Academic Year/course:
2017/18
25211 - Ecology I
Syllabus Information
Academic Year:
2017/18
Subject:
25211 - Ecology I
Faculty / School:
201 - Escuela Politécnica Superior
Degree:
277 - Degree in Environmental Sciences
571 - Degree in Environmental Sciences
ECTS:
6.0
Year:
2
Semester:
First Four-month period
Subject Type:
Compulsory
Module:
---
1.2. Recommendations to take this course
This subject is offered in the English Friendly form
5.1. Methodological overview
The learning of the subject is based on the following:
Theory lessons. The student will be provided with references and presentations of each chapter of the subject before the lectures. During theory lessons some students chosen by the teacher will present their view on the lesson, based on their own knowledge and the information provided by the teacher. This information should have been previously studied by the students.
The teacher will give master lectures of each lesson and will question the students. External experts will give specific conferences.
The evaluation of the theory will be completed with two tests (Continuous Evaluation).
The practical part will consist in: (i) a full day field work devoted to ecosystem recognition and (ii) the elaboration of several ecology reports of a field area near Huesca city. These reports will be supervised by the teacher. They will consist in regular team tutorials. Both practical activities will be completed with: (i) computer sessions in order to learn to manage ecologic models, and (ii) lab sessions dedicated to perform different analysis and experiments.
5.2. Learning tasks
The program offered to the students to help them achieve the expected results, comprise the following activities:
Theory sessions in the classroom
A presentation of each lesson will be provided, as well as additional references, both available on Moodle platform. This information has to be studied previous to the lecture by the students.
These sessions will comprise student’s involvement and master presentation by the teacher. Other sessions will correspond to expert’s participation in the subject and seminars presented by students.
Lab and computer practices
A script of the practice will be provided, including on-site and non-on-site activities.
Tutorials
Individual and team tutorials will be offered to facilitate theory and practice lectures.
Teaching work
Different ecology and environmental lessons will be proposed to the students. They should develop them with teacher’s support and present a final report.
5.3. Syllabus
Unit 1. Introduction to Ecology
1 The concept of Ecology. Study object. History
2 Non-equilibrium perspective. Social context
3 The scientific method. System theory. Ecosystem concept. Gaia
4 Ecology and Environment
Unit 2. Physical Environment and Organisms
1 Resource and conditions. Limiting factors
2 Astronomic and geologic context
3 Atmosphere – Oceanic circulation system
4 Climates and microclimates
5 Organisms and radiation
6 Organisms and Temperature
7 Organism and water availability. Ecohidrology
8 Abiotic factors in water and terrestrial environments
9 Terrestrial environments: geomorphology and soil
10 A synthesis on the importance of abiotic factors. Ecology niche concept
11 Time evolution response
12 History biogeography
Unit 3. Populations
1 Population and metapopulation. Conceptual basis
2 Primary and secondary parameters. Tabulation
3 Life cycles
4 Intraspecific competition
5 Population dynamics
6 Growth regulation
5.4. Course planning and calendar
Calendar of on-site lectures and report presentations
The average student should dedicate about 150 h to this 6 ECTS subject.
|
Activity and week
|
1
|
2
|
3
|
4
|
5
|
6
|
7
|
8
|
9
|
10
|
|
On-site
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Theory
|
2
|
2
|
2
|
2
|
2
|
1
|
2
|
2
|
2
|
1
|
|
Field work
|
|
|
7
|
|
|
|
7
|
|
|
|
|
Field work tutorials
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Lab
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Computer practice
|
|
|
|
2
|
2
|
2
|
|
|
|
|
|
Evaluation
|
|
|
|
|
|
1
|
|
|
|
1
|
|
Non on-site
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Academic work
|
|
|
|
|
|
3
|
2
|
3
|
2
|
|
|
Study
|
4
|
4
|
5
|
5
|
5
|
3
|
3
|
3
|
3
|
5
|
|
TOTAL
|
6
|
6
|
14
|
9
|
9
|
10
|
14
|
8
|
7
|
7
|
|
Activity and week
|
11
|
12
|
13
|
14
|
15
|
16
|
17
|
18
|
19
|
TOTAL
|
|
On-site
|
2
|
2
|
2
|
2
|
1
|
|
|
|
|
27
|
|
Theory
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
14
|
|
Field work
|
3
|
|
|
3
|
|
|
|
|
|
6
|
|
Field work tutorials
|
|
2
|
2
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
4
|
|
Lab
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
6
|
|
Computer practice
|
|
|
|
|
1
|
|
|
2
|
|
5
|
|
Evaluation
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Non on-site
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
10
|
|
Academic work
|
4
|
5
|
5
|
5
|
4
|
6
|
6
|
|
|
75
|
|
Study
|
9
|
9
|
9
|
10
|
6
|
6
|
6
|
2
|
0
|
147
|
|
TOTAL
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
The lectures calendar will consider the University of Saragossa calendar. Timetable of the subject, tutorials, exams and the affected classrooms can be checked in the School’s web page.
5.5. Bibliography and recommended resources
The references of each course will be updated and can be consulted from the library’s web.
| BB |
Begon, Michael. Ecología : individuos, poblaciones y comunidades / Michel Begon, John L. Harper, Colin R. Townsend ; traducido por Miquel Riba Rovira, Raymond Salvador Civil . - 3ª ed. Barcelona : Omega, D.L.1999 |
| BB |
Smith, Thomas Michael. Ecología / Thomas M. Smith, Robert Leo Smith . - 6a. ed. Madrid [etc.] : Pearson Addison-Wesley, D.L. 2007 |
| BC |
Díaz Pineda, Francisco. Ecología I : ambiente físico y organismos vivos / Francisco Díaz Pineda . - 2ª reimp. Madrid : Síntesis, 1989 (reimp. 1996) |
| BC |
Margalef, Ramón. Planeta azul, planeta verde / Ramón Margalef . - [1a. ed.] Barcelona : Prensa Científica, 1992 |
| BC |
Rodríguez, Jaime. Ecología / Jaime Rodríguez Madrid : Pirámide, D.L.1999 |
| BC |
Terradas, Jaume. Ecología de la vegetación : de la ecofisiología de las plantas a la dinámica de comunidades y paisajes / Jaume Terradas. Barcelona : Omega, D.L. 2001 |
The updated recommended bibliography can be consulted in: http://psfunizar7.unizar.es/br13/egAsignaturas.php?id=10973