510358 - ECOLOGY APPLIED TO THE MANAGEMENT OF AQUATIC ECOSYSTEMS

courses

ID:

510358

Duration (hours):

54

CFU:

SSD:

ECOLOGIA

Year:

2025

Date/time interval

Primo Semestre (01/10/2025 - 16/01/2026)

Course Objectives

At the end of the course, the student should acquire the following skills: - Understanding the structure and functioning of inland aquatic ecosystems: chemical-physical and structural parameters, biological component, trophic networks, temporal dynamics, and interactions with terrestrial and other aquatic ecosystems. - Understanding the main anthropogenic threats possible measures to mitigate impacts. - Becoming familiar with monitoring methods for ecological quality and functionality; developing skills in critical appraisal of realistic contexts. - Knowing the main European and national regulations for monitoring environmental quality and for the conservation of ecosystems and biodiversity. - Observing specific conditions in nature and interpreting data and information. - Knowing how to critically interpret reports of wetlands and riverine ecosystem management, and know how to suggest strategies for restoration.

Course Prerequisites

It is highly recommended to have attended a basic Ecology course and passed the exam. In particular, it is required to master the following concepts: habitat, niche, population, community, trophic networks, decomposition, production, biogeochemical cycles, eutrophication.

Teaching Methods

Classical lectures will be complemented by self-evaluation tests, individual and group training, and field trips. If you’re a student participating in the DIDATTICA INCLUSIVA program, you will have reserved access to video-recordings of all lectures, available on the KIRO platform. Self-assessment tests will also be made available to evaluate your preparation, as well as exercises proposed in class that can be completed independently. However, participation in field trips and laboratory exercises is recommended.

Assessment Methods

Oral exam, consisting of questions on five distinct topics covered in the course, and a stereomicroscope identification test of freshwater benthic invertebrates. During the oral exam, the instructor will assess students’ knowledge of habitats, organism ecology, environmental issues, and the main monitoring and renaturalization techniques, as well as their command of language and ability to critically analyze real-world contexts.
The grade is calculated as the average of: the scores obtained on the 5 questions, the score obtained on the identification test, and the score assigned for language proficiency demonstrated during the oral exam.
During the semester, students will be assigned three ‘assignments’: exercises to be completed independently, within a set time limit, and subject to evaluation. Students who complete at least one assignment are eligible for a ‘shortened’ exam: 4 questions instead of 5 for those who complete 1 assignment, 3 questions for those who complete 2, and only 2 questions for those who complete all 3 assignments. The grade obtained on each assignment will be used to calculate the final average grade.

Texts

The material will be provided by the lecturer on the KIRO teaching platform

Rivers and lakes: abiotic characteristics, temporal dynamics Freshwater habitats and microhabitats Biotic component: plankton, benthos, nekton River functionality Anthropogenic impacts Monitoring quality and functionality. Ecological Restoration. Field trips, laboratory training (identification of freshwater macrobenthos)