Ateneo - UPO

Ecology: from the theoretical bases to biomonitoring, with a special focus on water, soil and air quality. Introduction to the main statistical analyses for ecological data

Suggested text books:
1) "Sostenibilità ambientale dello sviluppo. Tecniche e procedure di Valutazione di Impatto Ambientale". This is a publication of the Local Agiency for Environmental Protection (ARPA Piemonte) and it can be freely downloaded as pdf file at the followong link: http://www.arpa.piemonte.it/pubblicazioni-2/pubblicazioni-anno-2002/sostenibilita-ambientale-dello-sviluppo.-tecniche-e-procedure-di-valutazione-di-impatto-ambientale
2) Antonio Pusceddu, Gianluca Sarà, Pierluigi Viaroli (2020). Ecologia. Editore: UTET Università. pp. 376

Basic and applied knowledge in the field of ecology, with a special focus on biological communities, ecosystems, landscape and bioindicators.
Ability of analysing and interpretating ecological and monotoring data.
The basic and applied knowledged of this course will allow students to successfully interact with esperts and technicians of this field.

Basic knowledge in chemistry, phyisics and mathematics is required. Basic knowledge in zoology and botany is strongly reccomended.

Lessons are generally held in classroom. However, some laboratory activities and one field excursion are also planned.

Notions from previous lessons are often called into question during the current lesson.

Two mandatory and different examinations are required:1) One general examination on the theorical concepts and notions of the course (partial score: 24/30). This examination is Written OR oral: each single student is allowed to choose the modality (written or oral). WRITTEN examination: 8 questions (3 out of 8 in the form of multiple choice questions). Duration: 60 minutes. ORAL examination: 4 to 5 questions on the entire program.2) One practical examination (paritial score: 6/30). Each student has to analyze a specific dataset and provide a detailed and complete report.The final grade consists of the sum of the partial scores obtained in each examination.

Introduction to ecology: basic notions and historical aspects, ecological niche, habitat. Community ecology. Biodiverisity: definition, biodiversity indices and international normatives. Ecological successions. Ecosystem: resistence and resilience capacity, trophic foodwebs, production and respiration, ecosystem services. Landscape ecology. Invasive species. Biomonitoring: definition and approaches. Water: the European Water Framework Directive and river biomonitoring. Soil: ecological role and monotiring of soil quality Air: pressures and monitoring of air quality. Field excursion focussed on the river biomonitoring. Laboratory activities dedicated to the statistical analysis of ecological data with the software R.

To achieve an adequate level of expertise a student must be familiar with: - the basic and applied notions in ecology - the definition and functional organization of the most-studied levels in ecology (community, ecosystem, landscape) - the peculiarities, pressures and monitoring techniques (or approaches) for the thee main enviromental components (water, soil and air) - the analysis and interpretation of ecological data as well as technical reports. To achieve an advanced level of expertise a student must have: - an interdisciplinary view of ecological themes along with the ability of providing personal additions - clear and fruitful communicative skills