ECOLOGY Anno accademico 2016/17 CdS BIOLOGICAL

Sistema centralizzato di iscrizione agli esami
Programma
ECOLOGY
LISANDRO BENEDETTI CECCHI
Anno accademico
CdS
Codice
CFU
Moduli
ECOLOGIA
Settore
BIO/07
2016/17
BIOLOGICAL SCIENCES
073EE
9
Tipo
LEZIONI
Ore
80
Docente/i
LISANDRO BENEDETTI
CECCHI
ALBERTO CASTELLI
Learning outcomes
Knowledge
Students will be able to demonstrate a solid understanding of: (1) the processes that shape the distribution, abundance and diversity of species
in natural environments, including the influence of abiotic drivers and biological interactions, (2) the problem of pattern and scale with the
analysis of variability at multiple scales in space and time through hierarchical sampling designs (3) the logical foundations of the experimental
analysis of species distribution and diversity, (4) the relation between biodiversity and ecosystem functioning and (5) human impacts on
terrestrial and aquatic biodiversity, including the effects of climate change and resource overexploitation.
Assessment criteria of knowledge
Students will be assessed on their understanding of: (1) the role of competition, herbivory, predation and the influence of the abiotic environment
in determining patterns of distribution, abundance and diversity of species in nature, (2) the problem of pattern and scale and their ability to
quantify spatial and temporal variation in ecological variable using hierarchical sampling designs, (3) the logical and methodological principles
underpinning ecological experiments, (4) the relation between biodiversity and ecosystem functioning, including available experimental evidence
and (5) the main effects of climate change, resource overexploitation and other human impacts on biodiversity.
Methods:
Final oral exam
Final written exam
Further information:
Students have the choice to give a written exam at the end of the course, which is open only to students of that particular year, or to give an oral
exam at any of the prescribed oral sessions. The written exam is a multiple choice test of 10 questions and will last two hours. Oral exams
generally last half an hour.
Teaching methods
Delivery: face to face
Learning activities:
attending lectures
participation in seminar
Laboratory work
Attendance: Advised
Teaching methods:
Lectures
Seminar
laboratory
Syllabus
Introduction to ecology: problems, paradigms, habitats and organisms. Natural populations: demography, interactions, distribution. A logical
approach to the analysis of ecological problems. Relationships between theory and experiments. The design of ecological experiments. The
experimental analysis of patterns of species distribution in space and time. The experimental analysis of ecological processes. Biodiversity and
ecosystem functioning. Introduction to human impacts and biodiversity conservation.
Bibliography
Begon M., Townsend C.R., Harper J.L. 2006. Ecology: From individuals to Ecosystems. 4th Edition, John Wiley & Sons. Recmmended
readings: Krebs, C. J. 2008. “Ecology. The experimental analysis of distribution and abundance”. 6th ed. Benjamin Cummings Underwood, A.
1/2
Powered by TCPDF (www.tcpdf.org)
Powered by TCPDF (www.tcpdf.org)
Sistema centralizzato di iscrizione agli esami
Programma
J. 1997. “Experiments in ecology: their logical design and interpretation using analysis of variance”. Cambridge University Press.
Updated: 14/11/2016 17:27
2/2