Lecturer: Renato Sconfietti  

Course name: Applied ecology
Course code: 502250
Degree course: Ingegneria per l'Ambiente e il Territorio
Disciplinary field of science: BIO/07
University credits: CFU 6
Course website: n.d.

Specific course objectives

Know the essential elements for understanding the dynamics of natural ecosystems, recognize, understand and evaluate the degree of human-induced alteration in the ecosystem; know the most effective measures for the protection, environmental restoration, mitigation of impacts in aquatic ecosystems.

Course programme

The sequence of topics is approximate. The application part will be largely devoted to case studies related to surface freshwaters, in reference to Italian and European legislation. The course is supplemented by a few brief classroom exercises on simulated cases and one or two practical exercises in the field.

Part I Basic definitions, ecological factors, biogeochemical cycles, species and population, community and ecosystem. Biodiversity. Part II Work on the main causes of deterioration and pollution and their effects in the three environmental media: air, water, soil. Insightful for freshwater aquatic ecosystems: River Continuum Concept, self-purification processes, eutrophication, human impacts, pollution. Constructed wetlands. Part III Biomarkers and their applications. Indices of environmental quality. Sludge Biotic Index. Biomonitoring. Minimum flow (DMV) in watercourses. Part IV Outline on naturalistic engineering. Outline on the restoration of natural and artificial aquatic environments. Practical case study.

Course entry requirements

The course does not provide specific prerequisites. We recommend a rereading of the texts contained in the chapters on the ecology of science high school attended.

Course structure and teaching

Lectures (hours/year in lecture theatre): 40
Practical class (hours/year in lecture theatre): 10
Practicals / Workshops (hours/year in lecture theatre): 6

Suggested reading materials

It can be useful a short text of basic ecology among the many on the market. The teacher makes available the teaching aids used for lessons.

Testing and exams

The exam consists of an oral exam; the solution of small problems or practical application or the evaluation indices studied may be required. For students who attend at least 70% of the course and only for the first session the examination can begin with a chosen topic on Parts I and II of the program.