OVERVIEW

The first part of the course (Corology) illustrates the study, the criteria and the characteristics of the distribution of the plants on a global scale and local, from the cosmopolitan to the endemic ones. The second part is dedicated to the study of plant communities, mainly according to the criteria of Phytosociology. The third part applies the notions acquired to the study of micro- and macroresti vegetal as a source for knowledge of the vegetal cover of the past.

AIMS AND CONTENT

LEARNING OUTCOMES

The course aims to provide the theoretical basis and the methodological tools for knowledge of the main floristic and vegetational aspects of plant cover, the interpretation of the natural and human causes that determine it, the study of plant components in the analysis and Interpretation of ecosystems.

TEACHING METHODS

The course includes frontal lessons and exercises in the classroom and fieldwork. The lessons are held with the help of Powerpoint presentations that illustrate the concepts and the contents expressed orally by the teacher. This material is then made available to students in the course site of Aulaweb.

SYLLABUS/CONTENT

Principles of plant ecology: environmental factors and plant adaptations; Biological forms. Chorology:  distribution types; Geographic and taxonomic relics; endemism; Geographical and ecological vicariance. Corotypes of Italian flora; Chorological spectra. Floristic kingdoms. Modifications of the distribution Area; Biogeographic models of dispersion, vicariance, ecology and model integration.  Floristic features of the Ligurian flora. Biodiversity: concept and evaluation criteria; Richness and specific variety, gradients of diversity in space and time. Biomes. Study of vegetation: structural and functional features of phytocenosis; Dynamics of vegetation: successions, mature stages.  Bioclimatic vegetation belts in Italy and in Liguria; Species typical of the main vegetal environments in Liguria. Phytosociology: criteria and methods, nomenclature, syntaxonomy, main classes of European vegetation; Mapping of vegetation; Description of plant landscapes: synphytosociology. Historical Geobotany: History of Vegetation and its Methods of Study. Examples of applications of geobotany and archeobotany to studies of historical ecology and environmental archaeology. The course is held in the classroom and in the field.

RECOMMENDED READING/BIBLIOGRAPHY

UBALDI D., 2012 - Guida allo studio della flora e della vegetazione. CLUEB. Bologna.

(eventually, previous editions, eg. UBALDI D., 2003 – Flora, fitocenosi e ambiente.  Elementi di Geobotanica e Fitosociologia. Clueb. Bologna.)

PIGNATTI S.,1976 - Geobotanica. In: CAPPELLETTI, Botanica, vol. II. UTET. Torino.

PIGNATTI S. et al., 1995 -Ecologia vegetale. UTET. Torino.

PIGNATTI S., 1994 - Ecologia del paesaggio. UTET. Torino

other:

EHRENDORFER, 1979 – Geobotanica. In: STRASBURGER, Trattato di Botanica, parte sistematica. Delfino Editore.

CANEVA G. (a cura di), 2005 – La biologia vegetale per i Beni culturali. Vol II. Conoscenza e valorizzazione. Nardini Editore. Firenze. 500 pp. (per la Geobotanica storica, specialmente cap. 10, ma anche capp. 1,3,8).

POLUNIN O. e WALTERS M., 1987 – Guida alle vegetazioni d'Europa. Zanichelli. Bologna.

GIACOMINI V., FENAROLI L., 1958 - La Flora. Collana "Conosci l'Italia.". T.C.I. Milano.

TEACHERS AND EXAM BOARD

Exam Board

CARLO ALESSANDRO MONTANARI (President)

GIUSEPPINA ALBINA BARBERIS

MARIA ANGELA GUIDO

MAURO MARIOTTI

LESSONS

LESSONS START

since september 2017

Class schedule

GEOBOTANICS AND APPLIED BOTANICAL ELEMENTS

EXAMS

EXAM DESCRIPTION

The knowledge of the course arguments and the ability to expose them correctly are evaluated through an oral exam that implies three to four questions that span throughout the program and the exercises carried out.

ASSESSMENT METHODS

Besides the oral test, on the basis of which the examination score will be given, during the year tests can be carried out to periodically assess the learning, in addition to an initial test that provides the teacher with a framework of pre-existing botanical knowledge of students and allows some integration, if needed.

Exam schedule

FURTHER INFORMATION

Regular attendance to the lessons is strongly recommended, and especially to the field exercises; attendance  is compulsory for participants of the Naturalistic Campaign at the end of the third year.