2024
Biogeography and Ecology of Bird Communities
Name: Biogeography and Ecology of Bird Communities
Code: BIO12332M
3 ECTS
Duration: 15 weeks/78 hours
Scientific Area:
Biological Sciences
Teaching languages: Portuguese
Languages of tutoring support: Portuguese, English
Regime de Frequência: Presencial
Sustainable Development Goals
Learning Goals
Recognise the importance of the natural history of the planet in patterns and processes that involve the
biodiversity.
Recognise structural patterns in bird communities and how this knowledge should be framed in the
conservation actions.
biodiversity.
Recognise structural patterns in bird communities and how this knowledge should be framed in the
conservation actions.
Contents
Introduction: the paradigms of Biology (Darwin & Wallace); the natural history of the Earth (plate tectonics
and climate change); Birds as a reference model; scales of perception and levels of biological organization.
Evolution and diversity of Birds: distinction of species; phylogenies; geographical variations; speciation
and current numbers.
Distribution patterns: continental species (biogeographic regions); island species (the insular syndrome);
pelagic species; movements (dispersal and migration).
Historical biogeography: vicariance and dispersal; perispecific taxa (population structure of species);
cycles of expansion and shrinkage of glaciers (differentiation, speciation and extinction); history of the
avifaunas in the Mediterranean Region.
Ecological biogeography: niche theory; communities, assemblages, guilds and populations; composition
and community structure; gradients diversity; relation richness-surface; inter-specific interactions.
Synthesis assay.
and climate change); Birds as a reference model; scales of perception and levels of biological organization.
Evolution and diversity of Birds: distinction of species; phylogenies; geographical variations; speciation
and current numbers.
Distribution patterns: continental species (biogeographic regions); island species (the insular syndrome);
pelagic species; movements (dispersal and migration).
Historical biogeography: vicariance and dispersal; perispecific taxa (population structure of species);
cycles of expansion and shrinkage of glaciers (differentiation, speciation and extinction); history of the
avifaunas in the Mediterranean Region.
Ecological biogeography: niche theory; communities, assemblages, guilds and populations; composition
and community structure; gradients diversity; relation richness-surface; inter-specific interactions.
Synthesis assay.
Teaching Methods
Structured and applied lectures supported by slide presentations. Seminar and field trip.
Evaluation through a final exam.
Evaluation through a final exam.
Teaching Staff
Certificações
