ENVIRONMENTAL BOTANY]
- Overview
- Assessment methods
- Learning objectives
- Contents
- Delivery method
- Teaching methods
- Contacts/Info
No specific knowledge is required, although reference will be made to basic concepts of Chemistry (general and organic), Cell Biology, Ecology, Biogeography and Physical Geography explained in other courses.
Evaluation of students knowledge will take place at the end of the course with an oral examination, at the end of which a single mark will be recorded, expressed in thirtieths.
The oral exam will consist 5 open-ended questions and students will have 30 minutes at their disposal on whole.
The assessment of the oral exam will take into account, in addition to the level of knowledge acquired, the ability to organize and illustrate the arguments, the ability to apply theoretical concepts to real cases, the competence in the use of specialist vocabulary and the student's exhibition skills.
General aim of the course is to provide knowledge about relationships between plant species and communities and the environment. The educational itinerary moves across different levels of organization of the plant world, from the sub-cellular one of the specific organelles of plants to those concerning groups of individuals, applying principles and notions of biology, ecology, bioclimatology and biogeography to the world of plants. The specific objective is to define and ecologically characterize main adaptations of plants and plant communities of Italian vegetation, constantly referring to the European context, and to provide tools for their sampling, identification and description. In such way, are laid out bases for the recognition of natural habitats in accordance with the Community directive 43/92/EC and for the interpretation of environmental quality through plant species and communities, while providing criteria for conservation, management and recovery of vegetation.
EXPECTED LEARNING OUTCOMES
At the end of the course, students will be able to:
1. recognize and understand biological specificity of plant organisms and main adaptations of higher plants to environment;
2. recognize and classify plant communities;
3. assess plant species and communities relationship with environmental factors and drivers, providing basis for integrated environmental analysis;
4. apply the acquired knowledge as fundamentals for further learnings concerning ecosystems management, monitoring and mapping, starting from plant communities analysis.
MODULE OF BASIC PLANT BIOLOGY (18 hours)
Plant cells characteristics, with particular reference to plastids, cell wall and vacuole
Classification and characteristics of plant tissues: meristematic tissues (primary and secondary) and permanent tissues (parenchyma, protective, sclerenchyma, collenchyma, transport, secretory)
Anatomy and adaptation of main organs of higher plants (leaf, stem and root)
Main plant physiological functions (photosynthesis, mineral nutrition and transport)
MODULE OF PLANT ECOLOGY (18 hours)
Life forms and their distribution in respect of latitudinal and altitude gradients
Biotic interactions and metabolism
Pollination, dispersion and life cycle
Concepts of optimum and niche applied to plants
Soil and climate drivers, disturbance and stress
Plant functional types and plant strategies
Global spectrum of plant form and function
Concepts of plant community, formation and association
Vegetation sampling and analysis, the phytosociological method
Vegetation dynamic, successions and series
MODULE OF PLANT BIOGEOGRAPHY AND BIOCLIMATOLOGY (16 hours)
Range, phytogeographical regions and distribution of plant biodiversity
Chorological types of Italian flora
Species concept applied to plants and main speciation processes
Endemism and vicariance
Climate and bioclimatic indices
Bio-climates and natural potential vegetation of Italy
Phytogeography of the Alps, timberline, vegetation belts and forest regions
Quaternary history of flora and vegetation
MODULE ANALYSIS OF ITALIAN VEGETATION (20 hours)
Vegetation of coasts and of the Mediterranean region
Wetland and riparian vegetation
Plain, hill and mountain broadleaf forests
Mountain and subalpine coniferous forests
Subalpine shrubs and heaths
Vegetation of the Alpine belt (prairies, snow beds, rocks and screes)
Synanthropic and semi-natural vegetation (meadows and pastures)
Principles of farming and forestry
Introduction to natural habitats of the Community Directive 43/92/EC
The course objectives will be achieved through classroom lessons for 72 hours in total.
The lessons are supported by showing slides, that later will be available to students on the e-learning platform of the course.
The teacher constantly encourages the active participation of students who are invited to ask questions and in turn are solicited on specific cases and issues.
At this purpose, in the beginning of each lesson teacher will provide clarifications and insights concerning topics discussed in previous lessons, at students request. It will be also possible to ask for clarification at any time during lessons.
Teacher is always available for urgent matters at the e-mail address bruno.cerabolini@uninsubria.it. Using the same e-mail address is also possible to arrange meetings in the teacher's office placed by DBSV via J.H. Dunant, 3 in Varese (third floor)