Scienze Ambientali | ECOLOGY

cod. 0512700017

ECOLOGY

	0512700017
	DEPARTMENT OF CHEMISTRY AND BIOLOGY "ADOLFO ZAMBELLI"
	EQF6
	ENVIRONMENTAL SCIENCES
	2022/2023

PERCORSO SHARED STUDY PATHWAY Cohort 2020/2021

	OBBLIGATORIO
	YEAR OF COURSE 3
	YEAR OF DIDACTIC SYSTEM 2016
	FULL ACADEMIC YEAR

TEACHING UNITS

	SSD	CFU	HOURS	ACTIVITY	TYPE OF ACTIVITY
1	ECOLOGIA (MODULO DI ECOLOGIA)
	BIO/07	5	40	LESSONS	COMPULSORY SUBJECTS, CHARACTERISTIC OF THE CLASS
	BIO/07	1	12	LAB	COMPULSORY SUBJECTS, CHARACTERISTIC OF THE CLASS
2	ECOLOGIA APPLICATA (MODULO DI ECOLOGIA)
	BIO/07	5	40	LESSONS	COMPULSORY SUBJECTS, CHARACTERISTIC OF THE CLASS
	BIO/07	1	12	EXERCISES	COMPULSORY SUBJECTS, CHARACTERISTIC OF THE CLASS

EXAMS

	Exam	Date	Session
	ECOLOGIA II MOD.	21/04/2023 - 14:30	SESSIONE ORDINARIA

	Objectives
	THE COURSE OF ECOLOGY (MODULE 1 + MODULE 2) ASPIRES TO PROVIDE BASIC AND DEEP KNOWLEDGES ON THE STRUCTURE AND FUNCTIONING OF AQUATIC AND TERRESTRIAL ECOSYSTEMS, AIMED TO THE EVALUATION AND PREVENTION OF ENVIRONMENTAL RISKS, AS WELL AS TO THE MANAGEMENT AND CONSERVATION OF ENVIRONMENTAL RESOURCES. MODULE 1 AIMS TO: - PROVIDE BASIC KNOWLEDGE ABOUT DIFFERENT ORGANIZATION LEVELS OF ECOLOGY (FROM ORGANISMS TO ECOSYSTEMS); - PROVIDE BASIC KNOWLEDGE ON THE STRUCTURE AND FUNCTIONING OF BOTH AQUATIC AND TERRESTRIAL ECOSYSTEMS, IN NATURAL CONDITIONS; - DEVELOP CAPACITY FOR THE ANALYSIS AND UNDERSTANDING OF ECOLOGICAL PROCESSES; - COLLECT, ANALYZE AND INTERPRET DATA DERIVED FROM ENVIRONMENTAL MONITORING; - DEVELOP CAPACITY TO UNDERSTAND AND COMMUNICATE IN THE SPECIFIC LANGUAGES OF ENVIRONMENTAL DISCIPLINES; - TRAINING THE CONSULTATION OF INTERNATIONAL LITERATURE FOR A CONTINUOUS SCIENTIFIC AND METHODOLOGICAL UPDATE. MODULE 2 AIMS TO: - PROVIDE DEEP KNOWLEDGE ABOUT THE ECOLOGICAL CHARACTERISTICS OF ENVIRONMENTAL COMPONENTS (ATMOSPHERE, HYDROSPHERES, PEDOSPHERE, BIOSPHERE) IN BOTH NATURAL AND ANTROPOGENIC CONDITIONS; - DEVELOP CAPABILITY FOR THE ANALYSIS AND UNDERSTANDING OF ENVIRONMENTAL PROBLEMS, OPERATING WITH HIGH AUTONOMY; - DEVELOP BEHAVIORS FOR MANAGEMENT AND CONSERVATION OF ECOSYSTEMS, PREPARING TO OPERATE IN SYNERGY WITH OTHER EXPERTS; - APPLY THE KNOWLEDGE ACQUIRED TO PROPOSE NEW RESEARCH LINES AND RESOLVE PROBLEMS REGARDING BOTH THE NATURAL AND ANTHROPOGENIC ENVIRONMENT.

