Ecology and Natural Resources Conservation

Occurrence: 2020/21 - 1S

Courses

Hours Actually Taught

Learning outcomes of the curricular unit (knowledge, skills and competences to be developed by the students)

Acquiring knowledge and developing skills and competencies at several ecological levels: organization, composition, structure and diversity of communities and ecosystems; population dynamics and evolution; biodiversity conservation, environmental analysis techniques, legislation and environmental policies.

Syllabus

1. Objectives, principles and concepts of ecology. 2. Environmental influence on individuals. Individual variability and it's adaptation to the environment. 3. Organization and diversity of communities and ecosystems. 4. Population demography and dynamics: population size, age structure, spatial distribution, population growth, r and k strategies. Ecosystem changes during succession. 5. Landscape ecology: Origin of the landscape, landscape processes, structure and dynamics. Spatial structures analysis. 6. Biodiversity conservation and sustainable development goals. 7. Pollution and bio-indicators. 8. Environmental management systems: ISO (International Standard Organization) and EMAS (European Management and Audit Scheme), environmental impact assessment, environmental audits, risk analysis and assessment of life cycle. Environmental certification. 9. Environmental law and policy: within the United Nations, European Union and Portugal.

Teaching methodologies (including evaluation)

Classes will have a predominantly theoretical and practical nature associated with the elaboration of practical work with tutorial guidance.
Assessment:
1. Conditions for final exam admission
- Be enrolled in the course unit.
2. Conditions for the final exam exemption
- Students must perform 1 type A assessment test (reports, practical tests, oral tests) and 1 type B assessment test (written research papers, written tests).
- Students must obtain in all of the tests performed a rating equal or higher than 8,0 values.
- Students must obtain a minimum grade of 10 values resulting from the following evaluation weighting:
50% type A + 50% type B assessment tests
- Assistance at least 75% of the contact sessions.
3. Final exam
One written test

Bibliography (Mandatory resources)

Burel, F. & Baudry, J., 2000. Ecologie du paysage. Concepts, méthodes et applications. Editions TEC & DOC.
Carrapeto, C., 2004. Fundamentos de Ecologia. Universidade Aberta. Lisboa.
Guimarães, J. M., 1986. Apontamentos de Entomologia Agrícola. Escola Superior Agrária Castelo Branco.
Molles Jr., M. C., 2005. Ecology  Concepts and Applications. McGraw-Hill.
Moreira, I., et al. (Eds), 2004. Gestão Ambiental de Sistemas Fluviais. ISAPress.
Moriarty, F., 1999. Ecotoxycology. The study of pollutants in ecosystems. Academic Press.
Oliveira Santos J. F. 2005. Gestão Ambiental. Lidel  Edições Técnicas, Ldª.
Pité, M. T. & Avelar, T., 1996. Ecologia das populações e das comunidades. Uma abordagem evolutiva do estudo da biodiversidade. Fundação Calouste Gulbenkian, Lisboa.
Townsend, C., 2008. Ecological Applications toward a sustainable world. Blackwell, Australia.

Observations

Teaching methodologies (including evaluation)

Practical sessions and, at least, 50% of theoretical-practical sessions will be delivered in class mode.

Theoretical sessions will be delivered in online mode, when the in class mode makes it impossible for the previous priorities.

Periodical evaluations and exams will be in class.

Notice: in case of escaalation of Covid-19 pandemic in Portugal, there may be:

1) partial or total substitution of live sessions by online sessions;

2) periodical evaluations and the exams online.