ECOLOGY 1

By the end of the course, the student will have acquired a solid understanding of the fundamental principles of ecology, including the structure and functioning of ecosystems, species interactions, and the dynamics of populations and communities. They will be familiar with the main biogeochemical cycles and their importance for environmental balance, as well as the characteristics of the major terrestrial and aquatic biomes.

The student will be able to apply the acquired knowledge to the analysis of real ecological and environmental issues, developing critical thinking skills and independent judgment in evaluating the impact of human activities on ecosystems.

• Basic concepts in ecology: definition, objectives, and interdisciplinary approach. Key concepts of ecosystems and emergent properties.
• Structure of ecological systems: biotope and biocenosis, habitat and ecological niche. In-depth analysis of the competitive exclusion principle (Gause’s principle) and the ecological compression hypothesis.
• Organism–environment relationships: spatial distribution of organisms; main physical and chemical environmental factors (soil, water, light, temperature).
• Biogeochemical cycles: water, carbon, nitrogen, phosphorus, and sulfur cycles. Ecological role and global implications.
• Population ecology: definition and main properties of populations (size, density, structure); population dynamics and growth models. Methods for estimating population size.
• Demographic models: exponential and logistic growth; regular and irregular population fluctuations; population regulation. Density-dependent and density-independent factors; territoriality.
• Ecological and evolutionary strategies: reproductive strategies (r/K selection), parental behaviors, alternative strategies, optimization theory and optimal foraging. Functional traits and adaptations.
• Limiting factors and resources: Liebig’s law of the minimum, stoichiometric ecology, ecological valence.
• Energy flow in ecosystems: primary production, ecological pyramids, food webs, ecological networks, energy and matter flows. Concepts of allometry and isometry.
• Ecological interactions: competition, predation, parasitism, mutualism.
• Ecological succession and climax: temporal dynamics of communities and factors driving succession.
• Biomes: ecological and climatic features of the major terrestrial and marine biomes.
• Global change: effects of climate change on ecosystems.
• Ecological footprint.

1. M. Begon, J. L. Harper & C. R. Townsend - Ecology: from individuals to ecosystems. Blackwell/Wiley.
2. Smith Thomas M. , Smith Robert L. - Elements of Ecology. Pearson Education 

• Emergent properties in ecological systems
• Concept of biotope and biocenosis
• Habitat and ecological niche
• Competitive exclusion principle (Gause's principle)
• Carbon, nitrogen, and phosphorus cycles
• Definition and parameters of a population
• Exponential and logistic population growth
• r/K reproductive strategies
• Ecological successions and the climax concept
• Terrestrial and marine biomes