THE COURSE OF ECOLOGY (MODULE 1 + MODULE 2) ASPIRES TO PROVIDE BASIC AND DEEP KNOWLEDGES ON THE STRUCTURE AND FUNCTIONING OF AQUATIC AND TERRESTRIAL ECOSYSTEMS, AIMED TO THE EVALUATION AND PREVENTION OF ENVIRONMENTAL RISKS, AS WELL AS TO THE MANAGEMENT AND CONSERVATION OF ENVIRONMENTAL RESOURCES.
MODULE 1 AIMS TO:
- PROVIDE BASIC KNOWLEDGE ABOUT DIFFERENT ORGANIZATION LEVELS OF ECOLOGY (FROM ORGANISMS TO ECOSYSTEMS);
- PROVIDE BASIC KNOWLEDGE ON THE STRUCTURE AND FUNCTIONING OF BOTH AQUATIC AND TERRESTRIAL ECOSYSTEMS, IN NATURAL CONDITIONS;
- DEVELOP CAPACITY FOR THE ANALYSIS AND UNDERSTANDING OF ECOLOGICAL PROCESSES;
- COLLECT, ANALYZE AND INTERPRET DATA DERIVED FROM ENVIRONMENTAL MONITORING;
- DEVELOP CAPACITY TO UNDERSTAND AND COMMUNICATE IN THE SPECIFIC LANGUAGES OF ENVIRONMENTAL DISCIPLINES;
- TRAINING THE CONSULTATION OF INTERNATIONAL LITERATURE FOR A CONTINUOUS SCIENTIFIC AND METHODOLOGICAL UPDATE.
MODULE 2 AIMS TO:
- PROVIDE DEEP KNOWLEDGE ABOUT THE ECOLOGICAL CHARACTERISTICS OF ENVIRONMENTAL COMPONENTS (ATMOSPHERE, HYDROSPHERES, PEDOSPHERE, BIOSPHERE) IN BOTH NATURAL AND ANTROPOGENIC CONDITIONS;
- DEVELOP CAPABILITY FOR THE ANALYSIS AND UNDERSTANDING OF ENVIRONMENTAL PROBLEMS, OPERATING WITH HIGH AUTONOMY;
- DEVELOP BEHAVIORS FOR MANAGEMENT AND CONSERVATION OF ECOSYSTEMS, PREPARING TO OPERATE IN SYNERGY WITH OTHER EXPERTS;
- APPLY THE KNOWLEDGE ACQUIRED TO PROPOSE NEW RESEARCH LINES AND RESOLVE PROBLEMS REGARDING BOTH THE NATURAL AND ANTHROPOGENIC ENVIRONMENT.

	Prerequisites
	WHIT A VIEW TO UNDERSTANDING AND APPLYING THE MAJORITY OF SUBJECTS COVERED IN THE COURSE, IT IS NEEDED TO HAVE ACQUIRED KNOWLEDGE ON: MODULE 1 - BASIC PLANT, ANIMAL AND MICROBIAL BIOLOGY, BASIC INORGANIC AND ORGANIC CHEMISTRY. MODULE 2 - MATHEMATICS, PHYSICS AND ECOLOGY (MODULE 1).

