discourse (weight 2/12).

The evaluation grid is available on the teacher's website on the “Useful contents” page.

Teaching tools

Power point presentation, laboratory and experimental fields

For lectures : ppt presentations prepared by the lecturer

For the exercises: fresh plant and herbarium material; outdoor teaching excursions.

Iconographic material of the Dryades project of the University of Trieste (www.dryades.units.it)

Iconographic material from the Acta Plantarum project (www.actaplantarum.org)

Office hours

See the website of Francesco Maria Sabatini