Soils Ecology and Ecotoxicology

Code:

CAMB4002

Acronym:

CAMB4002

Level:

400

Keywords
Classification	Keyword
OFICIAL	Environmental Sciences

Instance: 2024/2025 - 1S

Active?	Yes
Responsible unit:	Department of Biology
Course/CS Responsible:	Master in Soil Assessment and Remediation

Cycles of Study/Courses

Acronym	No. of Students	Study Plan	Curricular Years	Credits UCN	Credits ECTS	Contact hours	Total Time
M:ARS	1	The study plan since 2019/20	1	-	6	42	162
		Official study plan since 2024/2025	1	-	6	42	162

Teaching language

Portuguese

Objectives

1) To recognize the soil as a matrix of high biodiversity, identifying the main groups of biota, the interactions between them and their role in soil functions and processes;

2) To know different methodologies for sampling soil biota;

3) To identify the main threats to the soil, its geographical predominance and the way they affect its functions;

4) To understand the importance of soil in providing ecosystem services and applying relevant knowledge in ecosystem management;

5) To know the main national and supranational legal documents that aim at the protecting the soil;

6) To acquire laboratory skills regarding the taxonomic identification of large groups of soil fauna, conducting ecotoxicological tests, microbiological tests and functional tests;

7) To design experimental designs and use conceptual models based on different problem issues;

8) To apply the appropriate statistical methods to the estimation of ecotoxicological data and to the analysis of ecological data.

Learning outcomes and competences

The planned contents will allow students to acquire fundamental concepts in Soil Ecology and Ecotoxicology, which can later be deepened in the Thesis, in a third Cycle of Studies or even at a personal level within the scope of their in-service practice. Students will have the necessary technical skills to carry out functions in the field of environmental protection, in particular of soils and their functions. They will also be able to select among the tools available those that best fit each specific case for assessing the biodiversity of soils, their functions and services. Theoretical-practical classes and practical classes will allow them to be familiar with different methodologies for evaluating the structural and functional diversity of the soil communities, and also to acquire the capacity to carry out ecotoxicological tests with terrestrial organisms. By combining soil ecology with soil ecotoxicology, the students will be able to understand the need of extrapolating the effects of contaminants at the individual level, under standard laboratory conditions, with those occurring at the ecosystems level, under real scenarios. At the end students will be able to make recommendations for the protection of the diversity and functions of soils subject to different uses.

Working method

Presencial

Pre-requirements (prior knowledge) and co-requirements (common knowledge)

Basic Knowledge in Ecology.

Program

The UC program contents are organized into three thematic units:

Unit I - Biodiversity, functions and processes of the soil

Characteristics of the soil matrix that justify its high biodiversity;

Soil biota and its role in soil functions and services;

Methods for assessing soil diversity and soil functions;

The impact of different land uses on soil’s diversity;

Vegetation-soil interactions and ecosystem services at the landscape scale;

Unit II - The microbial community and its role in soil functions

Structural diversity versus functional diversity;

Methodologies for evaluating the soil microbial community;

Unit III - Soil Ecotoxicology

Framing the emergence of the new branch of Ecotoxicology;

Object of study, basic concepts, main challenges;

Concepts of bioavailability and bioaccessibility: the role of soil physical and chemical properties;

Standard ecotoxicological assays, multi-specific assays and field and semi-field trials.

Mandatory literature

David C. Coleman; Fundamentals of soil ecology. ISBN: 9780121797263
Donker, M.H., Eijsackers, H., Heimbach, F. (eds); Ecotoxicology of Soil Organisms , . SETAC Special Publication Series, 1994. ISBN: 0-87371-530-6
Jeffery, S., Gardi, C., Jones, A., Montaranella, L., Marmol, L., Miko. L., Ritz, K., Peres, G., Römbke, J., van den Putten, W.H. (eds); European Atlas of Soil Biodiversity, European Commission, Publications Office of the European Union, 2010. ISBN: 978-92-79-15806-3 (Available at: http://dx.doi.org/10.2788/94222 )
Tarradellas, J., Bitton, G., Rossel, D.; . Soil Ecotoxicology, CRC Press, USA, 1996. ISBN: 9781566701341
Diana H. Wall; Soil ecology and ecosystem services. ISBN: 978-0-19-968816-6

Comments from the literature

The bibliography of the CU will be complemented with scientific papers on the topics addressed.

Teaching methods and learning activities

Theoretical teaching will be done through lectures with reference to several case studies.

The practical-theoretical teaching will include different methodologies to be mentioned: 1) theoretical presentations to familiarize students with the methodologies that will be developed in the practical classes; 2) problem-based teaching-learning activities and, 3) statistical treatment of the data obtained in the practical classes.

In the practical lessons each student will have the possibility to perform different methodologies both in the laboratory and in the field.

Evaluation Type

Distributed evaluation with final exam

Assessment Components

designation	Weight (%)
Participação presencial	10,00
Exame	40,00
Trabalho prático ou de projeto	50,00
Total:	100,00

Amount of time allocated to each course unit

designation	Time (hours)
Apresentação/discussão de um trabalho científico	40,00
Estudo autónomo	86,00
Frequência das aulas	42,00
Total:	168,00

Eligibility for exams

Calculation formula of final grade

The evaluation of the CU will be carried out based on a written exam (WEX), a scientific report (SR) and in continuous evaluation (CE). The scientific report to be written in a group must have the structure of a scientific paper.

The continuous evaluation component will take into account different items Included in a grid given to students at the beginning of the course to motivate their active engagement in all the activities.

The final score will be calculated with the following equation:

Final classification=0.5WEX+0.3SR+0.2CE

A minimum classification of 30% in the written exam is mandatory.

Examinations or Special Assignments

Not applicable

Internship work/project

Not applicable

Special assessment (TE, DA, ...)

Não se aplica

Classification improvement

Only previewed for the written exam.

Observations

Ruth Pereira is responsible for this CU.