ID:
502244
Duration (hours):
72
CFU:
9
SSD:
ECOLOGIA
Year:
2025
Overview
Date/time interval
Primo Semestre (29/09/2025 - 16/01/2026)
Syllabus
Course Objectives
LEARNING OBJECTIVES: To acquire the basic ecological knowledge to analyse the complexity of interactions between living organisms among themselves and with the abiotic environment, as a necessary tool to correctly address environmental issues.
EXPECTED LEARNING OUTCOMES: To identify the main components of ecosystems, to understand how it varies in time and space, what interactions take place within it.
EXPECTED LEARNING OUTCOMES: To identify the main components of ecosystems, to understand how it varies in time and space, what interactions take place within it.
Course Prerequisites
The following courses are preparatory to Ecology: General and Inorganic Chemistry, Organic Chemistry, Elements of Physics, with particular reference to: molecular structure of the matter, chemical bonds, redox reactions, the chemical-physical properties of water, the laws of thermodynamics. The understanding of Ecology also requires knowledge of general and evolutionary Zoology and General Botany.
Teaching Methods
Frontal lessons and practical exercises in classroom.
The course includes lectures and exercises in the classroom. For the learning of some topics involving an analytical-quantitative approach, some exercises are proposed in the classroom, to be solved by the lecturer together with the students.
Course attendance is strongly advised.
Students participating the DIDATTICA INCLUSIVA program will have reserved access to video-recordings of all lectures.
The course includes lectures and exercises in the classroom. For the learning of some topics involving an analytical-quantitative approach, some exercises are proposed in the classroom, to be solved by the lecturer together with the students.
Course attendance is strongly advised.
Students participating the DIDATTICA INCLUSIVA program will have reserved access to video-recordings of all lectures.
Assessment Methods
The final written test consists of 11 multiple choice questions . Each answer has to be sintetically justified. Each corrected answer together with its explanation corresponds to 3 points. The written text may be followed by an oral discussion, depending on whether the student wishes to improve his/her mark. During the oral discussion, the capability of the student to correlated the different issues will be evaluated.
Texts
T. M.Smith & R.L. Smith Elements of Ecology 9th edition (MyLab). Pearson Publisher.
Contents
1) Introduction: definition of Ecology, relationship with other disciplines and role in the development of Science.
2) Adaptation and evolution: natural selection and heritability.
3) The physical environment: climate, aquatic environment; terrestrial environment; adaptations of plants and animals to the environment.
4) Populations: properties, quantification, growth and intraspecific regulation.
5) Species interactions: interspecific competition, predation, parasitism, mutualism: ecological, evolutionary and quantitative aspects.
6) Community Ecology: factors influencing community structure; community dynamics; species richness and diversity; landscape ecology.
7) Ecosystem ecology: ecosystem energetics; energy flow nutrient cycling. Primary and Secondary production. Trophic chains. Decomposition; biogeochemical cycles.
8) Biogeographical ecology: types of ecosystems. Patterns of biological diversity. Alien species and problems of biodiversity conservation.
9) Human ecology: sustainability, resource use.
10) Global changes.
2) Adaptation and evolution: natural selection and heritability.
3) The physical environment: climate, aquatic environment; terrestrial environment; adaptations of plants and animals to the environment.
4) Populations: properties, quantification, growth and intraspecific regulation.
5) Species interactions: interspecific competition, predation, parasitism, mutualism: ecological, evolutionary and quantitative aspects.
6) Community Ecology: factors influencing community structure; community dynamics; species richness and diversity; landscape ecology.
7) Ecosystem ecology: ecosystem energetics; energy flow nutrient cycling. Primary and Secondary production. Trophic chains. Decomposition; biogeochemical cycles.
8) Biogeographical ecology: types of ecosystems. Patterns of biological diversity. Alien species and problems of biodiversity conservation.
9) Human ecology: sustainability, resource use.
10) Global changes.
Course Language
Italian
More information
For copyright reasons, slides presented during the lectures will not be shared, as all materials are congruent with the recommended textbook. Possible additional studying and working material will be directly provided by the teachers on UNIPV KIRO website (http://kiro2014.unipv.it/idcd/).
Degrees
Degrees
BIOLOGICAL SCIENCES
Bachelor’s Degree
3 years
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