Major goals of this course are the achievement of solid skills in the various sectors of ecology (such as ecosystem, community and population ecology); solid training in basic ecology and applied ecology address to promote the protection, conservation and enhancement of natural resources; the strengthening and application of previously acquired knowledge (such as Botany and Zoology) in an ecological context; field observation and analysis of ecological issues; the development of interest in ecological questions in relation to man and environment; to develop basic elements for the collection, organization and interpretation of ecological data, both in laboratory and in field.
teacher profile teaching materials
Ecosystem ecology: factors related to distribution of biomes. The main terrestrial biomes. Biomes and climate change. Ecology of ecosystems. Energy in ecosystems. Thermodynamic aspects of energy flows. Trophic structure. Production and productivity. Primary and secondary production. Methods for measuring primary productivity. Ecological pyramids. Biogeochemical cycles. Main biogeochemical cycles. Changes to biogeochemical cycles related to anthropic activities.
Community ecology: Community structure. Community analysis methods. Community dynamics. Ecological successions. Methods for studying succession. Diversity. Meaning and calculation of diversity. The factors that regulate diversity. Diversity in different ecosystems. Threats to biodiversity. Red lists of endangered species. The exotic species. Examples in Italian flora and fauna. Bioindicators.
Population ecology. Population structure and dynamics. Selection r and k. Inter-specific relationship interactions. Interspecific competition and ecological niche. Physical environment and organism-environment relations. Ecological factors. Response of organisms to environmental factors. Stress-Disturbance. The C-S-R strategies.
Ecosystems conservation and management. Biodiversity Conservation. Introduction to conservation ecology. Protected areas.
Introduction to landscape ecology. Landscape structure and landscape dynamics, landscape and ecosystem management.
Introduction to urban ecology. Major features of urban ecosystems.
CAIN, M. BOWMAN, W. & HACKER, S. 2017. ECOLOGIA. PICCIN
The material will be indicated by the teacher during the lessons
Programme
Looking at nature through different perspectives: ecological principles from ecosystems to populations, origin and development of ecology as a science. Ecology as a group of subdisciplines.Ecosystem ecology: factors related to distribution of biomes. The main terrestrial biomes. Biomes and climate change. Ecology of ecosystems. Energy in ecosystems. Thermodynamic aspects of energy flows. Trophic structure. Production and productivity. Primary and secondary production. Methods for measuring primary productivity. Ecological pyramids. Biogeochemical cycles. Main biogeochemical cycles. Changes to biogeochemical cycles related to anthropic activities.
Community ecology: Community structure. Community analysis methods. Community dynamics. Ecological successions. Methods for studying succession. Diversity. Meaning and calculation of diversity. The factors that regulate diversity. Diversity in different ecosystems. Threats to biodiversity. Red lists of endangered species. The exotic species. Examples in Italian flora and fauna. Bioindicators.
Population ecology. Population structure and dynamics. Selection r and k. Inter-specific relationship interactions. Interspecific competition and ecological niche. Physical environment and organism-environment relations. Ecological factors. Response of organisms to environmental factors. Stress-Disturbance. The C-S-R strategies.
Ecosystems conservation and management. Biodiversity Conservation. Introduction to conservation ecology. Protected areas.
Introduction to landscape ecology. Landscape structure and landscape dynamics, landscape and ecosystem management.
Introduction to urban ecology. Major features of urban ecosystems.
