Conservation of Mediterranean Vegetation

Code: BIO10183M

6 ECTS

Duration: 15 weeks/156 hours

Scientific Area: Biological Sciences

Teaching languages: Portuguese

Languages of tutoring support: Portuguese, English

Regime de Frequência: Presencial

Sustainable Development Goals

Erradicar a fome - Acabar com a fome, alcançar a segurança alimentar e melhoria da nutrição e promover a agricultura sustentável.

Educação de qualidade - Assegurar a educação inclusiva, e equitativa e de qualidade, e promover oportunidades de aprendizagem ao longo da vida para todos.

Trabalho digno e crescimento económico - Promover o crescimento económico sustentado, inclusivo e sustentável, emprego pleno e produtivo, e trabalho decente para todos.

Produção e consumo sustentáveis - Assegurar padrões de produção e de consumo sustentáveis.

Ação climática - Tomar medidas urgentes para combater a mudança climática e seus impactos (*).

Proteger a vida terrestre - Proteger, recuperar e promover o uso sustentável dos ecossistemas terrestres, gerir de forma sustentável as florestas, combater a desertificação, deter e reverter a degradação da Terra e deter a perda da biodiversidade.

Learning Goals

Understanding the processes that define the current Mediterranean flora and vegetation, the factors determinants for the conservation of their diversity, the different scales of conservation of Mediterranean vegetation and the conservation strategies that can be adopted.

1. Characterization of the Mediterranean region
Origin and history of flora and vegetation. Physical characterization, biological limits and current processes.
2. Determinants for the conservationy
Conservation and development; economic contribution of plants. Maintenance of essential habitats and environmental stability.
3. The case of the Iberian Peninsula
Floristic richness. Habitat mosaics. Endemic, rare and endangered plant species. Invasive plants.
4. Scales of conservation
Conservation of habitats, communities and ecosystems. Ex situ conservation and its constraints. Genetic and germplasm banks.
5. Strategies for conservation
Recovery and restoration of habitats. Reintegration of fragmented habitats. Climate change and conservation.
Ecosystem Management and conservation of plant diversity - Case studies

Teaching Methods

The teaching / learning process is based on theoretical and theoretical / practical classes with exposure of the syllabus and discussion with students about relevant aspects pre-sented in class. Availability of materials and supplementary materials used in the e-learning platform. The lectured theoretical modules will be complemented with field trips and / or study visits, and with the analysis of recent research papers related to program topics.
Assessment methods: Final theoretical evaluation: 40%; Other moments of evaluation based on the analysis of research papers: 60%.
Final grade = Theoretical grade + Grade of the article evaluations.