Base Knowledge
Non applicable
Teaching Methodologies
Teaching is carried out by active learning techniques, study cases, and hands-on learning. Theoretical knowledge is provided in student-centered lectures. Subjects are further explored by practical field and laboratory work carried out in groups. The results of these tasks is presented to the colleagues.
Learning Results
1. To understand ecosystems as structural, functional, and dynamic units of the Biosphere;
2. To become familiar with the principles governing the distribution of terrestrial and aquatic ecosystems of the world and with major global ecological patterns;
3. To know the main Portuguese terrestrial and aquatic ecosystems;
4. To understand the flow of energy and materials through the ecosystems and the ecosystem services;
5. To develop an orientation to freshwater and terrestial field ecology by applying natural history, sampling and measurement methods;
6. To understand the impacts of human – including touristic – activities on ecosystems and be able to prevent them
Program
1.Ecology and the distribution of Life: How are climates distributed on earth? Life on land: terrestrial biomes and biogeographic regions; Life in water: how is life distributed in aquatic environments; Terrestrial and aquatic ecosystems represented in Portugal
2.Ecosystem functioning: Food webs; Primary production and energy flow through ecosystems; How do ecosystems recycle materials? Ecosystem services; Succession and stability
3.Geographic ecology: Area, isolation, and species richness; Island biogeography; Latitudinal gradients in species richness; Global patterns: El Niño e La Niña
4.Human effects on ecosystems: Tourism; Fishing and whaling; Agriculture; Pollution
Curricular Unit Teachers
Cristina Isabel Cabral GalhanoGrading Methods
- - Work in each unit (weight of each unit: 1: 35%; 2: 30%; 3: 20%; 4: 15%) - 40.0%
- - Written test in each unit (weight of each unit: 1: 35%; 2: 30%; 3: 20%; 4: 15%) - 60.0%
- - Written test - 100.0%
Internship(s)
NAO
Bibliography
BEGON, M; TOWNSEND, CR &HARPER, JL (2005)-Ecology: From Individuals to Ecosystems. 4th ed., Wiley-Blackwell [Part 3.Communities and Ecosystems]
MACKENZIE, A; BALL, AS & VIRDEE, SR (2001)–Instant Notes Ecology. 2nd ed., Oxford: BIOS Scientific Publishers Limited. [Sections C, P, R-U; W]
MOLLES, MC Jr. (2002)–Ecology: Concepts and Applications. 2nd ed., Boston: McGraw-Hill. [Sections V-VI]
RAVEN, P; JOHNSON, JB; MASON, KA; LOSOS, JB & SINGER, SS (2014)-Biology. 10th ed., Boston: McGraw Hill Higher Education. [Chapters 56-58]
SADAVA, D; HILLIS, DM; HELLER, HC & HACKER, SD (2017)-LIFE: the Science of Biology. 11th ed., Sunderland: Sinauer Associates & Macmillan Learning [Chapters 56-58]
TOBIN, AJ & DUSHECK, J (2005)–Asking about life. 3rd ed., Belmont: Thomson-Brooks/Cole [Chapters 25-28]