Terrestrial Ecology
Code
10364
Academic unit
Faculdade de Ciências e Tecnologia
Department
Departamento de Ciências e Engenharia do Ambiente
Credits
3.0
Teacher in charge
Maria Teresa Calvão Rodrigues
Weekly hours
3
Total hours
44
Teaching language
Português
Objectives
Prerequisites
No special requirements are needed.
Subject matter
Theoretical classes
1. The interface between Climate and Vegetation – Global climate patterns.
2. Mediterranean type vegetation
3. Vegetation of Portugal: Potential vegetation and present vegetation. Landscape change. Protected species. Protected areas. Legislation. Invasive species
4. Fauna from Portugal
5. Biomes: Regional distribution; Climate; Soils; The vegetation history; Vegetation adaptive strategies, spatial structure; Energy flow and productivity. Biogeochemical cycling; Fauna; Impact of human activities on ecosystem processes.
- Tundra
- Northern coniferous forests
- Temperate grasslands
- Temperate deciduous forests
- Laurisilva (Evergreen broadleaved subtropical forests)
- Deserts
- Savannas
- Tropical deciduous forests
- Tropical rain forests
Practical classes
The exercises performed during practical classes intend to highlight the potential of GISs (ArcGis10) as tools in ecological studies at various spatial scales.
Bibliography
GLOBAL CLIMATE PATTERNS
DEMANGEOT, J. 1984. Les milieux "naturels" du globe. Masson S.A., Paris, 250 pp.
BIOMES
ARCHIBOLD, O. W. 1995. Ecology of world vegetation. Chapman & Hall, 510 pp.
BARBOUR, M. G., BURK, J. H. & PITTS, W. D. 1987. Terrestrial plant ecology, second edition. The Benjamin/Cummings Publishing Company, Inc., Menlo Park, California, 634 pp.
DEMANGEOT, J. 1984. Les milieux "naturels" du globe. Masson S.A., Paris, 250 pp.
GODRON, M. 1984. Écologie de la végétation terrestre. Masson S.A, Paris,196 pp.
LEMPS, H. de. 1970. La végétation de la terre. Masson et Cie, Éditeurs, Paris, 143 pp.
WALTER, H. 1985. Vegetation of the Earth and ecological systems of the geo-biosphere, third edition. Springer-Verlag, 318 pp.
MEDITERRANEAN VEGETATION
ARCHIBOLD, O. W. 1995. Ecology of world vegetation. Chapman & Hall, 510 pp.
CASTRI, F. Di. 1981. Mediterranean-type shrublands of the world. In: Mediterranean-type shrublands. (F. Di Castri, D. W. Goodall e R. L. Specht, Eds.), Elsevier Scientific Publishing Company, pp. 1-52.
CORREIA, O. C. A. 1988. Contribuição da fenologia e ecofisiologia em estudos de sucessão e dinâmica da vegetação mediterrânica. Dissertação apresentada para obtenção do grau de Doutor em Biologia (Ecologia e Biossistemática). Faculdade de Ciências da Universidade de Lisboa, Lisboa, 196 pp.
DELL, B., HOPKINS, A. J. M. & LAMONT, B. B. (editors). 1986. Resilience in mediterranean-type ecosystems. Dr W. Junk Publishers, 168 pp. Tasks for Vegetation Science, 16.
DI CASTRI, F. & MOONEY, H. A. (editors). 1973. Mediterranean type ecosystems: origin and structure. Springer-Verlag, 405 pp. Ecological Studies, 7.
GÓMEZ-CAMPO, C. (editor). 1985. Plant conservation in the Mediterranean area. Dr W. Junk Publishers, 269 pp.
IBÁÑEZ, J. J., VALERO GARCÉS, B. L. & MACHADO, C. (eds.). 1997. El paisaje mediterráneo a través del espacio y del tiempo. Implicaciones en la desertificación. Geoforma Ediciones, Logroño, 478 pp.
MILLER, P. C. (Editor). 1981. Resource use by chaparral and matorral. A comparison of vegetation function in two mediterranean type ecosystems. Springer-Verlag, 455 pp. Ecological Studies 39.
OVINGTON, J. D. (editor) 1983. Temperate broad-leaved evergreen forests. Elsevier, 241 pp. Ecosystems of the World, 10.
SPECHT, R. L. (editor) 1988. Mediterranean-type ecosystems. A data source book. Kluwer Academic Publishers, 248 pp.
TENHUNEN, J. D., CATARINO, F. M., LANGE, O. L. & OECHEL, W. C. (editors). 1987. Plant response to stress. Functional analysis in mediterranean ecosystems. Springer-Verlag.
VEGETATION OF PORTUGAL
ALVES, J. M. S., ESPÍRITO SANTO, M. D., COSTA, J. C., GONÇALVES, J. H. C. e LOUSÃ, M. F. 1998. Habitats naturais e seminaturais de Portugal continental. Tipos de habitats mais significativos e agrupamentos vegetais característicos. Instituto da Conservação da Natureza, Lisboa, 167 pp.
COSTA, J. C., AGUIAR, C, CAPELO, J. H., LOUSÃ, M. & NETO, C. 1998. Biogeografia de Portugal Continental. Quercetea, 0: 1-56.
Teaching method
The teaching method includes weekly theoretical classes (2h) and practical classes (1h).
During theoretical classes the different subjects of the program will be explained, using, where possible, knowledge acquired in other courses such as climatology and soils, among others, in an integrative view. Whenever there is opportunity facts/news (loss of biodiversity, climate change) will be referred in order to allow consolidation of the concepts. Students will work in teams of two.
In the practical classes students will work with a Geographic Information System in seeking solutions to proposed problems: organize, manipulate and interpret data, discuss results and propose solutions.
Evaluation method
To be awarded a passing grade, the student will have to attend 2/3 of the practical classes except in the case of employed students or if frequency was obtained in the preceding year. A minimum grade of 9.5 is required in the practical component.
The theoretical component will account for 55% of the final grade and the practical component 45%. Each component requires a minimum grade of 9.5.
The evaluation mode of the theoretical component will consist in four written tests during the semester. The objective is to provide not only a continuous learning evaluation, but more importantly, continuous learning. Thus, the high number of tests throughout the semester will allow students to correct errors, identify gaps, ie reorganize the learning process, if this is necessary.
The evaluation mode of the practical component will be achieved as the weighted mean of written reports based on exercises performed during the practical classes.
The final exam will cover all subjects of the theoretical component. It will be done by those students who did not perform the tests or had less than 9.5 at their average value or students who want to improve the grade.