Biology
Code
10350
Academic unit
Faculdade de Ciências e Tecnologia
Department
Departamento de Ciências e Engenharia do Ambiente
Credits
6.0
Teacher in charge
Maria Helena Ferrão Ribeiro da Costa, Maria Luísa Faria de Castro de Castro e Lemos
Weekly hours
5
Total hours
85
Teaching language
Português
Objectives
The main objective of this discipline is to supply the biological knowledge essential to a future environmental engineer, specifically: i) the understanding of the basic processes that attend evolution and functioning of plant and animal species; ii) the understanding of the complex role of biota in environment and related social-economic aspects, providing the science-bases to the decision making; iii) the development of biodiversity concepts and of conservation and restoration relevance. The knowledge acquired in this discipline is crucial for the areas of ecology, environmental quality, ecotoxicology, human health, environmental impact assessment and ecological modelling.
Prerequisites
any
Subject matter
I The Cell. Procariotic and eucariotic cell. The endomembrane system. Passive and active processes of membrane transport. Cytoskeleton.
II Information and heredity. Organelles that process information. Chromosomes, the cell cycle and cell division. The eukaryotic genome and its expression. Defense mechanisms against disease. The immune system.
III Physiology. Plant physiology. Autotrophic processes. Adaptation mechanisms. Animal physiology. Respiratory efficiency. Regulation and homeostasis.
IV Evolutionary processes The history of life on earth. Biological classification and evolutionary relationships. The mechanisms of evolution. Reconstructing and using phylogenies.
V The evolution of biodiversity Protists. Plants without seeds. Plants with seeds. Early animals and Lophotrochozoans. Ecdysozoans. Deurerostomes.
VI Animal and Plant communities of different types of Ecosystems. Study of the most representative species of distinct environments, through an integrated multi-level approach - taxonomy, comparative morphology and physiology and environmental needs. Laboratory classes together with fieldwork will enable the biota general study in the context of the ecosystem.
Bibliography
- A vast set of publications of ICN - Institute of Nature Conservation, about plant and animal biodiversity of national habitats - Continent and isles.
Teaching method
The contents of this discipline are organized in six Modules. The first five modules supply the basic information of life structure and functioning. Module VI is structuralized in fieldworks, laboratory observations, comment, discussion and presentation of short works for the students.
In the 5 presential weekly hours, the emphasis is for the basic and structuring aspects of respective program contents. The tutorial support is essential to deepen specific subjects, guide the study and the acquisition of knowledge.
Encouraging participation and involvement in group discussion, are privileged aspects particularly in the last module.
Evaluation method
Continued evaluation.
The assessment consists of four tests throughout the semester about theoretical program and six mini-tests in practical classes.
Theoretical and practical will have an identical weight, 50% in the final assessment.with a minimum grade of 10 values for each of the components
Final rating: 0.50 (T) + 0.50 (P)
The frequency is given by the presence of the student in at least two thirds of the number of practical classes.