84640 - ECOLOGIA E CONSERVAZIONE DI AMBIENTI URBANI E PORTUALI

Learning outcomes

Urban ecology is an emerging, interdisciplinary field that focuses on how human and ecological processes can coexist in human-dominated systems. The course aims to introduce the concepts and theories of ecology in an urban context, both terrestrial and marine, and provide the students with basic “urban-ecology tools” to be applied in e.g. urban planning and restoration. I will introduce urban areas as “novel ecosystems”, into which species from the surrounding natural ecosystems adapt and establish viable populations/communities. I will focus on the unique ecological conditions and functioning of urbanised areas, such as the heat island effect, altered material cycles and energy flows, altered disturbance regimes, and the high susceptibility to species invasions. I will explain the impacts and costs of urbanization, as well as the environmental challenges and opportunities of a sustainable urban development, and the principles and strategies for biodiversity conservation, restoration and management in an urban context. Finally I will explore the challenges of climate change in cities, and the ecosystem management options to enhance resilience and reduce the vulnerability of people and the environment to climate change.

Course contents

Introduction – principles of urban ecology and the concept of novel urban ecosystems

Unique (man –made) ecological conditions of urban ecosystems – land (and sea) use cover; urban climate and the heat island effect; changes in the physical environment (soil/sediment properties, hydrological processes and (sea)water characteristics); impacts of pollution, noise, artificial light and electromagnetic fields

Patterns of urban biodiversity and controlling factors – impacts of urbanisation on biodiversity and changes in biodiversity along urban-rural gradients; losers and winners in urban habitats, homogenisation and the susceptibility of urban ecosystems to species invasions; effects of altered disturbance regimes; habitat transformation, fragmentation and loss in urban land/sea-scapes, altered connectivity, and dispersal barriers and corridors

Ecosystem functions and services in urban landscapes - altered material cycles and energy flows; urban biodiversity and ecosystem services; resilience of socio-ecological systems

Sustainable urban development - urban footprint, sustainability and governance-related challenges in urban environments; natural capital and strategies for biodiversity conservation; indicators of environmental quality in urban environments (e.g. the city biodiversity index, the CARLIT index, etc); management of multiple stressors and stakeholders; bioengineering, multifunctional blue/green infrastructures, and restoration in an urban context;

Climate change in cities - Climate change, urban biodiversity and ecosystem services; ecosystem management options to enhance resilience of society and the environment to climate change.

Readings/Bibliography

Teaching material will be available at the web site AMS Campus - Deposito istituzionale del materiale didattico [http://campus.unibo.it/]

The password to access the teaching material will be given during the first teaching lesson

Here is a list of relevant bibliographic references

 

Bouma, T. J., van Belzen, J., Balke, T., Zhu, Z., Airoldi, L., Blight, A. J., … Herman, P. M. J. (2014). Identifying knowledge gaps hampering application of intertidal habitats in coastal protection: Opportunities & steps to take. Coastal Engineering, 87, 147–157. http://doi.org/10.1016/j.coastaleng.2013.11.014

Dafforn, K. A., Glasby, T. M., Airoldi, L., Rivero, N. K., Mayer-Pinto, M., & Johnston, E. L. (2015). Marine urbanization: an ecological framework for designing multifunctional artificial structures. Frontiers in Ecology and the Environment, 13(2), 82–90. http://doi.org/10.1890/140050

Dugan, J. E., Airoldi, L., Chapman, M. G., Walker, S. J., & Schlacher, T. (2011). Estuarine and coastal structures: environmental effects. A focus on shore and nearshore structures. In E. Wolanski & D. S. McLusky (Eds.), Treatise on Estuarine and Coastal Science (Vol. 8, pp. 17–42). Elsevier. http://doi.org/10.1016/B978-0-12-374711-2.00802-0

Gaston, K. J., ??vila-Jim??nez, M. L., & Edmondson, J. L. (2013). Managing urban ecosystems for goods and services. Journal of Applied Ecology, 50(4), 830–840. http://doi.org/10.1111/1365-2664.12087

Grimm, N. B., Faeth, S. H., Golubiewski, N. E., Redman, C. L., Wu, J., Bai, X., & Briggs, J. M. (2008). Global Change and the Ecology of Cities. Science, 319(5864), 756–760. http://doi.org/10.1126/science.1150195

Niemela, J., Breuste, J. H., Guntenspergen, G., McIntyre, N. E., Elmqvist, T., & James, P. (2011). Urban Ecology: Patterns, Processes, and Applications.

Rebele, F. (1994). Urban ecology and special features of urban ecosystems. Global Ecology and Biogeography Letters, 4(6), 173–187.

Mckinney, M. L. (2005). Urbanization as a major cause of biotic homogenization, 7. http://doi.org/10.1016/j.biocon.2005.09.005

Mckinney, M. L. (2002). Urbanization, Biodiversity, and Conservation. BioScience, 52(10), 883. http://doi.org/10.1641/0006-3568(2002)052[0883:UBAC]2.0.CO;2 [http://doi.org/10.1641/0006-3568(2002)052%5B0883:UBAC%5D2.0.CO;2]

Pataki, D. E., Carreiro, M. M., Cherrier, J., Grulke, N. E., Jennings, V., Pincetl, S., … Zipperer, W. C. (2011). Coupling biogeochemical cycles in urban environments: Ecosystem services, green solutions, and misconceptions. Frontiers in Ecology and the Environment, 9(1), 27–36. http://doi.org/10.1890/090220

Perring, M. P., Manning, P., Hobbs, R. J., Lugo, A. E., Ramalho, C. E., & Standish, R. J. (2013). Novel urban ecosystems and ecosystem services. Chapter 38. In: Hobbs, R.J.,Higgs, E.S., Hall, C.M. (Eds.), Novel Ecosystems: Intervening in the New EcologicalWorld Order. John Wiley & Sons, Ltd, Chichester, UK, 310–325.

Teaching methods

Frontal teaching

Discussion groups

Field excursion to explore the urban natural environment of the city of Bologna

Assessment methods

The exam will assess knowledge about the structure and functioning of natural systems (populations, communities, ecosystems). The final evaluation is expressed in 30ies.

There will be 6 oral exams. The dates of the exams will be posted on the site AlmaEsami. Students can book for the examination exclusively using the procedures provided by the online system Alma Exams (https://almaesami.unibo.it/almaesami/welcome.htm). Each student can not enroll in more than one exam call at a time per each examination session. Students who have not passed an exam test will be eligible to take the exam only to the next examination session (therefore jumping one call).

The written test will be delivered in Italian, while foreign students will be able to take the oral examination in English if preferred

Teaching tools

hands on discussion groups and field excursions

Office hours

See the website of Laura Airoldi