	Contents
	MODULE 1: THE COURSE INCLUDES 52 HOURS OF TEACHING, SHARED IN CLASSROOM-TAUGHT LESSONS (40 HOURS), AND IN FIELD EXCURSIONS AND LABORATORY ACTIVITIES (12 HOURS), DURING WHICH THE STUDENTS VERIFY WHAT THE PROFESSOR INTRODUCES DURING THE CLASSROOM-TAUGHT LESSONS. THE SUBJECTS DEALT IN CLASSROOM-TAUGHT LESSONS ARE: -THE STRUCTURE AND FUNCTIONS OF ECOSYSTEMS (3 hours); -THE LEVELS OF ORGANISATION: ORGANISMS, POPULATIONS, COMMUNITIES (3 hours); -INTERACTIONS BETWEEN ORGANISMS AND THEIR ENVIRONMENT (3 hours); -CONDITIONS AND RESOURCES (3 hours); -THE SUBSYSTEM SOIL (3 hours); -POPULATION ECOLOGY (3 hours); -COMPETITION, PREDATION, PARASITISM AND SYMBIOSIS (3 hours); -NATURAL SELECTION AND ADAPTATION (3 hours); -COMMUNITY STRUCTURE AND DEVELOPMENT (3 hours); -THE NICHE CONCEPT (3 hours); -THE FLUX OF ENERGY THROUGH COMMUNITIES (3 hours) -PRIMARY PRODUCTION AND DECOMPOSITION (3 hours) -FOOD CHAINS AND ECOLOGICAL EFFICIENCY c - NUTRIENT CYCLES (3 hours) MODULE 2: THE COURSE INCLUDES 52 HOURS OF TEACHING, SHARED IN CLASSROOM-TAUGHT LESSONS (40 HOURS), AND IN FIELD EXCURSIONS AND LABORATORY ACTIVITIES (12 HOURS), DURING WHICH THE STUDENTS VERIFY WHAT THE PROFESSOR INTRODUCES DURING THE CLASSROOM-TAUGHT LESSONS. THE SUBJECTS DEALT IN CLASSROOM-TAUGHT LESSONS ARE: - ECOLOGICAL CHARACTERISTICS OF THE ENVIRONMENTAL COMPONENTS: ATMOSPHERE, HYDROSPHERE AND PEDOSPHERE (4 hours); - STRUCTURE AND FUNCTIONING OF AGROECOSYSTEMS (4 hours); - URBAN-INDUSTRIAL SYSTEMS (4 hours); - THE IMPACT OF ANTHROPOGENIC ACTIVITIES ON ECOLOGICAL SYSTEMS (4 hours); - ALTERATIONS OF THE MATTER CYCLE (3 hours); - NATURAL AND ANTHROPOGENIC EUTROPHICATION (3 hours); - GLOBAL CLIMATE CHANGES (3 hours); - HOMEOSTASIS OF ECOLOGICAL SYSTEMS (3 hours); - EFFECTS OF AIR, WATER AND SOIL POLLUTION ON BIOLOGICAL COMMUNITIES (3 hours); - THE ROLE OF ORGANISMS IN INTEGRATED SYSTEMS OF POLLUTION MONITORING; BIOAVAILABILITY, BIOINDICATION, BIOACCUMULATION AND BIOMAGNIFICATION (3 hours); - PHYTOREMEDIATION (3 hours); - MANAGEMENT AND CONSERVATION OF ECOSYSTEMS AND BIODIVERSITY (3 hours); THE SUBJECTS DEALT IN FIELD AND LABORATORY ACTIVITIES ARE: PRACTICAL STUDIES WITH FIELD TRIPS, LABORATORY ACTIVITIES AND GUIDED EXCURSIONS AIMED TO EXAM IN DEPTH THE PROCESSES OCCURRING IN THE THREE ENVIRONMENTAL COMPARTMENTS (ATMOSPHERE, HYDROSPHERE AND PEDOSPHERE).

Contents

MODULE 1: THE COURSE INCLUDES 52 HOURS OF TEACHING, SHARED IN CLASSROOM-TAUGHT LESSONS (40 HOURS), AND IN FIELD EXCURSIONS AND LABORATORY ACTIVITIES (12 HOURS), DURING WHICH THE STUDENTS VERIFY WHAT THE PROFESSOR INTRODUCES DURING THE CLASSROOM-TAUGHT LESSONS.
THE SUBJECTS DEALT IN CLASSROOM-TAUGHT LESSONS ARE:
-THE STRUCTURE AND FUNCTIONS OF ECOSYSTEMS (3 hours);
-THE LEVELS OF ORGANISATION: ORGANISMS, POPULATIONS, COMMUNITIES (3 hours);
-INTERACTIONS BETWEEN ORGANISMS AND THEIR ENVIRONMENT (3 hours);
-CONDITIONS AND RESOURCES (3 hours);
-THE SUBSYSTEM SOIL (3 hours);
-POPULATION ECOLOGY (3 hours);
-COMPETITION, PREDATION, PARASITISM AND SYMBIOSIS (3 hours);
-NATURAL SELECTION AND ADAPTATION (3 hours);
-COMMUNITY STRUCTURE AND DEVELOPMENT (3 hours);
-THE NICHE CONCEPT (3 hours);
-THE FLUX OF ENERGY THROUGH COMMUNITIES (3 hours)
-PRIMARY PRODUCTION AND DECOMPOSITION (3 hours)
-FOOD CHAINS AND ECOLOGICAL EFFICIENCY c
- NUTRIENT CYCLES (3 hours)

