The course is focused on the following three issues: (a) population dynamics and communities at different spatial scales; (B) energy flows; (C) biogeochemical cycles. Particular attention to the issues of description and conservation of biodiversity and estimation of productivity of forest ecosystems, including resistance, resilience to perturbations and carrying capacity of ecosystems. Ecological applications to forest management will be presented.
Textbooks:
Smith TM, Smith RL. (2008) Elements of ecology (7th edition) Pearson BC.
Schulze ED et al. (2005) Plant ecology. Springer.
Begon M, Howarth RW, Townsend CR. 2014. Essentials of Ecology. Wiley
Learning Objectives
Knolewdge acquired:
Principles of ecology, population dynamics and community ecology, energy flow and biogeochemical cycles in ecosystems.
Competence acquired (at the end of the course):
Comprehension of the base mechanisms in population dynamics and community ecology, energy flow, BGC for forest ecosystems.
Skills acquired (at the end of the course):
Applications of the competences acquired during the course for the analysis of ecological problems, included synthesis and evaluation of forest ecology questions.
Prerequisites
Frequency of lectures, practice and lab, although non compulsory, is strongly recommended
Teaching Methods
CFU: 6
Total hours of the course (including the time spent in attending lectures, seminars, private study, examinations, etc...): 150
Hours reserved to private study and other indivual formative activities:
96
Contact hours for: Lectures (hours):
34
Contact hours for: Laboratory (hours):
0
Contact hours for: Laboratory-field/practice (hours):
20
Seminars (hours):
0
Stages:
0
Intermediate examinations:
0
Further information
Contacts:
* e-mail: sabrina.raddi@unifi.it; please introduce your message with a reference about the course, ie. OGGETTO: ECOLOGIA FORESTALE ....
* cell. phone number, office hours: ++39 340 5817650.
* information, after lessons, and MON 10:00-11:00 / WED 10:00-11:00
The course will use Moodle platform for lecture slide sharing, and other teaching aids.
Examination of the joint course 'Selvicoltura and forest ecology' (Prof. Raddi and Prof. Salbitano) is held as a single trial.
Type of Assessment
Exam modality: verbal examination on the subjects of lectures and laboratory (both modules together)
Course program
Forest and agricultural systems. Role of forest at different scales: local, regional and global scale. Productivity, biodiversity and environmental role of forestry.
Energy flow. Solar radiation, interception of radiation, leaf area index, light use efficiency. Gross productivity, respiration losses and net productivity. Growth models. Net ecosystem productivity.
Biogeochemical cycles. Introduction. Relationship between growth and main environmental factors: light, water and nutrients. Natural and anthropogenic systems. Water cycle. Energy balance, sensible and latent heat. Interception and evapotraspiration. Carbon cycle. Climate change relevance. Photosynthesis and productivity. Comparison among forest ecosystems and land uses. Nutrient cycle. Nitrogen cycle. Nitrogen and forest productivity. Eutrophication. Human influences in BG cycles. Interaction among individuals. Relevance of biodiversity. Resistance, resilience, carrying capacity of forest ecosystems. Population dynamics: forest evolution phases, successional series, fauna influence for natural forest rejuvenation. Ecology of disturbances. Natural and human disturbances. Applications of ecology in management.
Field excursions in forests in bottomland, on hills and mountains. Role of light, water and nitrogen in forest ecology. Carbon cycle monitoring.