Environmental Systems and Anthropic Impact
A.Y. 2022/2023
Learning objectives
The general aim of the teaching is to allow the student to link environmental problems to anthropogenic impacts in a multidisciplinary perspective. The student is guided by lectures and critical analysis of real case studies, scientific literature and Internet, by interaction with professionals in scientific dissemination, and by carrying out hands-on exercises and journal clubs. Particularly, this course aims to: i) describe the role of plants and microbiomes in environmental processes: ii) elucidate the impact of anthropogenic and natural disturbances on plant and microbial ecosystems; ii) describe contamination sources and explain how physic-chemical properties and reactivity of contaminants affect living organisms and influence their fate in soil, water and atmosphere.
Expected learning outcomes
Knowledge and understanding. At the end of the course, students will be able to:
o understand the role of plants and microbial communities in environmental processes and explain how they are impacted by anthropic activities and natural events
o recognize the main classes of organic and inorganic contaminants released in the environment, explain their toxicity against microbes, plants and animals, and predict their fate in soil, water and atmosphere
o evaluate plant responses to contaminant-induced stress and select their main characteristics for potential use as pollutant bioindicators
o critically assess the exposure-effects-risks attributable to anthropogenic impacts by theoretical knowledge of main analytical techniques and statistical approaches used in environmental research
o communicate to peers and speak in public
o work in teams
o understand the role of plants and microbial communities in environmental processes and explain how they are impacted by anthropic activities and natural events
o recognize the main classes of organic and inorganic contaminants released in the environment, explain their toxicity against microbes, plants and animals, and predict their fate in soil, water and atmosphere
o evaluate plant responses to contaminant-induced stress and select their main characteristics for potential use as pollutant bioindicators
o critically assess the exposure-effects-risks attributable to anthropogenic impacts by theoretical knowledge of main analytical techniques and statistical approaches used in environmental research
o communicate to peers and speak in public
o work in teams
Lesson period: Second semester
Assessment methods: Esame
Assessment result: voto verbalizzato in trentesimi
Single course
This course cannot be attended as a single course. Please check our list of single courses to find the ones available for enrolment.
Course syllabus and organization
Not activated for 2022/2023 academic year
Responsible
Lesson period
Second semester
Prerequisites for admission
Basic concepts in plant physiology and biochemistry.
Biology/General Microbiology. General and inorganic chemistry.
Students could contact the lecturer to obtain indications about texts and bibliographic references useful for filling eventual knowledge gaps.
Biology/General Microbiology. General and inorganic chemistry.
Students could contact the lecturer to obtain indications about texts and bibliographic references useful for filling eventual knowledge gaps.
Assessment methods and Criteria
The exam, either for attending or not attending students, consists of two sequential parts: 1) Multiple choice questions (10 questions for each discipline) (grade out of thirty), 2) Presentation by a graphic software e.g. Power Point (approximately 30 minutes) about the state of the art of relevant insights chosen together with the lecturer (grade out of thirty). The final grade will be the average of the two parts.
Environmental plant physiology and microbial ecosystems
Course syllabus
Plant-environment interactions: i) general knowledge about anthropological source of pollution (0.5 CFU); ii) main ways related to the uptake and translocation of pollutants into the plant (1 CFU).
Plant response to organic and Inorganic Pollutants: i) uptake, ii) metabolism, iii) toxicity and iv) detoxification processes. Mineral nutrition and nutrient use efficiency as a tool to reduce fertilizer-derived pollution. (2 CFU).
Techniques to study the impact of pollution on plant metabolism and basic knowledge about metabolomic approaches and data analysis (1CFU practical lessons).
Plants as bioindicators of environmental pollution: i) Main characteristics of a bioindicator, ii) Lower plants and higher plants as pollution bioindicators (0.5 CFU).
Global microbial biodiversity: biogeography and distribution of microbial ecosystems . Metagenomic methods in environmental microbiology (0.5 CFU).
