ECTS credits ECTS credits: 6
ECTS Hours Rules/Memories Hours of tutorials: 1 Expository Class: 26 Interactive Classroom: 29 Total: 56
Use languages Spanish, Galician
Type: Ordinary Degree Subject RD 1393/2007 - 822/2021
Departments: Functional Biology
Areas: Ecology
Center Faculty of Biology
Call: Second Semester
Teaching: Sin docencia (Extinguida)
Enrolment: No Matriculable
•Acquire a set of basic ecological knowledge, explaining the ecological principles related to communities and ecosystems (organisms and populations were treated in Ecology I), which are the basis for understanding the processes that occur in the Biosphere.
•Learn to handle ecological terminology with precision, mastering the basic vocabulary of the discipline.
•Strengthen the capacity for interrelation, practically essential to internalize the concepts of Ecology, highlighting the importance of the interconnections between the components of ecosystems.
•Understand that ecosystems are complex systems that function as integrated units, with multiple causes that generate their structure and functioning.
•Perceive the human impact on the Biosphere and promote awareness of current ecological and environmental problems.
Expository classes (26 h)
The approximate duration of each theme is indicated in parentheses.
All classrooms will be face-to-face.
Block I. COMMUNITIES
1. Biological community: concept and characterization (3 h)
2. Spatial patterns of biological diversity (3 h)
3. Temporal dynamics of communities (3 h)
4. Island communities. (2 h)
Block II. FUNCTIONING OF THE ECOSYSTEM
5. Disturbance (3h)
6. The ecosystem. Primary production. (3 h)
7. Secondary production. (2 h)
8. Flow of energy and trophic structure. (3 h)
9. Circulation of nutrients. (2 h)
10. Decomposition. (2 h)
Interactive field and laboratory classes (14h)
The practice schedule will be adjusted as far as possible to the development of the theoretical program and all classes will be face-to-face.
Laboratory:
1. Study of competition for allelopathy at the community level in forest communities (2h in two sessions).
2. Study of benthic macroinvertebrate communities. (2h in one session)
3. Determination of Biomass and PPN in terrestrial communities. (2h in one session)
Countryside
1. Terrestrial ecosystems: sampling of the main ecological variables for the study of terrestrial vegetation. (4h in one session)
2. Aquatic ecosystems: sampling in epicontinental aquatic ecosystems (depending on economic availability). (4h in one session)
Interactive computer classes (7 h)
Exercises, problems and obtaining parameters obtained from data collected in field and laboratory practices or bibliographic data will be carried out. They may also include talks and colloquiums with experts from other universities and research centers, debates on current issues, continuous assessment exercises and other activities related to the subject.
Seminar interactive classes (8h)
The seminars (in a small group) will be these:
1. Seminar 1: Analysis of the structure of biological communities
2. Seminar 2: Analysis of the variation of biological communities along environmental gradients
3. Seminar 3: Analysis of coexistence patterns and null models in community ecology
4. Seminar 4: Analysis of the temporal dynamics of communities: Ecological succession
5. Seminar 5: Analysis of the results of the practice of allelopathy at the community level
6. Seminar 6: Analysis of the results of the biomass practice
7. Seminar 7: Ecological efficiencies and secondary production
8. Seminar 8: Analysis of the results of the practice of terrestrial ecosystems
TUTORIALS (1h)
They will be dedicated to the review of the key aspects and the exercises of the seminars and those in charge to carry out as personal work.
Teaching Innovation
The students will be able to participate voluntarily in the teaching innovation activity “Standing up to the fire” of the “Learning and service” program based on learning by performing a service for society.
BASIC BIBLIOGRAPHY
Begon, M.; Harper, J.L. & Townsend, C.R. 1999. Ecology: Individuals, Populations, and Communities. 3rd ed. Barcelona: Omega.
Cain, M.L.; Bowman, W.D & Hacker, S.D. 2008. Ecology. Sunderland, Massachusetts: Sinauer Associates, Inc.
Krebs, C.J. 2009. Ecology: the experimental analysis of distribution and abundance. 6th ed. San Francisco, California: Benjamin Cummings.
Molles, M. C. 2006. Ecology: concepts and applications. 3rd ed. Madrid: McGraw-Hill/Interamericana.
Smith, R.L. & Smith, T.M. 2007. Ecology. 6th ed. Madrid: Pearson Education.
Stiling, P. 2012. Ecology. Global Insights & Investigations. New York: McGraw-Hill.
COMPLEMENTARY BIBLIOGRAPHY
Krebs, C.J. 1999. Ecological Methodology. 2nd ed. Menlo Park: Addison-Wesley.
