Acquisition of the fundamentals of the ecological theory and the principles and methods of ecological investigations. Development of the capacity of understanding terminology and language typical of the discipline and of elaborating and rendering of information useful for the study, characterization and management of ecosystems.
Frontal lectures
Definition of ecology. The concept of oikos and links with economy. Knowledge, management, conservation. Fundamentals of system theory. The ecosystem. Biotope and biocenosis. Interactions among components. Ecological factors. Ecological valence. Ecological niche. Strategies. Demoecology. Fluxes of matter and energy. Trophic chains, webs and levels. Models in ecology. Dynamics and change. Engineering and economic ecology. Stability, resistance, resilience. Natural capital. Sustainable development. Internal information: diversity. Biogeochemical cycles. Fundamentals of conservation ecology. Diversity measurement. Inventory diversity. Species-area curve. Indicators and indices. Space occupancy. Hierarchical structure. Physical-biological coupling. Interactions among ecosystems. Macroecology and biogeography. Zonation. Gaia hypothesis. Anthropocene. Global change. Fundamentals of global climatic system. Ecological principles for environmental compatibility.
The basic didactic stuff is represented by personal notes and the material available on AulaWeb. To the examination purpose, it is recommended reading the article: “Against nature? Why ecologists should not diverge from natural history” and another article at choice among those put at disposal. As consultation textbooks, to integrate the contents of the lectures, the following are suggested:
T. M. Smith, R. L. Smith, Elements of Ecology. Pearson - Benjamin Cummings. ISBN-13: 978-0321736079.
M.L. Cain, W.D. Bowman, S.D. Hacker, Ecology. ISBN-13: 978-1605356181
Ricevimento: Upon appointment.
MARIO PETRILLO (President)
CARLO BIANCHI
CARLA MORRI
PRINCIPLES OF ECOLOGY (MOD. 1)
Oral
Written questionnaires (optional) and oral talk, which starts from the discussion of the exercises done (mandatory) and the critical report on a scientific paper (available on AulaWeb). The examinations is finalized at evaluating the capacity of understanding a scientific text dealing with ecological topics and of elaborating ecological information on the ground of the knowledge of the fundamentals of the discipline, the predisposition towards linking the different subjects, and the mastery of the applicative aspects.