Role of bacterial guilds in biogeochemical cycles in agricultural and natural environments (1CFU);
Impact of human activities on the environmental microbiota: fecal contamination and dispertion of pathogens, use of antibiotics, deterioration of soils and water quality (contaminants and salinity) (1 CFU).
Alteration of microbial reactions in climate change scenarios (0.5 CFU).
Ecosystem services: microorganisms in sustainable agronomic practices to preserve organic matter and water resources (0.5 CFU).
Biochar and carbon farming: effects on soil miobiomes (0.5 CFU).
Soft skills (1 CFU, practical): scientific dissemination, communication plan and strategies to civil society . In-depth study of a subject: scientific literature reading and comprehension, public speach. DNA sequence analyses and big data. Seminars .
Plant response to organic and Inorganic Pollutants: i) uptake, ii) metabolism, iii) toxicity and iv) detoxification processes. Mineral nutrition and nutrient use efficiency as a tool to reduce fertilizer-derived pollution. (2 CFU).
Techniques to study the impact of pollution on plant metabolism and basic knowledge about metabolomic approaches and data analysis (1CFU practical lessons).
Plants as bioindicators of environmental pollution: i) Main characteristics of a bioindicator, ii) Lower plants and higher plants as pollution bioindicators (0.5 CFU).
Global microbial biodiversity: biogeography and distribution of microbial ecosystems . Metagenomic methods in environmental microbiology (0.5 CFU).
Role of bacterial guilds in biogeochemical cycles in agricultural and natural environments (1CFU);
Impact of human activities on the environmental microbiota: fecal contamination and dispertion of pathogens, use of antibiotics, deterioration of soils and water quality (contaminants and salinity) (1 CFU).
Alteration of microbial reactions in climate change scenarios (0.5 CFU).
Ecosystem services: microorganisms in sustainable agronomic practices to preserve organic matter and water resources (0.5 CFU).
Biochar and carbon farming: effects on soil miobiomes (0.5 CFU).
Soft skills (1 CFU, practical): scientific dissemination, communication plan and strategies to civil society . In-depth study of a subject: scientific literature reading and comprehension, public speach. DNA sequence analyses and big data. Seminars .
Teaching methods
Frontal lessons, laboratory/class practices, thematic insights proposed to students (organization in small groups to discuss, analyze and report in the classroom the results achieved)
Teaching Resources
Scientific papers, reviews, and slides will be provided during the course. E-learning material will be present on the Ariel platform of the course. Text books:
- Singh, P., Singh, S. K., & Prasad, S. M. (Eds.). (2020). Plant responses to soil pollution. Springer, ISBN: 978-981-15-4963-2
- Willey, N. (2018). Environmental plant physiology. Garland Science, ISBN: 978-0-8153-4469-8
- B.A. Markert, A.M. Breure and H.G. Zechmeister (Eds.) (2003). Bioindicators & Biomonitors: Principles, Concepts and Applications. Elsevier, Academic Press, ISBN: 0080441777
- M.T. Madigan, J.M. Martinko, K.S. Bender, D.H. Buckley, D.A. Stahl. Brock - Biology of Microorganisms/Biologia dei Microrganismi. XVI ed. Ed. Pearson (English or Italian versions)
- Singh, P., Singh, S. K., & Prasad, S. M. (Eds.). (2020). Plant responses to soil pollution. Springer, ISBN: 978-981-15-4963-2
- Willey, N. (2018). Environmental plant physiology. Garland Science, ISBN: 978-0-8153-4469-8
- B.A. Markert, A.M. Breure and H.G. Zechmeister (Eds.) (2003). Bioindicators & Biomonitors: Principles, Concepts and Applications. Elsevier, Academic Press, ISBN: 0080441777
- M.T. Madigan, J.M. Martinko, K.S. Bender, D.H. Buckley, D.A. Stahl. Brock - Biology of Microorganisms/Biologia dei Microrganismi. XVI ed. Ed. Pearson (English or Italian versions)
Environmental chemistry
Course syllabus
Definitions of primary and secondary pollutants, macro- and micro-pollutants.
