Ecology and Ecotoxicity

Code:

L.EA017

Acronym:

EE

Keywords
Classification	Keyword
OFICIAL	Natural Sciences - Environmental Science

Instance: 2024/2025 - 1S

Active?	Yes
Responsible unit:	Department of Chemical and Biological Engineering
Course/CS Responsible:	Bachelor in Environmental Engineering

Cycles of Study/Courses

Acronym	No. of Students	Study Plan	Curricular Years	Credits UCN	Credits ECTS	Contact hours	Total Time
L.EA	36	Syllabus	3	-	6	52	162

Teaching language

Suitable for English-speaking students

Objectives

1. Technical knowledge

1.1 Basic knowledge of Ecology, Nature Conservation and Ecotoxicology in a perspective of its application in Environmental Engineering.

1.2 National legislation related to Ecotoxicology.

 

1. Acquisition of personal and professional skills

2.1 Development of research strategies and electronic search.

 

1. Acquisition of interpersonal skills

3.1 Teamwork and communication (written and oral presentation)

 

Learning outcomes and competences

Acquisition of knowledge about the effect of: (i) the competition for resources; (ii) the  various biological relationships and the composition of whole communities; (iii) the interaction of the abiotic and biotic factors on the dynamics of population; (iv) the relathionship between the communities and the abiotic environment through fluxes of energy and matter; (v)  inefficient  transference of energy between the trophic levels ; (vi) the differences between the processing of decomposer and the consumer systems.

Acquisition of knowledge of: (i)  the major classes of pollutants (structure, main properties and occurence); (ii) the influence of the properties of the pollutants on its movement and distribution on the environment, as well as their toxicity to organisms.

Working method

Presencial

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

Students must have prior knowledge of Chemistry, Biology, Instrumental  Analysis and statistical methods, which have been learned in previous courses or during secondary education at the end of 11th level.

Program

1. Definitions, objectives, actual problems and challenges

• 2. Ecology

2.1. Areas of study in Ecology
2.2. Structure and functioning of ecosystems
2.2.1. Definition of ecosystem
2.2.2. Organisms; populations; metapopulations; communities and ecosystems
2.2.3. Population dynamics
2.2.4. Biological interactions (intra and inter-specific): competition, predation, decomposition, parasitism, symbiosis
2.2.5. Communities and ecosystems
2.2.5.1. Abiotic factors: water and water cycle; soil; climate
2.2.5.2. Nutrients and energy
2.2.5.3. Energy flows in ecosystems: energy pyramids
2.2.5.4. Matter fluxes in ecosystems: food chains and webs; biomass pyramids
2.2.5.4. Primary and secondary productivity
2.2.5.6. Biogeochemical cycles: carbon; nitrogen; phosphor
2.2.5.7. The concept of diversity: native species; endemic; exotic; invaders
2.2.5.8. The concept of evenness: dominant species; “umbrella” species
2.2.5.9. The ecological succession
2.2.5.10. Biomes
2.3. Landscape ecology: matrix, patch, corridor, mosaic
2.4. Ecosystem services: production, support/regulation; cultural

 

3. Ecotoxicology

3.1. Pollutants and their fates in the Ecosystems
3.1.1. Major classes of pollutants
3.1.2. Routes by which pollutants enter ecosystems
3.2. Bioavailability and bioaccumulation.
3.2.1. Bioavailability, biotransformation and excretion
3.2.2. Toxicokinetic models
3.2.3. Bioaccumulation
3.3. Effects of pollutants
3.3.1. Effects of pollutants at different organizational levels: bioindicators and biomarkers
3.3.2. Toxicity tests.
3.3.3. National legislation related with ecotoxicity tests

Mandatory literature

ULL; Essentials of Ecology. ISBN: 1-405-10328-0
C. H. Walker...[et al.]; Principles of ecotoxicology. ISBN: 0-8493-3635-X

Complementary Bibliography

Michael Begon, Colin R. Townsend, John L. Harper; Ecology. ISBN: 1-4051-1117-8
ed. by Gary M. Rand; Fundamentals of aquatic toxicology. ISBN: 1-56032-091-5
Organic pollutants in the water cycle: properties, ocurrence, analysis and environmental relevance of polar compounds , Thorsten Reemstsma and Martin Jekel, 2006. ISBN: 3-527-31297-8

Teaching methods and learning activities

Presentation of the syllabus, analysis and discussion of case studies. Three lab sessions related with the topic of Ecotoxicology.

keywords

Natural sciences

Evaluation Type

Distributed evaluation without final exam

Assessment Components

Designation	Weight (%)
Participação presencial	0,00
Teste	80,00
Trabalho laboratorial	20,00
Total:	100,00

Amount of time allocated to each course unit

Designation	Time (hours)
Estudo autónomo	76,00
Frequência das aulas	56,00
Elaboração de relatório/dissertação/tese	22,50
Trabalho laboratorial	7,50
Total:	162,00

Eligibility for exams

Besides the application of SPECIFIC REGULATION OF ASSESSMENT OF STUDENTS of FEUP, students obtain frequency when the grade of Continuous Assessment (CA)  is equal or greater than 10 (out of 20).

Calculation formula of final grade

The assessment will be based on two tests (T1 and T2) related with each module (Ecology and Ecotoxicology, respectively) and the evaluation of the lab component of the Ecotoxicology module to be carried out in group. The T1 and T2 tests will be held on the 16th of October (at the class time) and December 15th (at 3 pm, in a room to be announced), respectively. The lab sessions will take place in the E002 laboratory in the weeks between November 20th and December 8th; the students should  deliver each report one week after the lab session.

The final classification (FC) of the curricular unit is obtained as follows: FC = [0.40 T1 (Ecology) + 0.40 T2 (Ecotoxicology) + 0.20 REL]; the classification of the lab component will be calculated as the arithmetic average of the reports (REL) related to the work effectively performed by each student in the lab classroom context. For the purpose of obtaining frequency, students must obtain a minimum classification of 10 (out of 20) in the reports presented regarding the lab component (Continuous Assessment, CA). Students must obtain a final classification (FC) of at least 10 (out of 20) values ​​for the curricular unit, being mandatory to obtain a minimum classification of 8 (out of 20) values ​​in each test (T1 and T2).

Examinations or Special Assignments

No additional special assignments, beyond those indicated herein, are provided.

Internship work/project

Not applicable.

Special assessment (TE, DA, ...)

Not applicable.

Classification improvement

In agreement with section 10.1 of Article 10 Improvement of the SPECIFIC REGULATION OF ASSESSMENT OF STUDENTS of FEUP, students may make improvements classification examination performed only once, at one of two times of the final examination mentioned in alinea a) of paragraph 1, Article 9, immediately after they passed and when the course has examination provided.

Observations

The T1 and T2 tests will be held on 21th of October and 17th of December, respectively.

The lab sessions will take place in the E002 laboratory in the Department of Chemical Engineering at FEUP  in the weeks beginning between November 25th and December 9th.