Ateneo - UPO

Organisms-enviroment relationship, population and community ecology, the ecosystem, landscape ecology, the bio-geochemical cycles and introduction to biomonitoring and ecotoxicology.

- Fondamenti di ecologia, Odum & Barrett, ed: Piccin.
- Elementi di ecologia 8/Ed. Thomas M. Smith, Robert Leo Smith. Pearson, 2013. ISBN 9788871929439;
- ECOLOGIA, A. Pusceddu, G. Sarà, P. Viaroli, Marchio, UTET Università, Anno:2020, ISBN:9788860085856

To acquire the ability to understand, interpret and manage ecological data and to analyze issues related to the diversity, protection and monitoring of terrestrial and aquatic populations, communities, andecosystems. The aim of the course is to provide the student with practical skills that will enable him to work in the ecological field collaborating successfully with specialists and scientists

Zoology and Botany Courses. The student must have solid bases for the identification of animal and plant organisms and understand the interactions and complexity of terrestrial and aquatic ecosystems.

Classroom lessons. The lessons are frontal and there are a couple of practical exercises.

Students with physical disabilities, Learning Disabilities or Special Education Needs can request specific services and tools via the Staff Sviluppo e Coordinamento Carriere e Servizi alle Studentesse e agli Studenti, consulting the University webpage: https://www.uniupo.it/en/services/services- students-physical-or-learning-disabilities Students with disabilities, learning disabilities or special education needs, once they have contacted the University Staff, can refer to the tutor in charge of the course to define the examination modalities, concerning academic aspects.

Written examination: 31 questions (Quiz).
If correct, each question has a score of 1/30 and to pass the examination a minimum score of 18/30 is necessary. Laude = 31/31.

Introduction to ecology: emerging properties and approaches (holism vs reductionism), levels of study in ecology.
Auto-ecology: correspondece between organisms and their environment and its main envitonmental parameters.
Habitat and ecolgical niche.
Migration and dispersal.
Population ecology and a brief introduction to metapopulations.
Community ecology and a brief introduction to metacommunities.
Biodiversity: definition, indices and international legislation.
Biotic interactions inside communities.
Ecological successions. Limits between natural communities (ecotones). The view of Gleason and Clements.
Ecosystem. Resistance and resilience. Energetic pathways inside foodwebs. Production and decomposition,
Bio-geochemical cycles (water, nitrogen, phosphorus, sulphur, carbon)
Landscape ecology and the island biogeography theory.
Exotic species: definition and examples.
River Ecology and a brief introduction to bio-monitoring.
Introduction to ecotoxicology

In order to reach the level of sufficiency, the student must demonstrate:
- to know the theoretical bases and the application of the main ecological themes
- to know the function and organization of the different levels of the ecological organization.
- to know how to analyze and discuss the results of ecological reports

To achieve an advanced level, the student must demonstrate:
- to master the subject being also able to make personal interpretations and readings
- to be able to communicate clearly (also to non-specialist public) the main ecological concepts