Ecossistemas

Biology, Ecology, Chemistry and English

Teaching methodologies: Presentation of concepts and case studies. Resolution of quizzes. Preparation of presentations, essays, reports, and quizzes.

Students should be able to.
1.1 Define biodiversity, ecosystem services and ecology.
1.2 List and describe the environmental factors (biotic and abiotic) and indicate adaptations of living beings to these factors.
1.3 Distinguish the elements that make up an ecosystem and explain the interrelationships between them.
1.4 Explain the mechanisms of maintenance and rupture of ecological balance.
1.5 Explain the flows of matter and energy along the food chains.
1.6 Distinguish between food chains and food webs.
2.1 List and describe the various types of biome existing on the planet and identify their typical location.
2.2 Identify the various types of biome existing in the EU and Portugal.
3.1 Distinguish between natural and artificial ecosystems.
3.2 List and describe the various types of ecosystem services.
4.1 List and describe strategies for nature conservation and biodiversity and identify authorities for nature conservation.
4.2 Give examples of international agreements aimed at nature conservation and biodiversity.
5.1 Distinguish between Environmental Impact Assessment of projects, Environmental Assessment of plans and programmes and Appropriate Assessment of plans and projects in relation to Natura 2000 sites.
5.2 Indicate advantages of taking biodiversity into account in environmental assessment processes.
6.1 Justify the value of biodiversity in light of the various valuation criteria.
6.2 Define externality and give examples of externalities; .
6.3 List and describe methods for the economic valuation of non-market goods.
6.4 Distinguish between different techniques for monitoring biodiversity and ecosystem services.
6.5 List and describe the processes responsible for the loss of biodiversity.
6.6 Identify strategies for nature conservation and biodiversity.
6.7 Explain how to restore ecosystems to provide ecosystem services.

1. Fundamental concepts of biodiversity and ecosystem services;
2. Distribution of biodiversity in the EU and in the World;
3. Typology of ecosystems and their services;
4. Legislative and institutional framework and international agreements;
5. Biodiversity in Environmental Impact Assessment;
6. Biodiversity management: Economic valuation, monitoring and conservation of biodiversity and ecosystem services; Restoration of ecosystems to provide services.

NAO

– Begon, M.;Townsend, C.; Harper, J. (2021). Ecology: from individuals to ecosystems. Cambridge (5.ª ed.). Wiley.
– Bradshaw, S., Linneker, B., Nascimento, N., Caballero, I.N.V., Costa, H., Oki, Y., Pires, R.B.W., Juntti, M., Lundy, L., Scott-Brown, K. & Wade, R. (2016). Guia para a avaliação de serviços de ecossistema para a transformação urbana. Middlesex University, Universidade Federal de Minas Gerais, Abertay University. https://www.ehr.ufmg.br/guia-para-a-avaliacao-de-servicos-de-ecossistema-para-a-transformacao-urbana/
– Grooten, M. & Almond, R.E.A.(Eds) (2018). Living Planet Report – 2018: Aiming Higher. WWF International https://www.worldwildlife.org/pages/living-planet-report-2018  
– ICNF (2020). Descubra as nossa áreas protegidas. Instituto da Conservação da Natureza e das Florestas, I. P. (ICNF) https://www.icnf.pt/noticias/descubraasnossasareasprotegidas  
– Jeffery, S., Gardi, C., Jones, A., Montanarella, L., Marmo, L., Miko, L., Ritz, K., Peres, G., Römbke, J. & van der Putten, W. H. (eds.) (2010). European Atlas of Soil Biodiversity. European Commission, Publications Office of the European Union. https://esdac.jrc.ec.europa.eu/content/atlas-soil-biodiversity
– Orgiazzi, A., Bardgett, R.D., Barrios, E., Behan-Pelletier, V., Briones, M.J.I., Chotte, J-L., De Deyn, G.B., Eggleton, P., Fierer, N., Fraser, T., Hedlund, K., Jeffery, S., Johnson, N.C., Jones, A., Kandeler, E., Kaneko, N., Lavelle, P., Lemanceau, P., Miko, L., Montanarella, L., Moreira, F.M.S., Ramirez, K.S., Scheu, S., Singh, B.K., Six, J., van der Putten, W.H., Wall, D.H. (Eds.) (2016). Global Soil Biodiversity Atlas. European Commission, Publications Office of the European Union. https://esdac.jrc.ec.europa.eu/content/global-soil-biodiversity-atlas 
– Pereira, H.;  Domingos, T.; Vicente, L. & Proença, V.  (2009). Ecossistemas e Bem-Estar Humano: Avaliação para Portugal do Millennium Ecosystem Assessment. Escolar Editora: Lisboa https://ecossistemas.org/pt/relatorios.htm
– Rodrigues, A.C., Ferraz, A.I. (2011). Biotecnologia – Ambiente e Desenvolvimento Sustentável. Publindústria.
– Sukhdev, P., Wittmer, H., Schröter-Schlaack, C., Nesshöver, C., Bishop, J., tem Brink, P., Gundimeda, H., Kumar, P., Simmons, B. & Neuville, A. (2010). A economia dos ecossistemas e da biodiversidade: Integrando a economia da natureza. Uma síntese da abordagem, conclusões e recomendações do TEEB. United Nations Environment Programme. https://www.teebweb.org/wp-content/uploads/Study%20and%20Reports/Reports/Synthesis%20report/TEEB_Sintese-Portugues.pdf