07177 - Applied Ecology

Learning outcomes

An integrated vision of the environment and the relationship between natural/artificial environment and the interaction man-environment are provided and recognized. 

Course contents

Analysis of the environmental paths, natural and controlled, of elements and substances.

Environmental stress, disturbs and damages.

Trophic level and ecological assessment degree evaluation. Food web biomanipulation.

Chemical and physical monitoring and biomonitoring of the different compartments water, air, soil. Within the biomonitoring: use of indexes of dissimilarity and biological indexes, structural and functional indexes, integrated indexes and staircases of quality applied to real cases. The biological information offered by the tests of acute and chronic ecotoxicity.

Waste water treatment plant technical arrangements. Use of macrophytes in water pollution control (Constructed Wetlands, Reed Beds, Treatment Wetlands and converted natural wetlands).

Solid waste recovery and disposal.

Models for pollutants mobility in nature. Risk assessment.

Intervention in nature and landscape environmental engineering finalized to nature conservation and/or restoration.

Old hazardous sites bio-remediation.

The transformation of the natural ecosystems in artificial environments and in controled environments.

Readings/Bibliography

Provini, Galassi e Marchetti. Ecologia Applicata. CittàStudi Edizioni, Milano.

R. Vismara. Ecologia Applicata, Hoepli, Milano

The didactic material will furnish more adjourned on computer support or they will be furnished exact indication of the official sites in which the normative ones are available

Teaching methods

Frontal lessons. 

Demonstrations in the classroom or in the laboratory .

Field activity .

Assessment methods

Dialogues conclusive test

Teaching tools

Laboratory for the application of prcessing models of the theoretical and experimental loads; Indice Biotico Esteso; Model of transience of MacKey; Acute ecotoxicology tests with Daphnia magna and Vibrio fisheri.

Use of the computer support for the execution of tests and data processing

Office hours

See the website of Gianpaolo Salmoiraghi