2024
Biology and Geology for Environmental Sustainability
Name: Biology and Geology for Environmental Sustainability
Code: BIO14719M
6 ECTS
Duration: 15 weeks/156 hours
Scientific Area:
Biological Sciences
Teaching languages: Portuguese
Languages of tutoring support: Portuguese
Regime de Frequência: Presencial
Sustainable Development Goals
Learning Goals
1. Understand the functioning and interactions in Ecosystems with environmental impacts resulting from anthropogenic activities.
2. Analyze the role of biotic and abiotic factors in the structuring, functioning, and interactions of Ecosystems.
3. Evaluate the role of management and conservation of Geodiversity in Environmental Sustainability.
4. Examine the effects of anthropogenic activities on environmental sustainability that are related to: pollution; the carbon cycle; land use; conservation of Natural Habitats; exploitation of geological resources; and the artificialization of sedimentary environments.
5. Assimilate the concept of environmental sustainability and measures that can be developed to achieve it.
6. Analyze strategies and management tools for Environmental Sustainability based on the transposition of European directives into Portuguese law.
7. Assess the interest in the management, conservation, and recovery of Natural Habitats.
2. Analyze the role of biotic and abiotic factors in the structuring, functioning, and interactions of Ecosystems.
3. Evaluate the role of management and conservation of Geodiversity in Environmental Sustainability.
4. Examine the effects of anthropogenic activities on environmental sustainability that are related to: pollution; the carbon cycle; land use; conservation of Natural Habitats; exploitation of geological resources; and the artificialization of sedimentary environments.
5. Assimilate the concept of environmental sustainability and measures that can be developed to achieve it.
6. Analyze strategies and management tools for Environmental Sustainability based on the transposition of European directives into Portuguese law.
7. Assess the interest in the management, conservation, and recovery of Natural Habitats.
Contents
1. Aquatic Ecosystems
1.1. Geological processes that influence the Aquatic Ecosystems (freshwater, estuarine and marine): sedimentary dynamics, sediment, tides, and waves.
1.2. Biotic processes in Aquatic Ecosystems: Primary production, detritus, primary consumers, and food webs.
1.3. Temporal and Spatial distribution of the aquatic communities
1.4. Legislative European tools for the management and protection of Aquatic Ecosystems.
2. Terrestrial Ecosystems
2.1. The impact of climate change and sea level rise on sedimentary environments and the evolution of landforms conditioned by Geodiversity.
2.2. Factors conditioning the global distribution of plants.
2.3. Natural habitats: pressures and threats to their conservation (i.e., invasive species, fragmentation, global change).
2.4. Conservation strategies: management plans.
2.5. Ecological restoration of Natural Habitats.
1.1. Geological processes that influence the Aquatic Ecosystems (freshwater, estuarine and marine): sedimentary dynamics, sediment, tides, and waves.
1.2. Biotic processes in Aquatic Ecosystems: Primary production, detritus, primary consumers, and food webs.
1.3. Temporal and Spatial distribution of the aquatic communities
1.4. Legislative European tools for the management and protection of Aquatic Ecosystems.
2. Terrestrial Ecosystems
2.1. The impact of climate change and sea level rise on sedimentary environments and the evolution of landforms conditioned by Geodiversity.
2.2. Factors conditioning the global distribution of plants.
2.3. Natural habitats: pressures and threats to their conservation (i.e., invasive species, fragmentation, global change).
2.4. Conservation strategies: management plans.
2.5. Ecological restoration of Natural Habitats.
Teaching Methods
The learning method is based on the active participation of the students. The contact period includes the study of ecosystem processes and the presentation of several case studies, which could be presented, when possible, by experts in these scientific areas (Biology and Geology). The teachers of this course develop research in these areas of Biology and Geology, therefore they are strongly prepared to apply the construction of learning methodology. Therefore, the learning will be interactive. The practical classes will be concentrated on the development of projects, in which the students will apply the new knowledge obtained to predict and analyze the environmental impacts resulting in Ecosystems functioning and related with environmental European Directives will be explored focusing on the descriptors to assess the legislative tools. Hours of independent study and group work will be supported with software and the use of the Moodle platform.
Assessment
Evaluation methods will include the continuous observation of students work and performance, as well as the development, presentation, and discussion of specific projects (individual and/or in a group) 100% of the evaluation. The students could also have an individual evaluation during the examination period, also 100%.
Certificações
