76285 - Ecology for Cultural Heritage

Learning outcomes

An overview of ecological principles, biogeochemical cycles, ecosystem processes, goods and services provided by ecosystems to humans is provided. Connections between natural and cultural assets are stressed. The relationships between ecosystem structure and processes are analysed in a context of conservation and restoration of cultural and natural heritage. Case studies referring to ecological factors affecting the degradation of cultural and natural heritage in the framework of global environmental changes are analysed. At the end of the course the student will have the skills needed to assess the sustainable use of the cultural and natural heritage

Course contents

The course deals with various ecological issues that aim to underline the close link between natural and cultural heritage. The course is structured as follows:

1. Introduction - ecology: the cultural roots of ecology, the purpose of ecology, levels of ecological organisation, temporal and spatial scales, objectives and methods of ecology.
2. The ecosystem - structure and processes: the concept of ecosystem, structure and functioning of an ecosystem, the abiotic components of the ecosystem, the cycle of matter in ecosystems, biogeochemical cycles (definition and general characteristics, the water cycle, the carbon cycle, the nitrogen cycle, the phosphorus cycle, the sulphur cycle).
3. The interaction between organisms and the environment: ecological niche, disturbance, population.
4. Biological interactions: mutualism and symbiosis, commensalism, competition, predation and parasitism.
5. Community ecology and biodiversity: communities - definition, ecological successions, distribution and dispersion of species; biodiversity - definition, evaluation methods, influencing factors; ecosystem goods and services - definition, types.
6. Threats and tools for the conservation of natural heritage: chemical and physical impacts of human activities, degradation and conservation of habitats, impact of global climate change on natural heritage; conservation biology - definition, conservation tools, ecological restoration, institutions and regulations for environmental protection.
7. Threats and tools for the conservation of cultural heritage: impacts of environment on cultural heritage, impact of global climate change on cultural heritage, instruments for protection of cultural heritage.
   
8. Sustainability: definition and storical contest, the objectives of sustainable development; World Heritage List - definition, selection criteria, UNESCO world heritage sites in Italy.

Readings/Bibliography

Reference text:

Pusceddu A., Sarà G. e Viaroli P. (2020) Ecologia, ed. UTET Università, Italia, p. 362

Other relevant bibliographic sources will be provided during the lessons.

The course program is the same for both attending and non-attending students. Attendance of the lessons is recommended, however, students who cannot attend are invited to contact the professor for the suggestion of supplementary texts.

Teaching methods

The course consists of classroom lectures. During the course, computer presentations are used.

Assessment methods

Verification of learning consists of an oral test on the topics indicated in the course program.

To pass the exam, the student must prove that he/she has acquired adequate knowledge of the various topics in program and that he/she has mastered the scientific and methodological tools specific to the discipline.

For the final grade of the test, it will be evaluated:

• the degree of scientific and methodological study of the topics covered
• the ability to sustain a critical and reasoned analysis on the topics
• the ability to make interdisciplinary connections
• the property of scientific language and expository quality 

In detail, the final evaluation will follow the subseqent indications:

• Insufficient grade: lack of basic knowledge and inability to produce a correct interpretation of ecological concepts.
• Sufficient grade: possession of basic knowledge; mainly correct interpretation, but conducted with imprecision and little autonomy.
• Good grade: possession of intermediate-level knowledge; fully correct interpretation, but not always precise and autonomous.
• Excellent grade: possession of high-level knowledge; interpretation of problems not only correct but conducted with autonomy and precision. Excellent oral expression skills.

The dates of the appeals will be published on the Almaesami website. Students can book exams only through the methods provided by the Alma Esami online system (https://almaesami.unibo.it/almaesami/welcome.htm).

Teaching tools

Powerpoint or PDF presentations, scientific articles, chapters of the reference textbook indicated.

Office hours

See the website of Barbara Mikac