MODULE 2: THE COURSE INCLUDES 52 HOURS OF TEACHING, SHARED IN CLASSROOM-TAUGHT LESSONS (40 HOURS), AND IN FIELD EXCURSIONS AND LABORATORY ACTIVITIES (12 HOURS), DURING WHICH THE STUDENTS VERIFY WHAT THE PROFESSOR INTRODUCES DURING THE CLASSROOM-TAUGHT LESSONS.
THE SUBJECTS DEALT IN CLASSROOM-TAUGHT LESSONS ARE:
- ECOLOGICAL CHARACTERISTICS OF THE ENVIRONMENTAL COMPONENTS: ATMOSPHERE, HYDROSPHERE AND PEDOSPHERE (4 hours);
- STRUCTURE AND FUNCTIONING OF AGROECOSYSTEMS (4 hours);
- URBAN-INDUSTRIAL SYSTEMS (4 hours);
- THE IMPACT OF ANTHROPOGENIC ACTIVITIES ON ECOLOGICAL SYSTEMS (4 hours);
- ALTERATIONS OF THE MATTER CYCLE (3 hours);
- NATURAL AND ANTHROPOGENIC EUTROPHICATION (3 hours);
- GLOBAL CLIMATE CHANGES (3 hours);
- HOMEOSTASIS OF ECOLOGICAL SYSTEMS (3 hours);
- EFFECTS OF AIR, WATER AND SOIL POLLUTION ON BIOLOGICAL COMMUNITIES (3 hours);
- THE ROLE OF ORGANISMS IN INTEGRATED SYSTEMS OF POLLUTION MONITORING; BIOAVAILABILITY, BIOINDICATION, BIOACCUMULATION AND BIOMAGNIFICATION (3 hours);
- PHYTOREMEDIATION (3 hours);
- MANAGEMENT AND CONSERVATION OF ECOSYSTEMS AND BIODIVERSITY (3 hours);

THE SUBJECTS DEALT IN FIELD AND LABORATORY ACTIVITIES ARE: PRACTICAL STUDIES WITH FIELD TRIPS, LABORATORY ACTIVITIES AND GUIDED EXCURSIONS AIMED TO EXAM IN DEPTH THE PROCESSES OCCURRING IN THE THREE ENVIRONMENTAL COMPARTMENTS (ATMOSPHERE, HYDROSPHERE AND PEDOSPHERE).

	Teaching Methods
	MODULE 1: THE COURSE PROVIDES 52 TEACHING HOURS (6 ECTS), COMPRISING LESSONS AND PRACTICAL ACTIVITIES. IN PARTICULAR, 40 HOURS OF CLASSROOM-TAUGHT LESSONS (5 ECTS) AND 12 HOURS OF EDUCATIONAL EXCURSIONS AND LABORATORY ACTIVITIES (1 ECTS) ARE SCHEDULED. THE CLASSROOM-TAUGHT LESSONS, REGARDING ALL THE COURSE TOPICS, ARE KEPT WITH THE HELP OF SLIDES. EDUCATIONAL EXCURSIONS ARE TWO (3 HOURS EACH), LABORATORY ACTIVITIES ARE TWO (3 HOURS EACH). MODULE 2: THE COURSE PROVIDES 52 TEACHING HOURS (6 ECTS), COMPRISING LESSONS AND PRACTICAL ACTIVITIES. IN PARTICULAR, 40 HOURS OF CLASSROOM-TAUGHT LESSONS (5 ECTS) AND 12 HOURS OF EDUCATIONAL EXCURSIONS AND LABORATORY ACTIVITIES (1 ECTS) ARE SCHEDULED. THE CLASSROOM-TAUGHT LESSONS, REGARDING ALL THE COURSE TOPICS, ARE KEPT WITH THE HELP OF SLIDES. TO THE STUDY OF THE CHARACTERISTICS OF EACH ENVIRONMENTAL COMPARTMENT (ATMOSPHERE, HYDROSPHERE, PEDOSPHERE), OF ITS ANTROPOGENIC ALTERATIONS AND MONITORING AND MANAGEMENT POSSIBILITIES ARE DEDICATED APPROXIMATELY 13 HOURS. EDUCATIONAL EXCURSIONS ARE THREE (3 HOURS EACH), LABORATORY ACTIVITY IS ONE (3 HOURS) THE ATTENDANCE OF THE LESSONS IN THE CLASSROOM IS NOT MANDATORY, THAT OF THE EXERCISES and the activities in the field are STRONGLY RECOMMENDED

