| Topic |
Sub-topic |
| Subject 1. Ecology: definition and approximations. |
Definitions of Ecology, object of study and framework in Environmental Sciences.
Brief History of Ecology: birth and development as a Science. |
| Subject 2. The organisms and their environment |
Particularities of the physical environment in terrestrial and aquatic ecosystems. Scales of variability in the interaction of physical-biological processes in terrestrial and aquatic ecosystems. Terrestrial and aquatic biomes. |
| Subject 3. Concept of population and descriptors |
Concept of population. Populational parameters: geographic rank, abundance, density, space distribution, dispersion. Quantification of populational parameters. Life Strategies. |
| Subject 4. Population: structure and spatial distribution |
Models of exponential growth. Factors that limit the populational growth. Model of logistical growth. Stochastic behavior. Populational growth in function of the structure of ages. Curves of survival and tables of life. |
| Subject 5 Interspecific Competition |
Types and general characteristics of the trophic interactions. Definition, experimental evidences and types of interspecific competition. Concept of ecological niche and principle of competitive exclusion. Coexistence and environmental heterogeneity. Lotka-Volterra competition model. |
| Subject 6. Predation and consumption of food |
Definition and type of predators. Factors that determine the preferences of diet. Energetic considerations: theory of the optimum procurement, optimum diet and theorem of the marginal value. Types of functional responses and experimental evidences. Numerical responses and of development. Lotka and Volterra predation model |
| Subject 7. Community structure |
Distribution species-abundance. Factors that control the diversity: resources, diversity of habitats, key species and level of perturbation. Trophic structure. Direct and indirect effects: trophic cascades. Relationship between diversity and stability. |
| Subject 8. Disruption and succession |
Concept and types of observations . Examples of succession in terrestrial and aquatic ecosystems. Mechanisms of succession: facilitation, tolerance and inhibition Succession, diversity and perturbation |
| Subject 9. Entrance of energy in the ecosystem: primary production |
Gross and net primary production: concept, methods of determination and magnitude. Factors that control primary production. Temporal and spatial variability of primary production. Stoichiometric relations of the organic matter. |
| Subject 10. Secondary production and organic matter remineralization |
Definition of secondary production: herbivorous and detritivore route. Control factors of secondary production. Energetic balance of secondary production: efficiencies. Efficiency, trophic structure and transfer. Decomposition and remineralization of organic matter in terrestrial and aquatic ecosystems. Flow of energy in terrestrial and aquatic ecosystems |
| Subject 11. Biogeochemical cycles and global change. |
Compartments, balance of masses and time of residence. Global carbon global. The role of the ocean in the regulation of climate. Nitrogen global cycle. Phosphorus cycle. |
| Subject 12. Social-ecological systems |
Ecosystemic services: offer and demand. Resilience, complexity and efficiency. No linear effects and hysteresis. Management of complex adaptative systems. Principles for the promotion of resilience in social-ecological systems. Urban ecosystems. |
| Seminar 1. Biological diversity. |
Explanation of the concept of biological diversity in the context of the Ecology and the Environmental Sciences, and calculate of different indices of diversity α, β and γ. |
| Seminar 2. Selection and organisation of the different works in group on diverse ecological subjects |
They will organise in groups to make works on diverse thematic of ecology |
| Seminar 3. European directives. Water Framework Directive and Habitats Directive. |
In this seminar will work with European directives that are in force in the actuality and help to comprise the ecological implications of these directives. |
| Seminar 4. Works groups and organization of different activities |
Seminar for doubts and advances with the works in group |
| Seminars 5. Gross primary production, net and respiration |
Practical seminar where will learn to calculate the gross primary productions, net and respiration of different ecosystems. |
| Seminar 6. Handle of databases (NOAA) on atmospheric monitoring of greenhouse gases and their relationship with the climate change. |
Practical seminar on handle and exploration of atmospheric databases |
| Seminar 7. Oral presentations of the different work groups |
Oral presentations |
