Ecology
A.Y. 2024/2025
Learning objectives
The course aims at providing students with basic knowledge of ecology such as the study of the distribution and abundance of organisms, as well as their interactions. In addition, the attention will be focused on the matter distribution and energy flux in the ecosphere. The aim is to give the students a broad and comprehensive understanding of ecological system functioning at different level of ecological organization, highlighting the interaction among ecology and geography and the effects of the anthropogenic impact. In addition, discussion will be stimulated regarding key topics such as environmental sustainability and the conservation of natural resources.
Expected learning outcomes
At the end of the course students must have acquired the basic elements of ecology as the adaptations of the organisms to the environment, population dynamics, interaction among organisms in a community, the biodiversity concept, the flux of energy and matter distribution in the ecosystems, the anthropogenic impacts on the ecosystems and the environmental sustainability.
Those competences will be acquired by frontal teaching combined with practical activities (laboratories / field excursions) and with workgroups. The development of the communication skills, stimulated by interactive lectures and brief presentations, will also be particularly important.
Those competences will be acquired by frontal teaching combined with practical activities (laboratories / field excursions) and with workgroups. The development of the communication skills, stimulated by interactive lectures and brief presentations, will also be particularly important.
Lesson period: First semester
Assessment methods: Esame
Assessment result: voto verbalizzato in trentesimi
Single course
This course can be attended as a single course.
Course syllabus and organization
Single session
Responsible
Lesson period
First semester
Course syllabus
Ecology: definition and scopes. Levels of ecological organization: organisms, populations, communities and ecosistems, landascape, biomes and biosphere.
Biotic and abiotic stresses; ecophysiology; tolerance and avoidance; acclimatization and adaptation. Sources of energy: autotrophs and heterotrophs.
Evolutionary ecology: definition of fitness and life history traits.
Populations: population dynamics and regulation; exponential and logistic growth; life tables.
Communities: definition and indexes of biodiversity; consequences of biodiversity loss for ecosystem functioning; food webs; ecological successions. Interspecific interactions: generalities; ecological niche and competition; predation and parasitism; commensalism; mutualism; symbiosis; allochthonous and invasive species.
Ecosystems: matter cycling and energy flux in ecosystems; primary and secondary productivity; ecosystem services; anthropogenic impact on the biosphere and environmental sustainability.
Landscape: major components of landscape; patch and corridors; ecological matrix and its characteristics.
Biomes: description of the main terrestrial and aquatic biomes.
Biotic and abiotic stresses; ecophysiology; tolerance and avoidance; acclimatization and adaptation. Sources of energy: autotrophs and heterotrophs.
Evolutionary ecology: definition of fitness and life history traits.
Populations: population dynamics and regulation; exponential and logistic growth; life tables.
Communities: definition and indexes of biodiversity; consequences of biodiversity loss for ecosystem functioning; food webs; ecological successions. Interspecific interactions: generalities; ecological niche and competition; predation and parasitism; commensalism; mutualism; symbiosis; allochthonous and invasive species.
Ecosystems: matter cycling and energy flux in ecosystems; primary and secondary productivity; ecosystem services; anthropogenic impact on the biosphere and environmental sustainability.
Landscape: major components of landscape; patch and corridors; ecological matrix and its characteristics.
Biomes: description of the main terrestrial and aquatic biomes.
Prerequisites for admission
It is a fundamental basic course of ecology. Basic notions of physical geography are taken for granted.
Teaching methods
Frontal teaching will be combined with laboratory activities, field excursions and group works.
Teaching Resources
The reference text for the course is: Cain M.L., Bowman W.D., Hacker S.E. (2017) Ecologia. Piccin.
Suggested readings will be provided during classes.
Lecture presentations will be made available through the ARIEL website.
Suggested readings will be provided during classes.
Lecture presentations will be made available through the ARIEL website.
Assessment methods and Criteria
Learning will be assessed by an oral examination aimed at assessing the knowledge and understanding of the topics discussed during lectures. The evaluation will also take into account the critical thinking skills and the appropriateness of the scientific language.
Marks will be out of thirty.
During the tests, the student cannot consult books, manuals or notes. Students with LSD should contact the teacher to plan compensatory and dispensatory measures, following the guidelines provided by the University.
Marks will be out of thirty.
During the tests, the student cannot consult books, manuals or notes. Students with LSD should contact the teacher to plan compensatory and dispensatory measures, following the guidelines provided by the University.
BIO/07 - ECOLOGY - University credits: 6
Lessons: 48 hours
Professors:
Ambrosini Roberto, Costanzo Alessandra
Professor(s)
Reception:
Tuesday 10-12 am by appointment to be requested via email a few days before
tower C, 6th floor, Via Celoria 26