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Biodiversity and Nature Conservation

Home / Oferta Formativa / Coimbra Agriculture School / Bachelor / Bachelor in Tourism in Rural and Natural Areas

Base Knowledge

Non applicable

Teaching Methodologies

In each unit, the main concepts will be exposed via theoretical lectures followed by discussions, research procedures and/or field trips. The research procedures and/or field trips are coordinated by the professor and the students will carry out autonomous work in order to apply and develop the theoretical concepts.

Learning Results

1. To understand the concept of biodiversity at various levels of biological organization, and recognize the importance of biodiversity under different perspectives.

2. To know the main threats, and how to preserve/conserve biodiversity.

Program

1. Introduction (12 hours): concept of Biodiversity; values related to Biodiversity ( environmental, consumptive, production, ethical and moral, aesthetic.).

2. Importance of Biodiversity (12 hours): types; patterns; importance.

3. Threats to Biodiversity (12 hours): habitat loss; overharvesting; exotic species; climate change.

4. Preserving/Conserving Biodiversity (24 hours): recent and current extinction rates; estimates of present-day extinction rates; changing human behaviour; conservation in preserves; habitat restoration, the role of Zoos and Captive Breeding.

Curricular Unit Teachers

Hélia Sofia Duarte Canas Marchante

Grading Methods

Continuous evaluation

2 Written tests - 60.0% (Test 1: 30% + Test 2: 30%)

2 Research assignments/works, which may include oral presentation - 40.0% ( Work 1: 20% + Work 2: 10% + Work 3: 10%)

 

Exam

Written test - 100.0%

 

Note: The ethical and responsible use of Artificial Intelligence (AI) systems is permitted at UC only in assignments /works or situations expressly indicated by the professor, and their use must always be clearly acknowledged and described. Once the “Regulations on the Use of Artificial Intelligence (AI) Systems at the Polytechnic University of Coimbra” are published, they must be followed.


    Internship(s)

    NAO

    Bibliography

    BEGON, M.; TOWNSEND, C.R.; HARPER, J.L. 2005. Ecology: From Individuals to Ecosystems. 4th ed., Wiley-Blackwell (Chapter 25)

    CENTRO DE ECOLOGIA, EVOLUÇÃO E ALTERAÇÕES AMBIENTAIS (coord.). 2023. Lista Vermelha de Grupos de Invertebrados Terrestres e de Água Doce de Portugal Continental (em desenvolvimento). Available: http://lvinvertebrados.pt/

    IPBES. 2019. Summary for policymakers of the global assessment report on biodiversity and ecosystem services of the Intergovernmental Science-Policy Platform on Biodiversity and Ecosystem Services. DÍAZ, S. et al. (eds.). IPBES secretariat, Bonn, Germany. 56 pp. isponível: https://www.ipbes.net/ipbes-global-assessment-report-biodiversity-ecosystem-services

    IPBES. 2023. Summary for policymakers of the thematic assessment of invasive alien species and their control of the Intergovernmental Platform on Biodiversity and Ecosystem Services. ROY, H. et al. (eds.) IPBES secretariat, Bonn, Germany. 41 pp. https://doi.org/10.5281/zenodo.7430692. Disponível: https://www.ipbes.net/ias

    MARCHANTE, H., MORAIS, M., FREITAS, H. & MARCHANTE, E. 2014. Guia Prático para a Identificação de Plantas Invasoras em Portugal. Imprensa da Universidade de Coimbra. Coimbra. Pp. 208. Available: https://www.invasoras.pt/pt/publicações

    MATHIAS,M.L. (COORD.); FONSERCA, C.; RODRIGUES, L.; GRILO, C.; LOPES-FERNANDES, M.; PALMEIRIM, JM.; SANTOS-REIS, M.; ALVES, P.C.; CABRAL, J.A.; FERREIRA, M.; MIRA,A.; EIRA, C.; NEGRÕES, N.; PAUPÉRIO, J.; PITA, R.; RAINHO, A.; ROSALINO, L.M.; TAPISSO, J.T.; VINGADA,J. (eds.) 2023. Livro Vermelho dos Vertebrados de Portugal Continental. Fciências ID. ICNF. Lisboa. 374 p. Available: https://livrovermelhodosmamiferos.pt/projeto

    ** PRIMACK, R.B. 2014. Essential of Conservation Biology. 6ª Ed. Sinauer. (Chapters 1 – 10, 14, 19)

    PRIMACK, R.B. & Rodrigues, E. 2001. Biologia da Conservação. Londrina, Gráfica Editora Midiograf, 2001.

    RAVEN, Peter H. & JOHNSON, George B. (2002) – Biology. 6th ed., Boston: McGraw Hill Higher Education. (Chapter 30)

    SADAVA, D.; Heller, H. C.; ORIANS, G.H.; PURVES, W.K. & HILLIS, D.M. 2008. LIFE: the Science of Biology. 8th ed., Sunderland: Sinauer Associates, Inc. (Chapter 57)

    ** SODHI, N.S. & P. R. EHRLICH. 2010. Conservation Biology for All, Oxford University Press (Chapters 1,2, 4 – 8, 10, 14)

    SOCIEDADE PORTUGUESA DE BOTÂNICA. 2012-2013. Flora-On: Flora de Portugal interactiva. Available: http://www.flora-on.pt

    SOCIEDADE PORTUGUESA DE BOTÂNICA & PHYTOS. 2018. Lista Vermelha da Flora Vascular de Portugal Continental. Available: http://listavermelha-flora.pt/

    SUTHERLAND, W.J. et al. 2026. A horizon scan of global biological conservation issues for 2026. Trends in Ecology & Evolution. 41 (1): 91-101. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.tree.2025.10.016

    TOBIN, A. J.& DUSHECK, J. 2005. Asking about life. 3rd ed., Belmont: Thomson Learning, Inc. (Chapters 28)

    Legislação específica sob a forma de Directivas, Decretos-Lei, Portarias, etc.

    ** sources more used