Biodiversity of Land Ecosystems

Code:

B4006

Acronym:

B4006

Keywords
Classification	Keyword
OFICIAL	Biology

Instance: 2018/2019 - 2S

Active?	Yes
Responsible unit:	Department of Biology
Course/CS Responsible:	Master in Biodiversity, Genetics and Evolution

Cycles of Study/Courses

Acronym	No. of Students	Study Plan	Curricular Years	Credits UCN	Credits ECTS	Contact hours	Total Time
M:BGE	14	Official Study Plan	1	-	6	42	162

Teaching language

Suitable for English-speaking students

Objectives

1. To understand the multi-scalar patterns of biodiversity in space and time in terrestrial ecosystems as well as their causes;

2. To recognise the major terrestrial biomes, their global distribution and their characteristic biodiversity;

3. To identify the factors of disturbance and the main causes of the decline of biodiversity in terrestrial ecosystems;

4. To recognise the importance of conservation biology and of ecological monitoring in the preservation of biodiversity in terrestrial ecosystems.

Learning outcomes and competences

1. To acquire skills for the study of biodiversity in terrestrial ecosystems;

2. To obtain theoretical bases to design conservation strategies for biodiversity in terrestrial ecosystems;

3. To develop skills of scientific communication, both oral and written.

Working method

Presencial

Program

1. Introduction: ecological patterns and processes on terrestrial ecosystems;

2. Diversity and evolution of living organisms in terrestrial ecosystems;

3. The major terrestrial biomes: diversity and distribution;

4. Methods to study biodiversity in terrestrial ecosystems;

5. Global patterns of biodiversity in terrestrial ecosystems;

6. Biodiversity in terrestrial ecosystems at regional and local scales;

7. Disturbance factors and their impacts on biodiversity in terrestrial ecosystems;

8. Biodiversity monitoring and conservation in terrestrial ecosystems.

Suggested reading:

Araújo, M. B. 2003. The coincidence of people and biodiversity in Europe. - Global Ecology & Biogeography 12: 5-12. 
Bininda-Emonds, O. R. P., Vázquez, D. P. and Manne, L. L. 2000. The calculus of biodiversity: integrating phylogeny and conservation. Tree 15: 92-94. 
Boakes, E. H., McGowan, P. J. K., Fuller, R. A., Chag-qing, D., Clarck, N., O'Connor, K. & Mace, G. M. 2010. Distorted Views of Biodiversity: Spatial and Temporal Bias in Species Occurrence Data. PLOS Biology, 8: e1000385. 
Carvalho, S., Brito, J. C., Pressey, R. L., Crespo, E. G. & Possingham, H. P. 2010. Simulating the effects of using different types of species distribution data in reserve selection. Biological Conservation, 143: 426-438 
Duelli P. & M.K. Obrist 2003. Biodiversity indicators: the choice of values and measures. Agriculture, Ecosystems and Environment 98: 87–98. 
Erwin, D. E. 2008. Extinction as the loss of evolutionary history. PNAS 105: 11520-11527. 
European Environment Agency 2007. Halting the loss of biodiversity by 2010: proposal for a first set of indicators to monitor progress in Europe. Technical report 11. 182 pp. 
Hannah, L. et al. 2007. Protected area needs in a changing climate. Frontiers in Ecology and the Environment, 5, 131-138. 
Mace G.M. et al. (12 others) 2010. Biodiversity targets after 2010. Current Opinion in Environmental Sustainability 2: 3-8. 
Margules, C. R. & Pressey, R. L. (2000): Systematic conservation planning. Nature, 405: 243-253. 
Mouquet N. & M. Loreau 2003. Community patterns in source-sink metacommunities. The American Naturalist 162(5): 544-557. 
Myers, N., Mittermeier, R. A., Mittermeier, C. G., da Fonseca, G. A. B. and Kent, J. 2000. Biodiversity hotspots for conservation priorities. - Nature 403: 853-858. 
Noss, R. F. 1990. Indicators for Monitoring Biodiversity: A Hierachical Approach. - Conservation Biology 4: 355-364. 
Opdam, P. and Washer, D. 2004. Climate change meets habitat fragmentation: linking landscape and biogeographical scale levels in research and conservation. Biological Conservation, 117, 285-297. 
Pereira, H. M. and Cooper, H. D. 2006. Towards the global monitoring of biodiversity change. Tree, 21: 123-129. 
Pressey, L. R. et al., 2007. Conservation planning in a changing world. Trends in Ecology and Evolution, vol.22 no.11. 
Stigall, A. L. 2010. Invasive Species and Biodiversity Crises: Testing the Link in the Late Devonian. PLOS One 5: e15584. 
van Diggelen, F.J. Sijtsma, D. Strijker & J. van den Burga (2005) - Relating land-use intensity and biodiversity at the regional scale. Basic and Applied Ecology 6: 145-159. 
Whittaker, R.J., K.J. Willis and R. Field 2001. Scale and species richness: towards a general, hierarchical theory of species diversity. Journal of Biogeography 28: 453-470. 
Willis, K. J. et al., 2007. How can knowledge of the past help to conserve the future? Biodiversity conservation and the relevance of long-term ecological studies. Phil. Trans R. Soc. B, 362, 175-186.

Mandatory literature

Duelli P. & M.K. Obrist; Biodiversity indicators: the choice of values and measures. , Agriculture, Ecosystems and Environment 98: 87–98., 2003
Mace G.M. et al. (12 others); Biodiversity targets after 2010. , Current Opinion in Environmental Sustainability 2: 3-8., 2010
Myers, N., Mittermeier, R. A., Mittermeier, C. G., da Fonseca, G. A. B. and Kent, J.; Biodiversity hotspots for conservation priorities., Nature 403: 853-858, 2000
Pressey, L. R. et al.; Conservation planning in a changing world., Trends in Ecology and Evolution, vol.22 no.11., 2007

Teaching methods and learning activities

Theoretical sessions with presentation and discussion of key topics.

Practical sessions with in-field data collection followed by analysis of those data.

Supervised preparation of a report and a presentation on a selected topic.

Active participation of students in the session of oral presentations.

keywords

Natural sciences > Environmental science > Ecology
Natural sciences > Biological sciences > Biodiversity
Natural sciences > Environmental science > Global change

Evaluation Type

Distributed evaluation without final exam

Assessment Components

designation	Weight (%)
Participação presencial	20,00
Prova oral	30,00
Trabalho escrito	50,00
Total:	100,00

Amount of time allocated to each course unit

designation	Time (hours)
Elaboração de projeto	60,00
Estudo autónomo	60,00
Frequência das aulas	42,00
Total:	162,00

Eligibility for exams

Attendance of 75% of all classes.

Oral presentation of a topic and delivery of the corresponding written essay organised as a scientific review paper.

Calculation formula of final grade

Classification of the written essay (50%) + Classification of the oral presentation (30%) + Active participation in classes (20%)

Special assessment (TE, DA, ...)

In the cases determined by the pertinent laws and regulations, these students should contact the teachers before the beginning of the course, in order to adapt the evaluation rules according to each specific situation.

Classification improvement

In the period(s) determined by the pertinent regulations, following the same evaluation rules.