Geobotany and Natural Capital

The course provides the theoretical and methodological foundations to understand the structure, composition, and dynamics of plant communities in relation to ecological and climatic-environmental factors, as well as the concepts of natural capital, and to provide the conceptual tools for the management, conservation, and protection of biodiversity.

In terms of knowledge and understanding, by the end of the course, students will be able to: a. describe the cause-effect relationships between ecological factors and plant community structure; b. recognize and illustrate the main mechanisms of plant adaptation in response to environmental stressors; c. define the theoretical and methodological foundations of floristic, phytosociological, and vegetation studies; d. understand natural capital and the theoretical principles for biodiversity conservation.

In terms of applying knowledge and understanding, by the end of the course, students will be able to: a. analyze a natural habitat, identifying its main floristic components and key ecological factors; b. use basic methodological tools for vegetation classification and for assessing the conservation status of plant ecosystems.

Finally, by the end of the course, students will acquire making judgements, communication skills, and learning capacities through the preparation of a seminar on a chosen habitat that highlights the relationship between adaptations and the environment.

The course includes lectures (using multimedia presentations) aimed at providing the theoretical framework of the discipline; practical exercises are also scheduled (in the classroom and at the Botanical Garden) focused on the identification of the main Italian habitats

Basic knowledge of Botany and Ecology is required to properly understand the course contents. No formal prerequisites are required.

Attendance is mandatory. To be admitted to the final exam, students must attend at least 60% of the scheduled course hours, in accordance with the Degree Course Teaching Regulations.

For working students, student-athletes, and students in situations of hardship (RDA, Art. 30), whose status is duly certified, attendance requirements may be reduced by a maximum of 20%.

main relationships between plant life and environmental factors: climatic factors (light and temperature, water), edaphic factors (nature and type of substrate and nutrient input), mechanical factors (wind, snow, animals), anthropic factors (fire, pasture , agriculture), factors linked to reproduction (type of pollination); indirect factors: altitude, exposure, inclination; microclimate. Main adaptations (morphological and physiological) to environmental factors *. The distribution of plants *. Climate and plant formations *. Biodiversity; morphological and reproductive phenology; floristic elaborations (number, biological spectrum, chorological spectrum); biological forms *; corotypes, areas and distribution centers *; concept of endemism *. Methods of studying vegetation. Distribution of vegetation according to environmental factors *; vegetable community; physiognomic and structural complexity; quali-quantitative study and phytosociological method; concept of plant association and syntaxonomic organization; minimum area. Fire Ecology*. Natural Capital and principles of trophodynamics*; ecosystem services.

Indicate with an asterisk, *, the minimum arguments that can not be renounced for passing the exam

Pignatti S. - Ecologia vegetale. UTET

Ubaldi D. - Geobotanica e fitosociologia. CLUEB

Learning assessment takes place through an oral exam. The test is designed to assess the student's level of knowledge and understanding of the course content, as well as their independent judgment, communication skills, and ability to independently process scientific sources. In particular, the final grade will reward complete theoretical knowledge, methodological rigor in applied analysis, clarity of exposition, and the ability to make interdisciplinary connections. To achieve the maximum score (30/30 cum laude), the student must demonstrate excellent knowledge of all topics, strong critical autonomy, and mastery of specialized scientific language. A passing grade (18/30) will be awarded for a basic but correct knowledge of the fundamental concepts of the discipline and an essential, yet appropriate, use of scientific terminology. If the student displays severe gaps in key concepts, an inability to navigate the course content, and inadequate specialized language, the evaluation will be insufficient.

Floristic and vegetation studies: methods and significance

Italian habitats