Biology
Objectives
The main objective of this Curricular Unit is to provide the knowledge of biology
essential to agro-industrial production, specifically:
1) Understand the basic processes of the evolution and functioning of animal and
plant species.
2) To understand the interaction between living beings and the environment, including the response to environmental changes.
changes.
3) Study the role of biotechnology in agro-industrial innovations and the gains in scale
acquired.
4) Study the basic fundamentals of animal and plant production.
5) Understand the impacts of agro-industrial activities on ecosystems.
General characterization
Code
13189
Credits
6.0
Responsible teacher
Fernando Henrique da Silva Reboredo
Hours
Weekly - 4
Total - 56
Teaching language
Português
Prerequisites
Students must have basic knowledge of biology, ecology and evolution
Bibliography
1) Nair A., Jokela D., Tillman J. (2014) Principles and Practices of Sustainable Vegetable Production Systems. In Nandwani D. (eds) Sustainable Horticultural Systems. Sustainable Development and Biodiversity, volume 2, 51 78 pp, Springer, Switzerland. 2) Fisher MR (editor) – 2018. Environmental Biology, Open Oregon Educational Resources 3) FAO (2018). World Livestock: Transforming the livestock sector through the Sustainable Development Goals. Rome. 222 pp. 4) Satari B, Karimi K (2018) Citrus processing wastes: Environmental impacts, recent advances, and future perspectives in total valorization. Resources, Conservation & Recycling 129:153- 167. 5) Barraclough TG (2019) The Evolutionary Biology of Species. Oxford Series on Ecology and Evolution. 288 pp. 6) Singh J, Vyas A, Wang S, Prasad R (Editors) – 2020. Microbial Biotechnology: Basic Research and Applications, Springer Singapore, 370 pp.
Teaching method
The contents of the course are organized into five modules. The first three modules provide the basic information for the subsequent modules. Module IV is structured around field trips, visits to industrial units, observation and discussion by students, previously organized into groups. Module V will be the subject of a project/work carried out by a group of no more than two and will always focus on a circular economy perspective. In the face-to-face hours per week, the emphasis is on the structuring and fundamental aspects of the respective syllabus. Tutorial support is essential to deepen specific topics to be dealt with in seminars, to guide study and the acquisition of knowledge. Encouraging participation and involvement in group debate is particularly important in the final module.
Assessment is continuous. Theoretical-practical and practical will have an identical weight, 50%, in the final assessment, with a minimum mark of 10 for each component.
Evaluation method
Assessment is continuous. Theoretical-practical and practical will have an identical weight, 50%, in the final assessment, with a minimum mark of 10 for each component.
First Theoretical-practical Mini-test - April 16, 2024
Second Theoretical-practical Mini-test - June 11, 2024
The average for the two mini-tests as a whole must not be less than 9.5 points
The grade for the Practical component is worth 50% of the final grade.
Subject matter
1) Evolutionary processes. History of life on Earth. The Cambrian explosion and the diversification of multicellular organisms. From the first land plants to the appearance of the first hominids.
2) Fundamentals of ecology and their relevance to human impact on natural systems. Environmental quality assessment, ecological and human risk assessment, resource management and conservation biology, environmental pollution, wildlife and habitat management, land use and management, aquatic resources, and pest, weed and disease management.
3) Advances in biotechnology and its role in improving the quality of human life. From the beginnings of biotechnology (making wine, beer, yoghurt) to plant biotechnology.
4) Basic principles of animal and plant production. Social, economic and environmental environmental importance. Sustainable production practices while maintaining nutritional quality and food safety.
5) The ecological footprint of agro-industrial activities - from the pollution of ecosystems to the reconversion and reuse of waste with high added value, from a circular economy perspective.