- Docente: Duccio Rocchini
- Credits: 6
- SSD: BIO/03
- Language: Italian
- Teaching Mode: Traditional lectures
- Campus: Bologna
- Corso: Second cycle degree programme (LM) in Sciences and Management of Nature (cod. 9257)
Learning outcomes
At the end of the course, the student will gain knowledge on i) the foundation and the theoretical framework of Landscape Ecology, ii) the landscape as an ecological system and the central role of the vegetation component, iii) on the natural processes and the human disturbance; iv) on the drivers
influencing the management and the conservation of the landscape and of habitats; v) on the approaches and analysis processes
to monitor landscapes in different environmental contexts.
In particular, the student will be able to: identify the causes and consequences of the spatial heterogeneity of the landscape; analyse patterns and processes in a multi-scale and multi-temporal context. The student will gain skills in the analysis of spatial data for conservation practices.
Course contents
- The roots of Landscape Ecology: introduction to the basic concepts beyond Landscape Ecology
- A matter of scale: main issues related to the analysis of spatial data at different spatial scales, hierarchy theory, upscaling and downscalng
- Landscape metrics: introduction to the models used in Landscape Ecology, main data used in the analysis of landscape changes in space and time, landscape pattern analysis
- Spatial statistics: spatial autocorrelation,
how to derive continuous maps from in-situ data by spatial interpolation approaches
- Multitemporal analysis: analysis of temporal changes of the landscape by map overlay
- Geographical data and reference systems: introduction to geographical data and to the main reference systems
- Remote sensing application to Landscape Ecology: basics of satellite remote sensing
- Species Distribution Modelling
- R Software: modelling basics
- Use of geographical and remote sensing data by R
- GRASS GIS software:
Geographical Information Systems basics, use of GRASS for spatial analysis
Readings/Bibliography
Turner, M.G., Gardner, R.H. (2015). Landscape Ecology in Theory and Practice. Springer.
Wegmann, M. (2016). Remote Sensing and GIS for Ecologists: Using Open Source Software. Pelagic Publishing.
Teaching methods
Lectures and practical exercises.
Assessment methods
Test with multiple choices and flash interview.
Teaching tools
Free and Open Source Software. Free geographic and remote sensing data.
Office hours
See the website of Duccio Rocchini