19759 - Environmental Botany

Learning outcomes

At the end of the course the student has an understanding of the role of plants as ecological indicators. He knows the basics of phytogeography, geobotany, and vegetation science. Is able to apply such of knowledge to environmental issues.

Course contents

Flora and vegetation. Identification of plant species. Chorotypes and life forms. Vegetation. Spatial distribution of plant communities. Abiotic and biotic factors affecting vegetation. Vegetation dynamics. Plant invasions and invisibility of plant communities. Vegetation and Habitats. Sampling methods.

Landscape. Landscape Ecology: principles and aims. Pattern, processes, scale. Landscape: hierarchical organization, genesis, structure, dynamics. Patch-corridor-matrix model. Diversity; heterogeneity; connectivity; fragmentation. Abiotic and biotic factors affecting structure and dynamics of the landscape. Disturbance as an ecological factor. Man, land use and Ecosystem Services. Vegetation, habitat and land use/cover maps. Analysis of landscape structure and dynamics. Landscape metrics.

Case studies. Habitats and Sites of Natura 2000.

Readings/Bibliography

Power Point slides

 

Further readings

Ubaldi D., 2012. Guida allo studio della flora e della vegetazione. CLUEB Bologna;

Ferrari C., Pezzi G. 2013. L'ecologia del paesaggio. Collana "Universale Paperbacks il Mulino";

Forman R.T.T., 1995. Land mosaics. The Ecology of Landscape and Regions. Cambridge University Press;

Papers (in english) discussed during lessons and practicals.

Teaching methods

Lectures, practicals, field excursion. Case studies examined.

Assessment methods

Written test (exercises) and oral examination about the theoretical part.

Teaching tools

Power Point presentation. Keys and similar devices for plant identification. Use of GIS software open source and other open source softwares for to calculate Landscape metrics and data analysis, WebGIS and interactive cartography for practicals. Use of spreadsheets (e.g. Excel) for data storage and analysis. Scientific paper (english) discussed during lessons.

Office hours

See the website of Giovanna Pezzi