Teaching Methods

MODULE 1: THE COURSE PROVIDES 52 TEACHING HOURS (6 ECTS), COMPRISING LESSONS AND PRACTICAL ACTIVITIES. IN PARTICULAR, 40 HOURS OF CLASSROOM-TAUGHT LESSONS (5 ECTS) AND 12 HOURS OF EDUCATIONAL EXCURSIONS AND LABORATORY ACTIVITIES (1 ECTS) ARE SCHEDULED. THE CLASSROOM-TAUGHT LESSONS, REGARDING ALL THE COURSE TOPICS, ARE KEPT WITH THE HELP OF SLIDES. EDUCATIONAL EXCURSIONS ARE TWO (3 HOURS EACH), LABORATORY ACTIVITIES ARE TWO (3 HOURS EACH).
MODULE 2: THE COURSE PROVIDES 52 TEACHING HOURS (6 ECTS), COMPRISING LESSONS AND PRACTICAL ACTIVITIES. IN PARTICULAR, 40 HOURS OF CLASSROOM-TAUGHT LESSONS (5 ECTS) AND 12 HOURS OF EDUCATIONAL EXCURSIONS AND LABORATORY ACTIVITIES (1 ECTS) ARE SCHEDULED. THE CLASSROOM-TAUGHT LESSONS, REGARDING ALL THE COURSE TOPICS, ARE KEPT WITH THE HELP OF SLIDES. TO THE STUDY OF THE CHARACTERISTICS OF EACH ENVIRONMENTAL COMPARTMENT (ATMOSPHERE, HYDROSPHERE, PEDOSPHERE), OF ITS ANTROPOGENIC ALTERATIONS AND MONITORING AND MANAGEMENT POSSIBILITIES ARE DEDICATED APPROXIMATELY 13 HOURS. EDUCATIONAL EXCURSIONS ARE THREE (3 HOURS EACH), LABORATORY ACTIVITY IS ONE (3 HOURS)

THE ATTENDANCE OF THE LESSONS IN THE CLASSROOM IS NOT MANDATORY, THAT OF THE EXERCISES and the activities in the field are STRONGLY RECOMMENDED

