88369 - ECOLOGY

Anno Accademico 2023/2024

  • Docente: Bruna Gumiero
  • Crediti formativi: 6
  • SSD: BIO/07
  • Lingua di insegnamento: Inglese
  • Modalità didattica: Convenzionale - Lezioni in presenza
  • Campus: Bologna
  • Corso: Laurea Magistrale in Low Carbon Technologies and Sustainable Chemistry (cod. 9246)

Conoscenze e abilità da conseguire

The course is aimed at the comprehension of the fundamental principles of how ecological systems work. It will focus on the ecological problems caused by human activities as well. Fundamental and applied aspect of ecology will be empathized. An understanding of the scope of the problems facing us (climate change, unsustainable use of resources, pollution, extinctions and the erosion of natural biodiversity) and the means to counter and solve these problems depend on a proper grasp of ecological fundamentals. Although we will analyze all the main types of ecosystems, we will work in particular on river ecosystems and their basin. We will cover concepts such as sustainable development, ecosystem services, environmental monitoring in detail.

Contenuti

1 PART PROGRAM OF ECOLOGY AA 23-24

Introduction to Ecology

  • Holistic view
  • Scale in ecology
  • Landscape ecology in a nutshell
  • Biomes
  • Microclimate

    Evolution

  • Theory of evolution
  • Origin of life
  • Adaptation
  • Types of evolution
  • Speciation

    Species

  • Population dynamics
  • Metapopulations
  • Invasive species and Climate Change

    Communities

  • Species interaction
  • Concept of biodiversity

    Ecosystem: general concepts

  • What is an ecosystem?
  • Biogeochemical cycles
  • Energy flow
  • Biomass on Earth
  • Food webs
  • Decomposition and detritivores

    Different type of ecosystems

  • Lentic and lotic ecosystems
  • Riparian ecotones: characteristics and function
  • Wetlands
  • Aquatic vegetation functions (biochemistry and reduction of pollution)
  • Terrestrial ecosystems
  • Biotic pump and Climate Change

    2 PART a selection of the following topics

  • Ecosystem services (ES) and Natural Capital
  • Value of ecosystem services
  • Ecotoxicology
  • Ecological restoration
  • Introduction to Monitoring
  • Indicators and indexes how to develop them
  • Biomonitoring: characteristics of biotic indexes
  • Biodiversity conservation
  • Biomimicry
  • Microplastics and their interactions within the oceans
  • Hydropower plants
  • Human impact on River Catchment and River restoration

Testi/Bibliografia

Essentials of Ecology, 4th Edition Michael Begon, Robert W. Howarth, Colin R. Townsend ISBN: 978-0-470-90913-3 August 2014 480 Pages

 

scientific papers 

Orario di ricevimento

Consulta il sito web di Bruna Gumiero