Ateneo - UPO

Ecology: from the theoretical bases to biomonitoring, with a special focus on water, soil and air quality.

Suggested text book: "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

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

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

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

Written OR oral examination: each single student is allowed to choose the modality (written or oral).
WRITTEN examination: 10 questions (3 out of 10 in the form of multiple choice questions). Duration: 45 minutes.
ORAL examination: 4 to 5 questions on the entire program.

Introduction to ecology: hierarchical levels in ecology, 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.
Bio-geochemical cycles.
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
Introduction to cartography (laboratory experience)

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 of study in ecology (community, ecosystems, 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