BIODIVERSITY AND RESILIENT ECOSYSTEMS - 156R005

courses

ID:

156R005

Dettaglio:

SSD: Ecology Duration: 36 CFU: 6

Located in:

BERGAMO

Url:

Course Details:

GEOURBANISTICS. TERRITORIAL, URBAN, ENVIRONMENTAL ANALYSIS, PLANNING AND LANDSCAPE DESIGN - 156-R/Sustainable places and networks Year: 1

Year:

2026

Date/time interval

Secondo Semestre (22/02/2027 - 04/06/2027)

Course Objectives

The course offers the student basic knowledge on ecological theories and methods of analyzing biodiversity and evaluating environmental interactions related to disturbances and threats. The objectives of the training project are the development of solid skills in the various sectors of Ecology applied to the study and management of natural resources and its functions. The objective of the module is to develop the student's theoretical and applicative skills for the analysis and evaluation of ecological functions, of their dynamics at different space-time scales. The evaluation will also cover the interactions and impact on the landscape of human actions, taking into account the principles for Sustainable Development and the 17 Goals of the 2030 Agenda (SDGs).

Course Prerequisites

None

Teaching Methods

The course is held through lectures, for a total of n. 20 hours, but with a specific attention to the interaction and the dialogue of students, who can formulate proposals for further studies or debates. This method is supported by visual tools (power point presentations) and multimedia connections, in order to facilitate learning.
Furthermore, the remaining ten hours of teaching are carried out within the project work – that is, an interdisciplinary activity built around territorial application projects involving the active participation of students – which pursues a unitary teaching between theoretical training and applied research.

Assessment Methods

The assessment of learning is graded out of 30 points and is based on a written examination that also incorporates the results of the project work. Specifically, the written examination, which covers topics discussed in the course, evaluates: (a) theoretical understanding of the ecological concepts covered during the program; (b) the student's critical ability to apply the learned concepts through specific examples and to interrelate them. The examination, lasting at least 30 minutes, comprises 10 questions, each valued at up to 3 points, and aims to assess both the ability to accurately apply theoretical knowledge and the comprehension of the posed issues. In this context, the portfolio developed as part of the project work, consisting of a collection of individual and/or collective works (such as mappings, infographics, dossiers, territorial assessments, and video clips), is evaluated to gauge the student's grasp of the topics as well as the application skills cultivated throughout the training process.The candidate is required to submit the comprehensive portfolio to the Professor's email address no later than one week prior to the scheduled examination date.

The module examines the contents of biodiversity and environmental assessment, paying special attention to impacts that pose a threat to Natural Capital and ecosystem services. This approach is addressed in the perspective of Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) and the Italian Biodiversity Strategy 2030, analyzing in particular the relationship between humans and the environment and between ecosystem quality and spatial planning, in order to define mitigation and compensation actions.

This module examines biodiversity and environmental assessment in depth, with a particular focus on the impacts that threaten natural capital and ecosystem services. The topic is addressed within the framework of the UN Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) and Italy’s National Biodiversity Strategy 2030, analysing the relationships between people and the environment, as well as between ecosystem quality and spatial planning, to define effective mitigation and compensation measures. Main topics:

Ecosystem ecology

The ecosystem: components and factors
Habitat and ecological niche
Environmental factors and the concept of limiting factor
Ecosystem energetics and the solar spectrum
Productivity
Trophic webs, energy flow and food-chain length
Ecological pyramids

Population ecology

Concept of species and populations
Spatial distribution of organisms
Dispersal and migration
Population dynamics: natality and mortality
Exponential population growth
Survival and mortality curves
Life-history strategies

Community ecology

Interactions among populations; community structure and dynamics
Interspecific competition; Gause’s competitive-exclusion principle and competition models
Biodiversity and diversity indices (species richness, dominance, overall diversity)
Community boundaries
Factors influencing diversity and the causes of biodiversity loss

Environmental Impact Assessment (EIA) and Strategic Environmental Assessment (SEA)

European, national and regional regulatory frameworks
Analysis of environmental components and factors: atmosphere; aquatic environment; soil and subsoil; flora, vegetation and fauna; ecosystems; landscape; public health; noise and vibration; radiation
Structure of an environmental impact study, impact evaluation, and related mitigation and compensation measures