The learning objectives of the course are intended to introduce students to the Ecology, i.e. Populations, Community Ecology, Ecosystem Ecology.

The topics covered include the typologies of Environments, ecological genetics, population concepts, species interaction properties, community ecology, ecosystem ecology, ecological biogeography and human ecology.

Lectures will emphasize the modern approaches of methodologies for the comprehension of ecosystem functioning. Marine aquatic ecosystems will be particularly traited. 

-The nature of Ecology

-The Physical Environment

Climate. Aquatic Environment. Terrestrial Environment.

-The organisms and environment

Ecological genetics: adaptation and natural selection. Plant adaptation. Animal Adaptations.

-Populations

Properties of populations. Population Growth. Life History. Intraspecific Population Regulation. Metapopulations.

-Species Interactions

Species Interactions, Population Dynamics, and Natural Selection. Interspecific Competition. Predation. Parasitism and Mutualism.

-Community Ecology

Community structure. Factors influencing the Structure of Communities. Community Dynamics.

-Ecosystem Ecology

Ecosystem Energetics. Decomposition and Nutrient Cycling. Biogeochemical Cycles.

-Ecological Biogeography

Terrestrial Ecosystems. Coastal and Wetland Ecosystems. Aquatic Ecosystems. Large –Scale Patterns of Biological Diversity.

-Humans and environment

Biodiversity and conservation

Climate Change and Ecology

No mandatory courses are needed, 

however, it is important having done courses of mathematic, physic, and chemistry.

D1-Knowledge and understanding

Students will need to show that they have acquired a good basic knowledge of structure and function of the ecosystems, as well as of the principal methods used for the analysis and applications.

D2-Applying knowledge and understanding

The student will demonstrate the ability to recognize and reflect upon the principles of the dynamic of populations and communities.

D3-Making judgements

The student will have acquired knowledge needed for the knowledge of ecology bases on population, species and community dynamics in the various aquatic and terrestrial ecosystems.

D4-Communication skills

The student will have the ability to relate in a professional and competent way with institutional bodies and private structures responsible for protecting and safeguarding the environment. The student will have the ability to transmit the knowledge acquired in a clear, understandable and accessible to unqualified people.

D5-Learning skills

The student will be able to examine and understand scientific texts, in order to use them in everyday contexts for the profession and for research.

The teaching material prepared by the lecturer in addition to recommended textbooks (such as for instance slides, lecture notes, exercises, bibliography) and communications from the lecturer specific to the course can be found inside the Moodle platform › blended.uniurb.it

Reading scientific articles and their commentary in the classroom.

Laboratory activities, sampling on scientific vessel at sea, learning the basic tools of oceanography (CTD, Niskin bottle, Secchi disk, phytoplankton net).

Analysis of optical microscopy of the most important classes of marine phytoplankton; counting methods under an optical microscope.

Molecular analyses applied to marine plankton.

Teaching

Frontal lessons. Laboratory exercises with instrumentation for the analysis of environmental parameters and field outputs for sampling and for the verification of applied methodologies.

Innovative teaching methods

debats and discussions

flipped class

video documents

Attendance

Students are highly advised to attend the course.

Course books

- ELEMENTI DI ECOLOGIA. T.M. Smith and R.L. Smith., PEARSON , last edition

- FONDAMENTI DI ECOLOGIA   E.P. Odum - G.W. Barrett, PICCIN 

-ECOLOGIA. A. Pusceddu, G. Sarà, P. Viaroli. UTET 2020

Assessment

Oral interview, consisting of questions on at least 4 topics covered in the course to verify the level of knowledge achieved by the student; the evaluation will be carried out based on the knowledge and the critical approach, the exhibition capacity and the language used as correct and appropriate scientific terminology. Each of the evaluation criteria is judged on the basis of a 4-level scale (insufficient, sufficient, fair and excellent). The exam includes questions that must be answered with exercises written before the teacher.

Disability and Specific Learning Disorders (SLD)

Students who have registered their disability certification or SLD certification with the Inclusion and Right to Study Office can request to use conceptual maps (for keywords) during exams.

To this end, it is necessary to send the maps, two weeks before the exam date, to the course instructor, who will verify their compliance with the university guidelines and may request modifications.

Teaching

Reading texts and viewing lessons on slides uploaded to the moodle platform.

Attendance

It is strongly recommended to consult the teacher's material for preparation for the final exam.

Course books

In order to give non-attending students the opportunity to compensate with self-study for what is done during the lectures, the following materials referring to the same contents of the syllabus are indicated in order to promote their full understanding

Suggested textbook: -ELEMENTI DI ECOLOGIA. T.M. Smith and R.L. Smith., PEARSON , last edition

Assessment

Oral interview, consisting of questions on at least 4 topics covered in the course to verify the level of knowledge achieved by the student; the evaluation will be carried out based on the knowledge and the critical approach, the exhibition capacity and the language used as correct and appropriate scientific terminology. Each of the evaluation criteria is judged on the basis of a 4-level scale (insufficient, sufficient, fair and excellent). The exam includes questions that must be answered with exercises written before the teacher.

Disability and Specific Learning Disorders (SLD)

Students who have registered their disability certification or SLD certification with the Inclusion and Right to Study Office can request to use conceptual maps (for keywords) during exams.

To this end, it is necessary to send the maps, two weeks before the exam date, to the course instructor, who will verify their compliance with the university guidelines and may request modifications.

The student can request to sit the final exam in English .

Some lessons will be done in English.

The slide material of lessons is in English