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Ecology and Nature Conservation
Scholar Year: 2018/2019 - 1S
| Code: |
LEA04 |
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Acronym: |
ECN |
| Scientific Fields: |
Controlo e Processos |
Courses
| Acronym |
N. of students |
Study plan |
Curricular year |
ECTS |
Contact time |
Total Time |
| EA |
|
|
1º |
6,0 |
90 |
162,0 |
Teaching language
Portuguese
Intended learning outcomes (Knowledges, skills and competencies to be developed by the students)
Objectives
- Acquire concepts of ecology, taking into account the environment and the quality of human life.
- To act in a more informed and effective form in order to solve and/or prevent environmental problems.
- Be able to analyze and study terrestrial and aquatic ecosystems.
- Find ways to protect the species, habitats and nature conservation and preserving biodiversity.
Skills
- To characterize and study terrestrial and aquatic ecosystems.
- Know the different interactions between living beings behavioral level, eating habits and reproductive.
- Know the Portugal biogeographical map and how to describe and map vegetation.
- Establish nature conservation strategies to preserve biodiversity.
- To know the habitats of Portugal and meet the protected species and habitats.
- Know how to use knowledge of ecology in the management and conservation of populations and
ecosystems.
Syllabus
1. Introduction
Organization levels of living beings.
2. Biodiversity
Existing living beings.Biodiversity loss.
3. Evolutionary ecology and population genetics
Population, species and community. Speciation mechanisms.
4. Ecology and population dynamics
Population characteristics. Life tables.
5. Behavior and ethologic ecology
Territory and critical area, and living in groups.
6. Communities and ecosystems ecology
Classification. Ecological niche. Ecological succession.
7. Terrestrial ecology
Earth Biomes. Mediterranean vegetation. Fauna and habitats of Portugal.
8. Freshwater ecosystems
Structure and productivity of aquatic ecosystems.
9. Marine ecology - estuaries, coastal and ocean areas
Physics, chemistry and biology intertidal zones. Marine ecosystems.
10. Nature conservation
Protection and conservation. Measures for the nature conservation. Ecological restoration.
Laboratory work:
Green areas inventory; Chlorophyll and plankton; Species identification; Field work to identify exotic species
Demonstration of the syllabus coherence with the UC intended learning outcomes
The first part of the syllabus covers a set of concepts that characterize terrestrial ecosystems and allow students to acquire the skills related to terrestrial ecosystems studies.
The 2nd part of the program addresses the concepts related to the ecological characterization of aquatic freshwater, brackish and saltwater that allows students to get to know all the concepts to study an aquatic ecosystem at different levels.
The 3rd part of the program addresses to identify measures for natural environment preservation and habitat protection in order to combine human activities with wildlife, important concepts for land use and the environmental impact studies.
Teaching methodologies
Interactive training even in the introduction of theoretical concepts. Students are guided to draw conclusions.
Demonstration of the teaching methodologies coherence with the curricular unit's intended learning outcomes
The Ecology has a strong practical component, not only theorical, intending to illustrate in practice the theoretical concepts and develop in students:
(1) the ability to search and apply the scientific method and organize written and oral work;
(2) the technical skills and 'knowhow' associated to the team work,
(3) critical ideas about different environmental problems and studies.
The teaching methodology uses the lecture and expositive method of the program contents, and with the support of slides that accompany the class.
Examples, case studies and solving exercises are presented in order to the students uderstand the concepts and apply them in practice, if they need work on terrestrial or aquatic characterization or in areas related with environmental protection. All the lecture materials and syllabus are provided in the Moodle platform. The way it develops the teaching methodology enables students to obtain great success.
Assessment methodologies and evidences
The assessment of the theoretical component is performed by continuous assessment by conducting 2 tests or final exam on the scheduled dates on the calendar of examinations. The laboratorial component is assessed by carrying out experimental research with an oral presentation at the end of the semester.
The final grade is obtained by weighting of 70% in the continuous assessment by tests or exam and 30% for the development component of laboratorial work.
Oral discussion of the laboratorial work is delivered through a presentation that represents 30% in the evaluation of the experimental research. Both components of evaluation need to be positive, meaning with notes higher than 9.5.
Attendance system
Optional assistance in the theorical classes. Lab classes are obligatory.
Bibliography
(1) Pinto-Coelho, R.M., 2000. Fundamentos em Ecologia. 1ª Edição. ARTMED editora. São Paulo.(ISBN: 85-7307-629-1).
(2) Odum, E. P., 2004. Fundamentos de Ecologia. 7ª Edição. Fundação Calouste Gulbenkian. Lisboa (ISBN: 9789723101584).
(3) Begon, M., Townsend, C. R., Harper, J. L., 2006. Ecology. Oxford : Blackwell, (ISBN: 1-4051-1117-8)
(4) Townsend, C. R., Begon, M., Harper, J. L., 2006, Essentials of Ecology. Blackwell Publishing (ISBN: 1-405-10328-0).
(5) Lidon, F. J. C., Gomes, H.P., Abrantes, A.C., 2005. Plantas de Portugal: Evolução e Taxonomia. 1ª Edição. Escolar editora. Lisboa. (ISBN: 972-592-178-X).
(6) Wetzel, R.G. 1993. Limnologia. 2ª Edição. Fundação Calouste Gulbenkian. Lisboa.
(7) Stumm, W. e Morgen J.J., 1996. Aquatic Chemistry, chemical equilibria and rates in natural waters, 3rd Edition. John Wiley and sons, inc. Publications. New York.
(8) Day, J. W., Hall, C., Kemp, W., Aranciba, A., 1989. Estuary Ecology. John Willey & Sons. New York.
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