General Ecology
Objectives
Future Environmental Engineers must be able of undestanding and analysing the following topics::
- Energy and ecosystems: use and degradation by populations and communities. Practical applications: quantification of different types of ecosystem productivities; evaluation of the positive and negative impacts resulting from the application of different strategies aiming at productivity optimization.
- Responses at population and community level to physical and biotic parameters. Practical applications: to forecast the type and sign of responses, allowing for the evaluation of the limits of tolerance of the organisms to environmental impacts.
- Main mechanisms shapping population dynamics. Practical applications: modelling of population processes and forecast of population numbers.
- Basic understanding of the structure, dynamics and problems presently faced by some types of biomes. Practical applications: design of adequate strategies for ecosystem and biome management.
Some ecosystems in Portugal will be studied.
In summary, students will be able of interpreting , based on scientific principles, the main processes undergone by natural communities. They should become aware of the potential of Ecology as a tool applicable to the mitigation of environmental problems.
General characterization
Code
12655
Credits
6.0
Responsible teacher
Maria Teresa Calvão Rodrigues
Hours
Weekly - 4
Total - 96
Teaching language
Português
Prerequisites
There are no requirements
Bibliography
ARCHIBOLD, O. W. 1995. Ecology of world vegetation. Chapman & Hall, 510 pp.
BEGON, M., HOWARTH, R. W. & TOWNSEND, C.R. 2014. Essentials of Ecology. 4th ed. Wiley. USA.
BEGON, M., HARPER, J. M. & TOWNSEND, C. R. 1996. Ecology. Individuals, populations and communities. 3rd ed. Blackwell Sci. UK.
BEGON, M., MORTIMER, M. & THOMPSON, D. J. 1996. Population Ecology: A unified study of animals and plants 3rd ed. Blackwell Sci. UK
Coleção Árvores de Portugal editada pelo Público e Fundação Luso-Americana para o Desenvolvimento:
A floresta portuguesa
Os carvalhais e florestas
Os montados
Pinhais e eucaliptais
Do castanheiro ao teixo
Açores e Madeira
Floresta e sociedade
Proteger a floresta
Guia de campo
Teaching method
The teaching method includes weekly theoretical classes and practical classes.
During theoretical classes the different subjects of the program will be explained, using, where possible, knowledge acquired in other courses, in an integrative view. Whenever there is opportunity facts/news (loss of biodiversity, climate change) will be referred in order to allow consolidation of the concepts. Students will be encouraged to discuss/solve environmental problems.
In the practical classes students will work in seeking solutions to proposed real problems: organize, manipulate and interpret data, discuss results and propose solutions.
Evaluation method
The theoretical-practical classes will be assessed through 2 tests. The grade for this component cannot be less than 9.5.
The practical classes will be assessed through
1) a group assignment by two students (60%), and
2) a mini group work by two students on the field visit (25%)
3) written answers to questions during practical classes (15%)
The grade for this component cannot be less than 9.5.
The theoretical-practical component will account for 55% to the final grade and the practical component 45%.
In order to obtain frequency, it is compulsory to
- attend 2/3 of the practical classes
- have an average of no less than 9.5 marks in all the assessment elements of both the theoretical and practical components.
Subject matter
| Presentation of the Curricular Unit. What is Ecology? |
| Environmental conditions and resources |
| The flow of matter and energy |
| Productivity |
| Communities and ecosystems. Diversity gradients |
| Small populations and threats to biodiversity. Conservation ecology. |
| Individuals and populations. Life and reproduction cycles. Intraspecific competition |
| Interspecific competition. Predator-prey dynamics |
| Main biomes |
| VP - Introduction and human action |
| Pine forests, oak forests and dehesas |
| Riverine forest, Laurisilva and exotics |
| Mediterranean woodlands and "lameiros" |