Ricklefs, R.E. 1998. Invitación a la ecología. La economía de la naturaleza : libro de texto sobre economía básica. 4ª ed. Bogotá: Panamericana.
Mittelbach, G.G. & McGill, B.J. 2019. Community Ecology. Oxford University Press
Townsend, C.R.; Begon, M. & Harper, J.L. 2008. Essentials of ecology. 3rd ed. Malden, Massachusetts: Blackwell.Competencies
Within the competences, in this matter the following will be worked more specifically:
Transverse
• CT1. Capacity for analysis and synthesis
• CT2. Capacity for reasoning and argumentation
• CT7. Commitment to truthfulness of the information offered to others
• CT8. Skill in the management of ICT
• CT9. Use of bibliographic and internet information
• CT10. Use of information in a foreign language
• CT11. Ability to solve problems through the integrated application of their knowledge
specific
• CE1. Know the scientific bases of ecological theory and its application towards the sustainability of ecosystems and the conservation of biodiversity.
• CE2. Acquire knowledge about communities and ecosystems, including the processes, cycles and flows that interconnect their different components.
• CE3. Know the methods and basic techniques of laboratory and field of ecology.
• CE4. Have a global knowledge of environmental and ecological problems.
• CE5. Identify and formulate ecological problems.
• CE6. Apply ecological models.
• CE7. Internalize a commitment to environmental protection and sustainable development.
The basic and general competences are those that appear in the memory of the Degree.
Teaching methodology
The EXPOSITIVE classes will consist of lectures in which the basic knowledge of ecological science (concepts, processes, hypotheses, models) will be introduced. Often, references will be made to concepts, experiments or hypotheses already seen in previous topics. This is essential given the integrative nature of matter. Nor will it be infrequent to refer to issues that will be seen later, since Ecology is not a subject that admits a linear development, but a branched one. This exercise of relating diverse lines and processes requires some effort, but finally provides a global analysis capacity that can be very useful, not only in the study of this subject, but as a general work tool.
The interactive classes of SEMINARS will be dedicated to the resolution, by the student, of questions and problems related to the topics discussed, talks with specialists, debates, etc. At the end of each of them there will be a brief exposition, by the teacher, regarding the resolution of the aforementioned questions and problems. Recommend that students bring their laptop. If you do not have to provide him with one of the faculty.
The interactive classes of LABORATORY OR FIELD will address the management of laboratory and field methods that will allow familiarizing with the usual way of working in Ecology. The scripts provided at the beginning of the practices include the necessary information to be able to follow the development of the proposed task in an orderly and clear manner. Being faced with the resolution of a specific problem, and the fact that the practice groups are smaller, usually favor greater interaction between the students and the teacher, and facilitates the intervention and formulation of doubts.
The interactive classes in the Computer Classroom (which we will call LARGE GROUP SEMINARS) will be face-to-face and will be held in the same classroom as the expository classes, interspersed in the timetable. They will be held in two groups, the same as the expository classes. Students must bring their laptop and if they do not have one, one will be provided at the faculty.
TUTORIALS: they will basically be dedicated to clarifying doubts about the theory and the seminars, as well as any other query related to the teaching of the subject.
Only attendance at field and laboratory practices will be mandatory, with 70% attendance required.
The evaluation will consist of a final test that will be complementary to the continuous evaluation. For cases of fraudulent completion of exercises or tests, the provisions of the Regulations for evaluating the academic performance of students and reviewing qualifications will apply.
These instruments will be used to assess competencies according to the following scheme:
- The exam evaluates the following competencies: CX1, CX2, CX3, CX4, CX5, CT1, CT2, CT7, CT8, CT9, CT10; CT11, CE1, CE2, CE3, CE4, CE5, CE6 and CE7.
- In practical cases: CX1, CX2, CX3, CX4, CX5, CT1, CT2, CT9, CT10; CT11, CE1, CE2, CE3 and CE6.
As a summary, as a continuous evaluation, the two controls on the contents covered in the seminars and practices will account for 30% of the final grade. Mandatory activities are field and laboratory practices (with 70% attendance required). The final test, which is complementary to the continuous evaluation, will account for 70% of the final grade. To pass the subject a minimum of 4 points out of 10 in the final exam is required. Repeating students have the same evaluation system as first-time students. For repeating students, only the qualification of the practices will be kept, during the same period that the regulations of this university have for the attendance to the practices.
