96465 - Habitat and Ecosystem Services in Agricultural Landscapes

Learning outcomes

This module aims to provide students with approaches and methods to understand and interpret the cultural landscape in terms of habitat, biodiversity and ecosystem services. In particular, the course will focus on the plant component (flora and vegetation) of the main habitats associated with cultural landscapes and on the relationships between biodiversity, functions and services of ecosystems.

Course contents

Introduction.

Landscape as an ecological concept.

Basic concepts of flora and vegetation to understand the landscape.
Flora: native, alien and cultivated species. Vegetation: composition, structure, and dynamics. Vegetation and habitats. Seminatural habitats. Habitat of the Directive 92/43/EEC."

Abiotic and biotic factors affecting structure and dynamics of the landscape. Humans and landscape. The agricultural transformation of the territory over time and space. Global changes (particularly in land use and land cover) and their effects on landscapes and habitats.

Biodiversity and landscape. Ecosystem Services.
Forms of landscape protection and the sustainable use of resources.

Types of landscapes. Cultural landscapes. Rural landscapes and historical rural landscapes: case studies.

Readings/Bibliography

• Slides presented during the lectures. 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.
  
• Ferrari C., Pezzi G. 2013. L’ecologia del paesaggio. Il Mulino Universale Paperbacks.
• Agnoletti M., 2010. Paesaggio rurale: strumenti per la pianificazione strategica. Edagricole, Bologna (selected chapters).
  

Further readings

• Mauseth J.D., 2020. Botanica. Fondamenti di biologia delle piante. IV Italian Ed. Ildenson-Gnocchi, Napoli. Chapters: 27, 28, 29.
• Pasqua G., Abbate G., Forni C., 2019. Botanica generale e diversità vegetale. IV Ed. Piccin, Padova. Chapters: 16, 21, 22, 24, 25, 26.
  Agnoletti M., 2011. Paesaggi rurali storici: per un catalogo nazionale. Laterza, Bari (selected chapters).
  
  

Teaching methods

• Class lectures on theoretical concepts and methodological approaches.
• Field excursion to acquire practical experience (also with the help of local experts) on the various theoretical aspects covered in the course through the analysis of a case study. 
• Group discussion of case studies proposed by the lecturer or by the students.
  
• Seminar.

 

PLEASE NOTE:

“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

Learning will be assessed through an oral examination. The exam consists of two parts, both of which must be taken during the same exam session.

The grade, expressed in thirtieths, will then be averaged with the grade from the other component of the integrated course taught by Professor Cristina Giuliani (96466 - Biocultural Variations and the Evolution of Food Systems)

 

Description of the type of assessment and assessment evaluation:

Oral examination consisting in: 1) presentation 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 during the course. 

The purpose of the project/report presentation and the answers to the two questions is to assess 1) the practical and theoretical skills acquired by the student through the course and 2) the capacity to apply the acquired knowledge to interpret the territory, its habitats, biodiversity and ecosystem services.

 

Assessment criteria:

• An excellent evaluation will be awarded to students who demonstrate a comprehensive, coherent, and well-reasoned understanding of the topics covered, as well as the ability to articulate their ideas with clarity and precision.
• A fair evaluation will be assigned to those whose expression is generally appropriate but occasionally imprecise, and whose knowledge tends to be mechanical or based primarily on memorization.
• A sufficient mark will be given in cases of limited knowledge and inadequate linguistic expression.
• Serious deficiencies in both content knowledge and language use will result in a poor evaluation.

 

Students with learning disorders and\or temporary or permanent disabilities:

please, contact the office responsible (https://site.unibo.it/studenti-con-disabilita-e-dsa/en/for-students ) as soon as possible so that they can propose acceptable adjustments. The request for adaptation must be submitted in advance (15 days before the exam date) to the lecturer, who will assess the appropriateness of the adjustments, taking into account the teaching objectives.

Teaching tools

• Slides presented during the lectures.
• Acta Plantarum (www.actaplantarum.org) and Dryades (www.dryades.units.it) for plant species identification.
• GoogleEarth, WebGIS and interactive cartography supporting the analysis of case studies.
• Virtual learning platform (https://virtuale.unibo.it)
• Spreadsheets (e.g. Excel), word processor program (e.g. Word), slideshow presentation program (e.g. Power Point).
• Photographs.

The students are required to bring their own PC during the case study discussion.

 

Office hours

See the website of Giovanna Pezzi