Core Documentation
SMITH, T. & SMITH, R. 2017. ELEMENTI DI ECOLOGIA. PEARSON-B. CUMMINGSCAIN, M. BOWMAN, W. & HACKER, S. 2017. ECOLOGIA. PICCIN
The material will be indicated by the teacher during the lessons
Reference Bibliography
COTGRERAVE, P. & FORSETH, I. 2004. INTRODUZIONE ALLA ECOLOGIA. ZANICHELLI. TOWNSEND, C., HARPER, J. & BEGON, M. 2000. L'ESSENZIALE DI ECOLOGIA. ZANICHELLI. CHELAZZI, G., PROVINI A, & SANTINI G. 2004. ECOLOGIA, dagli organismi agli ecosistemi. Ed. Ambrosiana BULLINI, PIGNATTI & VIRZO DE SANTO. 1998. ECOLOGIA GENERALE. UTET. The material will be indicated by the teacher during the lessonsType of delivery of the course
Classroom exercises: students bring laptops to carry out exercises on ecological sequences, on biological forms, on diversity and on animal and plant populations. The results are subsequently projected and discussed. Monothematic seminars on current ecology issues: Biodiversity, threats and responses; Air quality in the territory of Roma Capitale: results achieved and critical issues still existing; Communicate in ecology ?; Remote sensing in Ecology; Biodiversity and global climate changeType of evaluation
Learning verification takes place through a written test lasting 2 hours. The writing is organized through open questions aimed at verifying the level of effective understanding of the concepts and the students' ability to apply them in real contexts. The teacher then analyzes and discusses the task with each student. teacher profile teaching materials
Programme
distribution and dispersion; density, structure (genetic and demographic) and population dynamics; time table; interactions between speciesCore Documentation
Elementi di Ecologia, Thomas M. Smith & Robert L. Smith (Autore). PearsonReference Bibliography
teaching material provided during the courseType of delivery of the course
forntal lessons and exercises in classroomAttendance
attendance is strongly requestedType of evaluation
multiple choice questions and free choice questions teacher profile teaching materials
Programme
From communities to populations. Community ecology. Analysis of the structure of a community. Community analysis methods. Community dynamics. Ecological successions. Methods of studying successions. Diversity. Meaning and calculation of biodiversity. The factors that regulate diversity. Diversity in different ecosystems. Threats to biodiversity. Red lists of threatened species. Conservation of biodiversity. Introduction to conservation ecology. Protected areas. Exotic species. Examples in the Italian flora and fauna. Bioindicators. Population ecology. Population structure and dynamics. Selection r and k. Interactions intraspecific relationships. Interspecific competition and ecological niche. Physical environment and organism-environment relationships. The ecological factors. Response of organisms to environmental factors. Disturbance and stress. CSR strategies.Core Documentation
The material will be indicated by the teacher during the lessons.Reference Bibliography
SMITH, T. & SMITH, R. 2017. ELEMENTI DI ECOLOGIA. PEARSON-B. CUMMINGS CAIN, M. BOWMAN, W. & HACKER, S. 2017. ECOLOGIA. PICCINType of delivery of the course
Classroom exercises: students bring laptops to carry out exercises on ecological successions, biological forms, diversity and animal and plant populations. The results are then screened and discussed. Field exercise: visit to a protected area in Lazio.Type of evaluation
Exam consisting of 5 open-ended questions, divided into sub-questions, which touch on the main points of the course programme. teacher profile teaching materials
CAIN, M. BOWMAN, W. & HACKER, S. 2017. ECOLOGIA. PICCIN
Additional material will be possibly suggested by the lecturer during class.
Programme
Quantitative methods to address the analysis of biological diversity. Analysis of community structure. Strategies of biodiversity conservation. Ecological successions and methodological approaches for their study. Taxonomic and functional diversity indices for the analysis of alpha- and beta diversity. Rank-abundance curves. Pairwise dissimilarity indices.Core Documentation
SMITH, T. & SMITH, R. 2017. ELEMENTI DI ECOLOGIA. PEARSON-B. CUMMINGSCAIN, M. BOWMAN, W. & HACKER, S. 2017. ECOLOGIA. PICCIN
Additional material will be possibly suggested by the lecturer during class.
Reference Bibliography
SMITH, T. & SMITH, R. 2017. ELEMENTI DI ECOLOGIA. PEARSON-B. CUMMINGS CAIN, M. BOWMAN, W. & HACKER, S. 2017. ECOLOGIA. PICCIN Additional material will be possibly suggested by the lecturer during class.Type of delivery of the course
Live workshops: students bring their laptops to solve exercises on: calculation of diversity indices (alpha and beta), biological forms, ecological successions. After solving the exercises, results are projected and discussed.Attendance
Course attendance is highly recommended to facilitate understanding and maximize learning of the topics covered.Type of evaluation
Correct resolution of the exercises and active participation to the discussion of the results.