In addition, students will be able to raise up to 20% of the continuous evaluation mark ( that is to say 0,6 points) by carrying out complementary activities proposed by the teachers of the subject, for example by participating in the project "Planting face or lume (PCL)".
In addition to face-to-face teaching of various types, students will need hours of study and personal work. Together, the hours dedicated are:
33 expository hours (theory classes and seminars)
22 interactive hours (seminars and practices, field and laboratory)
1 hour of tutorials
92 hours of personal work
2 hours of exam
150 hours of total dedication
- Regularly attend theoretical classes, seminars and practices
-Study the subject daily
-Consult the bibliography
-Consult doubts in class or during tutoring hours.
The study of the subject will be facilitated by consulting the material that will be made available to students on the USC Virtual website.
Otilia Reyes Ferreira
Coordinador/a- Department
- Functional Biology
- Area
- Ecology
- Phone
- 881813318
- otilia.reyes [at] usc.es
- Category
- Professor: University Lecturer
Maria Teresa Boquete Seoane
- Department
- Functional Biology
- Area
- Ecology
- teresa.boquete [at] usc.es
- Category
- Investigador/a Distinguido/a
Carola Gomez Rodriguez
- Department
- Functional Biology
- Area
- Ecology
- carola.gomez [at] usc.es
- Category
- Professor: Temporary PhD professor
Óscar Cruz De La Fuente
- Department
- Functional Biology
- Area
- Ecology
- oscar.cruz [at] usc.es
- Category
- Posdoutoral USC_Campus Terra
Victoria Formoso Freire
- Department
- Functional Biology
- Area
- Ecology
- victoriaformoso.freire [at] usc.es
- Category
- Ministry Pre-doctoral Contract
| Wednesday | |||
|---|---|---|---|
| 09:00-10:00 | Grupo /CLE_02 | Galician, Spanish | Classroom 04: James Watson and Francis Crick |
| 10:00-11:00 | Grupo /CLE_01 | Galician, Spanish | Classroom 03. Carl Linnaeus |
| 17:00-18:00 | Grupo /CLIL_04 | Galician, Spanish | Laboratory 05. Cruz Gallástegui Unamuno |
| 18:00-19:00 | Grupo /CLIL_03 | Spanish, Galician | Laboratory 05. Cruz Gallástegui Unamuno |
| 19:00-20:00 | Grupo /CLIL_02 | Galician, Spanish | Laboratory 05. Cruz Gallástegui Unamuno |
| Thursday | |||
| 09:00-10:00 | Grupo /CLE_02 | Galician, Spanish | Classroom 04: James Watson and Francis Crick |
| 10:00-11:00 | Grupo /CLE_01 | Galician, Spanish | Classroom 03. Carl Linnaeus |
| 16:00-17:00 | Grupo /CLIL_05 | Galician, Spanish | Laboratory 05. Cruz Gallástegui Unamuno |
| 17:00-18:00 | Grupo /CLIL_06 | Spanish, Galician | Laboratory 05. Cruz Gallástegui Unamuno |
| 18:00-19:00 | Grupo /CLIL_01 | Galician, Spanish | Laboratory 05. Cruz Gallástegui Unamuno |
| Friday | |||
| 09:00-10:00 | Grupo /CLE_02 | Spanish, Galician | Classroom 04: James Watson and Francis Crick |
| 10:00-11:00 | Grupo /CLE_01 | Spanish, Galician | Classroom 03. Carl Linnaeus |
| 05.30.2024 10:00-14:00 | Grupo /CLE_02 | Classroom 01. Charles Darwin |
| 05.30.2024 10:00-14:00 | Grupo /CLE_01 | Classroom 01. Charles Darwin |
| 05.30.2024 10:00-14:00 | Grupo /CLE_01 | Classroom 02. Gregor Mendel |
| 05.30.2024 10:00-14:00 | Grupo /CLE_02 | Classroom 02. Gregor Mendel |
| 05.30.2024 10:00-14:00 | Grupo /CLE_01 | Classroom 03. Carl Linnaeus |
| 05.30.2024 10:00-14:00 | Grupo /CLE_02 | Classroom 03. Carl Linnaeus |
| 07.03.2024 10:00-14:00 | Grupo /CLE_01 | Classroom 01. Charles Darwin |
| 07.03.2024 10:00-14:00 | Grupo /CLE_02 | Classroom 01. Charles Darwin |
| 07.03.2024 10:00-14:00 | Grupo /CLE_02 | Classroom 02. Gregor Mendel |
| 07.03.2024 10:00-14:00 | Grupo /CLE_01 | Classroom 02. Gregor Mendel |