58465 - Landscape Ecology

Learning outcomes

At the end of the course, students will have knowledge of: the fundamentals of landscape ecology; the central role of vegetation in landscape; the role of natural and anthropogenic disturbances; the factors affecting the management and conservation of landscapes and habitats. Students will be able to: identify causes and consequences of landscape heterogeneity; analyze patterns and processes in a multi-scalar and multi-temporal context; apply such knowledge to environmental issues, management and conservation of a territory.

Course contents

Introduction. Landscape: definitions. Landscape as the ecological dimension of the territory. Landscape Ecology: brief notes (principles and aims).

Landscape. Pattern, processes and scale (spatial and temporal); Landscape hierarchical organization. Patch-corridor-matrix model. Diversity, heterogeneity; connectivity and fragmentation. Abiotic and biotic factors affecting structure and dynamics of the landscape. Disturbance as an ecological factor. Man and landscape. Types of landscape (natural, agricultural, forest, urban and peri-urban, biocultural): characters and vulnerability. Ecosystem Services. Ecological Network. Habitat Directive (92/43/EEC) and Natura 2000. Landscape value, conservation, management, and restoration.

Mapping and analysis. Vegetation, habitat and land use land cover maps. Analysis of landcape structure and dynamics. Landscape metrics.

 

Readings/Bibliography

Power Point presentations.

 

Further readings

Dramstad W.E., Olson J.D., Forman R.T.T., 1997. Landscape Ecology Principles in Architecture and Land-Use Planning. Island Press, Washington;

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

Forman R.T.T., Godron M. 1986. Landscape Ecology. Wiley;

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

Papers (English) discussed during lectures and practicals.

Teaching methods

Lectures, practicals, seminars, field excursion. Case studies examined.

Assessment methods

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

Teaching tools

Power Point presentations. Scientific papers (English) discussed during lectures and practicals. 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. Spreadshees (e.g. Excel) for data storage, organization and analysis.

Office hours

See the website of Giovanna Pezzi