ECOLOGIA
(objectives)
The course aims to provide robust basic knowledge on the structure and functioning of environmental systems, with particular emphasis on the mechanisms that determine both the distribution and abundance of organisms as well as their relations with the environment.
Knowledge and Understanding The students will acquire knowledge on the basic principles of ecology, with particular emphasis on the interdisciplinary nature of this discipline. This objective is reflected in the organization of the program that runs through the hierarchical layers of ecological organization, from the mechanisms underlying biodiversity (evolutionary ecology), passing through the relationships between organisms and species (population ecology) up to the structure and functioning of communities (community ecology).
Applied Knowledge and Understanding The knowledge acquired will be applied to the ecological mechanisms that allow evaluatint the state and functioning of ecosystems and biodiversity. Comprehension abilities will be applied by encouraging students to deal with complex and multi-scalar disciplines and problems.
Independent Evaluation The ability to formulate independent evaluations will be exercised thanks to the interdisciplinary and multilevel reasoning required by this discipline and by the analysis of the case studies proposed, that need the merging of complex and heterogeneous data to be understood.
Communication skills These skills will be developed through the exercise of one's own expression (interventions during the lessons) and in the coordination of group activities, especially during field exercises.
Ability to learn The many concepts learned and the connections linking them all will stimulate a “learning-by-reasoning” process, essential to fully understand ecological mechanisms.
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Code
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17517 |
Language
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ITA |
Type of certificate
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Profit certificate
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Credits
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9
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Scientific Disciplinary Sector Code
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BIO/07
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Contact Hours
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48
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Laboratory Hours
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24
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Type of Activity
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Core compulsory activities
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Teacher
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CIMMARUTA Roberta
(syllabus)
General Ecology - The historical development of ecology. Ecology of the interactions between organisms and the physical environment: Conditions; Spatial and temporal variations; Adaptations in response to variations in environmental conditions; Limiting factors; Tolerance ranges; Environmental optima; Biological rhythms - climatic factors; Classification of climates; Phytogeographic zonation; Hints of paleoclimatology; Biomes. Evolutionary Ecology - Genetic analysis of populations; Hardy-Weinberg's law; Genetic variability; Evolutionary forces (mutation, selection, gene flow, genetic drift); inbreeding; Wahlund effect; Balanced polymorphisms; Linkage disequilibrium; supergenes; Genetic divergence; Species concept; Reproductive isolation mechanisms; Speciation mechanisms; Hybrid zones and reinforcement; Sibling species; Biodiversity at the genetic level. Population ecology - Demography and dynamics: population structure and growth; Demographic parameters; Demographic tables; Intrinsic growth rate - numerical regulation of populations; Density dependent and independent factors; Exponential growth; environmental carrying capacity - logistic growth curve. Interspecific interactions: symbiosis; commensalism; inquilinism; antibiosis; parasitism; adaptations to parasitic life; coevolution; predation - adaptations to predation; cryptism; mimicry; intraspecific competition; interspecific competition; ecological niche; Principle of competitive exclusion; character displacement; r and K selection. Community and Ecosystem Ecology – What is community and its diversity, diversity indices, natural successions. Principles of Biogeography and islands biogeography. Ecosystems: structure, primary and secondary productivity, flux of energy through the ecosystem, trophic webs.
(reference books)
M. L. Cain, W. D. Bowman, S. D. Hacker, “Ecologia”. Piccin Editore.
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Dates of beginning and end of teaching activities
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From to |
Delivery mode
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Traditional
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Attendance
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not mandatory
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Evaluation methods
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Oral exam
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Teacher
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CANESTRELLI Daniele
(syllabus)
General Ecology - The historical development of ecology; Ecology and its domain; Current state of ecological research in Italy. Ecology of the interactions between organisms and the physical environment: Conditions; Spatial and temporal variations; Adaptations in response to variations in environmental conditions; Limiting factors; Tolerance ranges; Environmental optima; Biological rhythms - climatic factors. Evolutionary Ecology - Genetic analysis of populations; Hardy-Weinberg's law; Genetic variability; Evolutionary forces (mutation, selection, gene flow, genetic drift); inbreeding; Wahlund effect; Balanced polymorphisms; Linkage disequilibrium; supergenes; Genetic divergence; Species concept; Reproductive isolation mechanisms; Speciation mechanisms; Hybrid zones and reinforcement; Sibling species; Biodiversity at the genetic level. Population ecology - Demography and dynamics: population structure and growth; Demographic parameters; Demographic tables; Intrinsic growth rate - numerical regulation of populations; Density dependent and independent factors; Exponential growth; environmental carrying capacity - logistic growth curve. Interspecific interactions: symbiosis; commensalism; inquilinism; antibiosis; parasitism; adaptations to parasitic life; coevolution; predation - adaptations to predation; cryptism; mimicry; intraspecific competition; interspecific competition; ecological niche; Principle of competitive exclusion; character displacement; r and K selection.
(reference books)
L. Bullini, S. Pignatti, A Virzo De Santo, "Ecologia Generale". UTET M. L. Cain, W. D. Bowman, S. D. Hacker, “Ecologia”. Piccin Editore. Krebs "Ecology", Neebo Ed.
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Dates of beginning and end of teaching activities
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From to |
Delivery mode
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Traditional
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Attendance
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not mandatory
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Evaluation methods
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Oral exam
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