Ecology and Nature Conservation

Code:

EA0068

Acronym:

ECN

Keywords
Classification	Keyword
OFICIAL	Environmental Sciences

Instance: 2017/2018 - 1S

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

Cycles of Study/Courses

Acronym	No. of Students	Study Plan	Curricular Years	Credits UCN	Credits ECTS	Contact hours	Total Time
MIEA	36	Syllabus since 2006/07	3	-	6	56	162

Teaching language

Portuguese

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. Study’s areas of the Ecology. 2.2. Structures and operation of the ecosystems. 2.2.1 Definition of ecosystem 2.2.2.Individuals; populations; communities and ecosystems; 2.2.3. Interaction intra-and inter-species 2.2.3.1. Competition, predation, decomposition, parasitism, symbiosis 2.2.3.2. Dynamics of populations 2.2.4. Communities and ecosystems 2.2.4.1. Flux of energy through ecosystems 2.2.4.1.1. Primary productivity 2.2.4.1.2. Secondary productivity 2.2.4.2. Flux of matter through ecosystems 2.2.4.2.1. Global biogeochemical cycles


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 toxicity 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. Development of a group assignment and its oral presentation about a subject. Students should do two proposed works in lab sessions related with the toxicity and ready biodegradability of the pollutants.

keywords

Natural sciences

Evaluation Type

Distributed evaluation with final exam

Assessment Components

Designation	Weight (%)
Exame	55,00
Participação presencial	5,00
Trabalho escrito	30,00
Trabalho laboratorial	10,00
Total:	100,00

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 has two components: CA and Theoretical one (T). The CA includes the following subcomponents: (i) Lab Works (LW), Continuous Assessment of Theoretical and Theoretical-Practical sessions (CATP) and a Written Work (hard and electronic documents should be delivered to the teacher up to 5 p.m of the 24th of November) and Oral presentation and discussion (in the theoretical sessions: 4^th, 6^th , 7^th and 13^th of December) of a subject (SUB). The theoretical component (taught at theoretical, theoretical-pratical and Lab sessions) is evaluated in exam (EX). The final grade (FG) is calculated according to the following equation: FG = 0.30 SUB + 0.10 LW + 0.05 CATPP + 0.55 EX; in exam, a minimum score of 9 (out of 20) is required, otherwise the weighted average grade will not be taken into account. Students have to reach a minimum final grade of 10 (out of 20) to fulfill this course unit.

 

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

IMPORTANT DATA related with the SUBJECT:

1) Written document (hard and electronic documents) should be delivered to the teacher up to 5 p.m of the 24th of November;

2) Oral presentation and discussion: in the theoretical sessions of the 4^th, 6^th , 7^th and 13^th of December.

IMPORTANT DATES related with the LAB COMPONENT:

1) Bioluminescence inhibition work, the report shall be delivered not later than one week after the lab session;

2) Ready biodegradability: the report shall be delivered not later than the 22th of December.

The delivery of Written document of the Subject (hard copy), as well as the reports of Lab Sessions (paper format) should be done in the E316 office.

The students, who miss any of the components of the distributed evaluation, a classification of zero values will be assigned in this component.