Environmental compartments: water, soil, air. Water compartment: water chemistry, alkalinity and acidity, oxidation reactions, reduction, complexation and chelation (0.5 CFU). The atmosphere: physical characteristics, chemical and photochemical reactions. Soil compartments and chemical aspects (0.5 CFU).
Main classes of pollutants. Organic pollutants in water and soil compartments: hydrocarbons, polymers, pesticides, oils and lubricants. Polychlorophenols and their derivatives (polychlorobiphenyls, furans and dioxins). Polychlorinated compounds as organic micro-pollutants. Surfactants (1 CFU).
Organic pollutants of the atmosphere: aliphatic hydrocarbons and simple and polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons. Biogenetic hydrocarbons. Gasoline: additives, combustion by-products (0.5 CFU). Transformations and fate of hydrocarbons in the atmosphere: photochemical smog. Oxygen, sulfur and nitrogen derivatives as products of photochemical combustion and oxidation reactions: acid rain . Alternative energy sources. Reactions of halogenated compounds with ozone (0.5 CFU).
Degradation processes of plant protection products/pollutants in the environment. Persistence, solubility, adsorption, transport, volatilization. Distribution of organic compounds in environmental compartments. Methods for predicting the distribution of pesticides in the environment. Toxicology chemistry (1 CFU).
In-depth study of a subject: scientific literature reading and comprehension Seminars (1 CFU, practical)
Environmental compartments: water, soil, air. Water compartment: water chemistry, alkalinity and acidity, oxidation reactions, reduction, complexation and chelation (0.5 CFU). The atmosphere: physical characteristics, chemical and photochemical reactions. Soil compartments and chemical aspects (0.5 CFU).
Main classes of pollutants. Organic pollutants in water and soil compartments: hydrocarbons, polymers, pesticides, oils and lubricants. Polychlorophenols and their derivatives (polychlorobiphenyls, furans and dioxins). Polychlorinated compounds as organic micro-pollutants. Surfactants (1 CFU).
Organic pollutants of the atmosphere: aliphatic hydrocarbons and simple and polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons. Biogenetic hydrocarbons. Gasoline: additives, combustion by-products (0.5 CFU). Transformations and fate of hydrocarbons in the atmosphere: photochemical smog. Oxygen, sulfur and nitrogen derivatives as products of photochemical combustion and oxidation reactions: acid rain . Alternative energy sources. Reactions of halogenated compounds with ozone (0.5 CFU).
Degradation processes of plant protection products/pollutants in the environment. Persistence, solubility, adsorption, transport, volatilization. Distribution of organic compounds in environmental compartments. Methods for predicting the distribution of pesticides in the environment. Toxicology chemistry (1 CFU).
In-depth study of a subject: scientific literature reading and comprehension Seminars (1 CFU, practical)
Teaching methods
Frontal lessons and laboratory/class practices, thematic insights proposed to students (organization in small groups to discuss, analyze and report in the classroom the results achieved)
Teaching Resources
Scientific papers, reviews, and slides will be provided during the course. E-learning material will be present on the Ariel platform of the course. Text book: S. Manahan - Environmental Chemistry, X edition, Ed. CRC Press (English version) or - Chimica Ambientale, I edizione, Ed. Piccin. (Italian version).
Environmental chemistry
CHIM/06 - ORGANIC CHEMISTRY - University credits: 5
Practicals: 16 hours
Lessons: 32 hours
Lessons: 32 hours
Environmental plant physiology and microbial ecosystems
AGR/13 - AGRICULTURAL CHEMISTRY
AGR/16 - AGRICULTURAL MICROBIOLOGY
AGR/16 - AGRICULTURAL MICROBIOLOGY
Practicals: 32 hours
Lessons: 64 hours
Lessons: 64 hours