88369 - Ecology

Learning outcomes

The course is aimed at the comprehension of the fundamental principles of how ecological systems work. It will focus on the ecological problems caused by human activities as well. Fundamental and applied aspect of ecology will be empathized. An understanding of the scope of the problems facing us (climate change, unsustainable use of resources, pollution, extinctions and the erosion of natural biodiversity) and the means to counter and solve these problems depend on a proper grasp of ecological fundamentals. Although we will analyze all the main types of ecosystems, we will work in particular on river ecosystems and their basin. We will cover concepts such as sustainable development, ecosystem services, environmental monitoring in detail.

Course contents

1) Introduction: the cultural roots of ecology, the aims of ecology, the levels of ecological organization, temporal and spatial scales, ecology as a science, ecological methods and tools

2) Interactions between organisms and their environment: ecological niche, life cycles and energy acquisition

3) The populations: life histories, growth models, life cycles, carrying capacity, the concept of metapopulation, examples of methods of sampling and estimations

4) Biotic interactions: competition, predation, parasitism, facilitation and other positive interactions, direct and indirect interactions

5) Communities and biodiversity: community structure, ecological successions, distribution, biodiversity and biodiversity indices, factors affecting biodiversity.

6) Ecosystems and their dynamics: food chains and food webs, ecosystem functioning, trophic cascades, disturbances and resilience, regime shifts, alternative stable states.

7) Ecosystem, general concepts: energy flow, biogeochemical cycles, biomass on earth, decomposition and detritivores, biomes, microclimate and Biotic pump.

8) Different types of ecosystems: lentic ecosystems abiotic dynamics, lentic ecosystems communities, terrestrial ecosystems, biomes and microclimate.

9) River ecosystems: lotic environments and their catchments: Hydrology, geomorphology and river community.

10) Natural depuration process (NBSs): riparian ecotones, characteristics and function, wetlands, natural phytodepuration systems, other NBSs.

11) Threats to biological diversity: habitat degradation and loss, pollution, eutrophication, overexploitation of natural resources, invasive species, climate changes.

12) Introduction to conservation biology: the natural capital, ecosystem goods and services

13) Conservation of populations and ecosystems: vulnerability and conservation status, reintroductions, restorations, protected areas, spatial planning, current legislations, examples of management of anthropogenic exploitation, success conservation and management stories, monitoring

Readings/Bibliography

- Elements of Ecology, Global Edition - 2015 - TM Smith, RL Smith. Pearson Education, 9th Edition.

- Essentials of Ecology - 2014 - M Begon, RW Howarth, CR Townsend. Wiley, 4th Edition.

These textbooks are intended to be used for deepening some specific topics at the discretion of the students, and are not necessary to study and pass the exam.

Other textbooks for potential further deepening:

- Elementi di Ecologia - 2023 - TM Smith, RL Smith. Pearson Education Italy, 10th edition. In Italian, with Italian case studies.

Other bibliographical recommendations will be provided by the teachers during the classes.

Power-point presentations and other teaching material will be provided during the classes.

Teaching methods

The course is comprised of 6 CFU: 3 CFU will be covered by Prof. Michele Casini, 3 CFU by Prof. Bruna Gumiero. Prof. Casini will mainly cover the topics 1-6 (module 1), while Prof. Gumiero the topics 7-10 (module 2). The topics 11-13 will be covered by both teachers.

The course will be run prevailingly in the form of frontal teaching, with the potential support of discussion groups of selected scientific papers of interest and exercises in the class.

Assessment methods

The exam will cover all the topics of the course. The exam will assess knowledge about the structure and functioning of natural systems (populations, communities, ecosystems), their conservation and management of anthropogenic pressures. The material provided by the teachers is enough to study and pass the exam.

There will be 1 written exam session (which will take place at the end of the course tentatively in January and will include questions both closed and open) and 3 oral exams. The final mark will result from the mean of the evaluations obtained in the 2 modules. The final evaluation is expressed in 30ies.

The dates of the exams will be posted on the site Almaesami. Students can book for the examination exclusively using the procedures provided by the online system Alma Exams (https://almaesami.unibo.it/almaesami/welcome.htm ) respecting the given deadlines.

Student's score for the written exam will be registered on the date indicated in Almaesami. In that occasion, it will be possible to see the exam and ask explanations.

Teaching tools

Black- or whiteboard, projector, power-point presentations

Office hours

See the website of Michele Casini

See the website of Bruna Gumiero