	Verification of learning
	THE ACHIEVEMENT OF TEACHING OBJECTIVES IS CERTIFIED BY PASSING AN EXAM, MARKED WITH SCORES EXPRESSED IN THIRTIETHS, EVENTUALLY CUM LAUDE. THE EXAM CONSISTS IN TWO ORAL EXAMINATIONS (MODULE 1 AND MODULE 2) OF ABOUT 40-60 MINUTES EACH. IT IS PASSED WITH A MINIMUM MEAN SCORE OF 18/30. THE EXAM AIMS AT EVALUATING THE CAPABILITY OF THE STUDENT TO EXPLAIN, IN AN ORGANIC WAY, THE TREATED TOPICS. OVERALL, IT ALLOWS ASSESSING BOTH THE CAPABILITY TO LEARN AND UNDERSTAND, THE CAPABILITY TO APPLY THE REACHED COMPETENCES, AS WELL AS TO EXPLAIN AND MANAGE SOLUTIONS IN COMPLETE AUTONOMY. MODULE 1: TOPICS RELATED TO THE STRUCTURE AND FUNCTIONING OF ECOSYSTEMS WILL BE DEALT WITH DURING THE ORAL EXAMINATION AND THE CAPABILITY OF LINKING THE TOPICS WILL BE POSITIVELY EVALUATED. MODULE 2: TOPICS RELATED TO THE THREE ENVIRONMENTAL COMPARTMENTS STUDIED (ATMOSPHERE, HYDROSPHERE, PEDOSPHERE) WILL BE DEALT WITH DURING THE ORAL EXAMINATION AND THE CAPABILITY OF LINKING THE TOPICS WILL BE POSITIVELY EVALUATED. THE MINIMUM MARK (18/30) IS AWARDED WHEN THE STUDENT SHOWS A LIMITED KNOWLEDGE and ability to ESTABLISH CONNECTIONS BETWEEN THE TOPICS COVERED. THE MAXIMUM VOTE (30/30) IS AWARDED WHEN THE STUDENT SHOWS A COMPLETE AND IN-DEPTH KNOWLEDGE and is able to ESTABLISH CONNECTIONS BETWEEN THE TOPICS COVERED.

Verification of learning

THE ACHIEVEMENT OF TEACHING OBJECTIVES IS CERTIFIED BY PASSING AN EXAM, MARKED WITH SCORES EXPRESSED IN THIRTIETHS, EVENTUALLY CUM LAUDE. THE EXAM CONSISTS IN TWO ORAL EXAMINATIONS (MODULE 1 AND MODULE 2) OF ABOUT 40-60 MINUTES EACH. IT IS PASSED WITH A MINIMUM MEAN SCORE OF 18/30.
THE EXAM AIMS AT EVALUATING THE CAPABILITY OF THE STUDENT TO EXPLAIN, IN AN ORGANIC WAY, THE TREATED TOPICS. OVERALL, IT ALLOWS ASSESSING BOTH THE CAPABILITY TO LEARN AND UNDERSTAND, THE CAPABILITY TO APPLY THE REACHED COMPETENCES, AS WELL AS TO EXPLAIN AND MANAGE SOLUTIONS IN COMPLETE AUTONOMY.
MODULE 1: TOPICS RELATED TO THE STRUCTURE AND FUNCTIONING OF ECOSYSTEMS WILL BE DEALT WITH DURING THE ORAL EXAMINATION AND THE CAPABILITY OF LINKING THE TOPICS WILL BE POSITIVELY EVALUATED.
MODULE 2: TOPICS RELATED TO THE THREE ENVIRONMENTAL COMPARTMENTS STUDIED (ATMOSPHERE, HYDROSPHERE, PEDOSPHERE) WILL BE DEALT WITH DURING THE ORAL EXAMINATION AND THE CAPABILITY OF LINKING THE TOPICS WILL BE POSITIVELY EVALUATED.

THE MINIMUM MARK (18/30) IS AWARDED WHEN THE STUDENT SHOWS A LIMITED KNOWLEDGE and ability to ESTABLISH CONNECTIONS BETWEEN THE TOPICS COVERED.
THE MAXIMUM VOTE (30/30) IS AWARDED WHEN THE STUDENT SHOWS A COMPLETE AND IN-DEPTH KNOWLEDGE and is able to ESTABLISH CONNECTIONS BETWEEN THE TOPICS COVERED.

	Texts
	MODULE 1: ELEMENTI DI ECOLOGIA. T.M. SMITH, R.L. SMITH. PEARSON. ECOLOGIA. M.L. CAIN, W.D. BOWMAN, S.D. HACKER. PICCIN NUOVA LIBRARIA S.P.A. MODULE 2: ECOLOGIA APPLICATA. A. PROVINI, S. GALASSI, R. MARCHETTI. CITTÀSTUDIEDIZIONI TORINO, 1998. ECOLOGIA APPLICATA. R. VISMARA. HOEPLI, 1992.