66101 - Plant Ecosystems, Protected Habitats and Environmental Restoration

Learning outcomes

At the end of the course the student knows the main Italian ecosystems and the associated European protected habitats (Habitat Directive 92/43/EEC) as well as the main regional, Italian and European conventions for biodiversity conservation. The student is able to:

- characterize ecosystems and habitats based on their dynamics and address their conservative management;

- assess the role that ecosystems and habitats play for biodiversity conservation;

- select suitable species for ecological restoration activities and plan their establishment in nature.

Finally, the student knows the main wood and/or herb species occurring in the presented ecosystems and habitats.

Course contents

MODULE 1 (prof. Carla Lambertini)

The need to conserve and restore ecosystems

Drivers of ecosystem decline: habitat loss, fragmentation, ecosystem degradation.

Ecosystem services.

 

Tools for biodiversity conservation

The main international conventions for nature conservation.

Habitat Directive 92/43/EEC: a tool for conservation and management. Habitats as ecological units to conserve. Directive annexes.

Nature reserves (Parks), Ecological-riequilibrium areas, Nature 2000 network: SCIs, SPAs and SACs.

 

Ecosystems restoration

The restoration aim.

Site evaluation (ex-ante evaluation). The site after restoration. Project design and realization. Species selection and procurement. Monitoring restoration actions.

 

Practical activities

Analysis of case studies aimed at detecting the critical ecological issues and designing relevant restoration activities, considering feasibility and sustainability.

 

Acquired knowledge in Module 1

Knowledge and necessary tools to address biodiversity conservation and restoration activities.

 

MODULE 2 (prof. Giovanna Pezzi)

The study of vegetation for ecosystem evaluation, monitoring and management

Vegetation composition and structure and its variation in space and time: causes (e.g. stress, disturbance and anthropogenic impact) and effects.

Vegetation classification (physiognomic, syntaxonomic and European classification systems).

Vegetation and biodiversity.

Vegetation and habitat sensu Habitat Directive 92/43 and EUNIS.

Methods for vegetation sampling and monitoring. Examples of data analysis and biodiversity quantification.

Vegetation maps for cartographic representation.

Vegetation as a landscape component. The patch-corridor-matrix model. Diversity, heterogenety, connectivity and fragmentation.

 

Practical activities

Landscape analysis of restoration sites.

Identification of suitable vegetation analysis techniques for ex-ante analysis and ex-post monitoring of restoration projects.

 

Acquired knowledge in Module 2

Knowledge of vegetation to address environmental restoration actions and their subsequent management.

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.

- Scientific papers provided and/or discussed during the lectures.

- Ferrari C., Pezzi G. 2013. L’Ecologia del Paesaggio. Il Mulino Universale Paperbacks

Supplementry material (e-books available at https://sol.unibo.it/SebinaOpac/page/advanced):

Vegetation Ecology. Van der Maarel E. and Janet Franklin J., John Wiley & Sons, 2013 (Module 2)

Restoration Ecology: the new frontier. Edited by Jelte van Andel and James Aronson Malden, MA; Oxford: Blackwell Pub., 2006 (Module 1)

The student selects the topics to study within the suggested books according to the lecture programme

Teaching methods

Class lectures on theoretical concepts and methodological approaches

Practical activities to acquire the main tools and methods for studying and analyzing vegetation, and addressing restoration activities.

Field excursions, to analyse and discuss ecosystem management and conservation, habitat and vegetation and restoration options.

Field data collection applying suitable sampling methods.

Seminars.

As concerns the teaching methods of this course unit, all students must attend Module 1, 2 [https://www.unibo.it/en/services-and-opportunities/health-and-assistance/health-and-safety/online-course-on-health-and-safety-in-study-and-internship-areas] online, while Module 3 on health and safety is to be attended in class. Information about Module 3 attendance schedule is available on the website of your degree programme.

Assessment methods

Type of assessment: oral examination consisting in: 1) presentation by the student of one project/ report developed by the student on the basis of a case study discussed during the lectures, 2) two questions on the theoretical concepts introduced by the course.

Assessment evaluation: The purpose of the project/report presentation and the answers to the two questions is to assess the practical and theoretical skills acquired by the student through the course and the capacity to apply the acquired knowledge to formulate restoration, management and conservation projects.

Teaching tools

Slides presented during the lectures, scientific reports and papers provided by the teacher, specialised web sites. Open source GIS (www.qgis.org ), WebGIS and interactive maps supporting the practical activities.

Excel spreadsheets.

The students are required to bring their own PC for the practical activities.

Office hours

See the website of Carla Lambertini

See the website of Giovanna Pezzi