Ecology

Code:

MT143

Acronym:

ECOL

Keywords
Classification	Keyword
OFICIAL	Medicine

Instance: 2005/2006 - 2S

Active?	Yes
Responsible unit:	Population Studies
Course/CS Responsible:	Medicine

Cycles of Study/Courses

Acronym	No. of Students	Study Plan	Curricular Years	Credits UCN	Credits ECTS	Contact hours	Total Time
MED	168	Plano oficial a partir de 2003	1	1		-

Objectives

To learn basic ecological concepts that will help to comprehend environmental phenomena with medical relevance.

Program

Division of Ecology.
Biotic, abiotic and nutrient fluxes
Specific areas of interest
Ecology as a science and its divisions.
The scientific method applied to Ecology
Scales in Biology
Scales in Ecology
Organizational levels in living organisms
The 10 rules of Ecology
Evolution and biological evolution
Natural selection: genetic variation, number of individuals, concurrence, adaptation
The new generation
Adaptation: genetics and behaviour
Concurrence: space, food, sexual.
Evolution and adaptation: from reptiles to mammals through fishes.
Divergence and convergence in evolution.
Definition of species.
Factors influencing the species variability.
Geographical, genetic and ecological isolation.
Human races.
Estimation of genetic variability.
New species and speciation.
Ethological, psychological and mechanical factors.
Origin of life: divine, outer space, terrestrial.
Coacervates and its characteristics.
Miller experiment and the reduction world.
Oparine and Haldane views.
Ribozime as catalytic RNA.
The first organism.
Characteristics of life.
Energy transfer and metabolism.
Classic food chain and microbial loop
Kinetic and potential energy. Daily energy requirement.
Consumption efficiency.
Temperature and development.
History of life.

Main Bibliography

Copy of the slides
Selected scientific papers

Evaluation Type

Evaluation with final exam