Contents:
Starting from the basic concepts of ecology such as nature and sustainability, the course addresses current and relevant ecological issues for forests and society, such as the role of forests in biogeochemical cycles and the conservation of biodiversity.
The study of forest ecosystems is presented at different levels: from the relationship between environments and the environment, to the study of population and communities at local and landscape scale.
Textbooks:
Begon M, Townsend CR. 2021. Ecology: From Individuals to Ecosystems, 5th Edition Wiley
Smith TM, Smith RL. (2015) Elements of ecology (7th edition) Pearson BC.
Schulze ED et al. (2005) Plant ecology. Springer.
Learning Objectives
Knolewdge acquired:
Principles of ecology, dynamic in populations, community and ecosystems, with particular reference to energy flow and biogeochemical cycles.
Competence acquired (at the end of the course):
Comprehension of base mechanisms in population dynamics, community and ecosystems. Energy flow, BGC for forest ecosystems.
Skills acquired:
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, excursions and labs, although non compulsory, are strongly recommended: 2/3 of practical activities should be attended.
Teaching Methods
CFU: 9
Total hours of the course (including the time spent in attending lectures, seminars, private study, examinations, etc...): 225
Hours reserved to private study and other indivual formative activities:
144
Lectures (% total): 70%
Laboratory-field/practice (% total): 30%
* timetable and information, after lessons or by appointment
The course includes the use of the MOODLE platform for sharing lecture slides, and other teaching material, linked to WEBEX platform according to the Rules of the University.
Type of Assessment
Exam and evaluation criteria: interview of about 30' on 9 CFUs. Student capacity will be evaluated on her/his capacity to approach to ecological themes, to use appropriate scientific terms, and to discuss different aspects or viewpoints and argument relevant for forest ecology.
Interviews are held in the University classrooms or on the GMeet platform, according to the University Covid-19 Regulations, see:
https://www.unifi.it/cmpro-v-p-11772.html
Course program
A. Introduction to ecology. Ecology and society. Sustainability. Main impacts and anthropic pressures on ecosystems. Objectives of ecology and nature conservation. Ecosystem functions and services.
B. The study levels in ecology. Biological scale. Individual. Populations. Community. Ecosystem. Landscape. Biome. Definition and components.
C. Analysis of complex systems. Emerging and collective properties. Effect of perturbations: resistance and resilience. Adaptive capacity of complex systems. Environment and habitat.
D. Conditions and resources. Types and strategies of adaptation to the environment. Interaction between organisms-environment, response curves to the environment. Physical environment and its relations with plants and forest communities: solar radiation, heat, and water. Photosynthetically active radiation: shade tolerance and photomorphogenesis in forest tree species. Thermal limits to plant distribution; damages from thermal extremes. Plant distribution and site water balance. Plant responses to stress: resistance and tolerance. Ecological perturbations. Macro and microclimate. Earth's climates, climate change. Bioclimates. Fire as an ecological factor.The forest climate: influence of forest cover on light, heat, wind and water.
E. Forests as ecosystems. The forest as a functional system. Biotic and abiotic components of the environment. Energy flow; energy balance, net radiation, food chains, productivity. Relevant biogeochemical cycles. Global changes and their effects on cycles. Ecological productivity. Primary and secondary production. Control factors of the C budget of forests.
F. The biotic component of the forest ecosystem at the scale of individual, population, community.
G. Population, definition and structure. Type of distribution in space / time, abundance and composition of the population. Survival curves. Static and dynamic reliefs of abundance. Demographic balance equation: numerical growth models. Probability of extinction and minimum vital population. Abundance regulation factors: independent and density-dependent factors. Examples on logistic model and resource utilization. Maximum sustainable use of renewable resources. Dispersal and extinction in metapopulation ecology approach.
H. Comunity and biodiversity. Forest stand structure. Concepts of habitat and niche. Interactions among species and biodiversity. Concept of ecological succession: types, models, theories and applications. Landscape ecology.
FIELD TRIPS in the forest of Vallombrosa (near Florence) and San Rossore natural Park (near Pisa) and eventually other destinations according to Covid-19 University Rules.
IMPORTANT - To participate in the field activities it is required to have passed the safety training course, see rules: https://www.agraria.unifi.it/vp-107-corsi-di-formazione-sulla-sicurezza.html
Sustainable Development Goals 2030
Forest Ecology course contributes to all the UN Sustainable Development Goals and in particular to:
12 - Responsible Consumption and Production
13 - Climate action
15 - Life on Earth
as forests conserve the largest part of the carbon and biodiversity of terrestrial ecosystems.