Advanced Ecotoxicology

Code:

TCAEM08

Acronym:

EA

Keywords
Classification	Keyword
OFICIAL	Biology

Instance: 2024/2025 - 2S (of 17-02-2025 to 18-07-2025)

Active?	Yes
Responsible unit:	Population Studies
Course/CS Responsible:	Environmental Contamination and Toxicology

Cycles of Study/Courses

Acronym	No. of Students	Study Plan	Curricular Years	Credits UCN	Credits ECTS	Contact hours	Total Time
MTCAEM	11	Oficial Plan 2020	1	-	6	42	162

Teaching language

English
Obs.: predominantemente inglês, podendo ser ainda usado português

Objectives

To learn fundamental, advanced and applied concepts of Ecotoxicology and get used to approaches and techniques used by routine in the assessment of ecotoxicity, as well as new methods and tools suitable for use in several of the potential scenarios that students may have to face during their professional careers.

To stimulate and develop the students motivation for scientific research, to train them in searching and selecting suitable scientific information, and let them recognise the need for continuous knowledge actualization.

To stimulate and develop the capability of the students to work in a team in an integrated and multidisciplinary way.

To promote the use of scientific knowledge to solve ecotoxicological problems.

Learning outcomes and competences

At the end of the course, students should be able to:

1) Have fundamental, advanced and applied ecotoxicological concepts, and training in methods and techniques

commonly in ecotoxicity assessments, as well as in new approaches necessary to address and overcome major environmental problems (e.g. pollution and other problems resulting from human population growth,

climate changes).

2) To have interest for scientific research and to have the skills to continuously update their knowledge and training and to apply them in problem solving in the scope of ecotoxicology in different regions (temperate, tropical and subtropical, cold).

3) To have the capability of working in a team, in an integrated and multidisciplinary way in the scope of

Ecotoxicology.

4) To have autonomy and skills to promote consensual choices, to analyse and discuss results, make decisions and communicate results, risks and decisions to different types of audience in distinct contexts in the scope of ecotoxicology.

Working method

Presencial

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

Knowledge of ecotoxicology, toxicology and environmental chemistry obtained in courses of the 1st semester of the Master.

Program

1. Ecotoxicology; environment and societal development; sustainability.

2. Classic problems.

3. Emerging paradigms.

4. Toxicity of environmental contaminants: from the molecule to the ecosystem.

5. Mixtures and toxicological interactions.

6. Assessment of the ecotoxicity of individual agents and mixtures in terrestrial, freshwater and marine ecosystems: laboratory assays; micro, meso and macrocosmos assessments; monitoring and other methods to assess the environmental quality and the effects of environmental contaminants in real scenarios.

7. Interactions between physical (e.g. temperature) and chemical stressors; effects of multi-stressors.

8. Climate changes, biotoxins and pollution.

9. New challenges and opportunities.

Mandatory literature

Zar Jerrold H.; Biostatistical analysis. ISBN: 0-13-086398-X
Walker C. H. 070; Principles of ecotoxicology. ISBN: 0-8493-3635-X
Klaassen Curtis D. ed.; Casarett and Doull.s toxicology. ISBN: 0-07-105476-6

Complementary Bibliography

Colborn, T.; Dumanoski; Myers, J.P.; Our Stolen Future. Are we threatening our Fertility, Intelligence and Survival? - a Scientific Detective Story. , Dutto, New York. , 1996
Rachel Carson; Silent Spring, 1962
Van Gestel, C.A.M., Jonker, M.J.; Kammenga, J.E.; Laskowski, R.; Svendsen, C.; Mixture Toxicity – Linking Approaches from Ecological and Human Toxicology. SETAC & CRC Press, Taylor & Francis Group, Boca Raton., SETAC & CRC Press, Taylor & Francis Group, Boca Raton., 2010
Vethaak, D.; Schrap, M.; de Voogt, P. (EDs.); Estrogens and Xenoestrogens in the Aquatic Environment: an Integrated Approach for Field Monitoring and Effect Assessment. , Society of Toxicology and Environmental Chemistry (SETAC) Press, Pensacola., 2006
Araújo, C.M.V.; Shinn, C. (Eds.); Ecotoxicology in Latin America, Nova Publishers, New York, 591 p. ISBN: 978-1-53610-609-1 (e-book)., 2017

Comments from the literature

Several scientific articles, reports of international organizations, and web sites.

Teaching methods and learning activities

The course will be conducted in an intensive format.

Interactive lectures and case studies discussions stimulating the active participation of the students.

Laboratory and outdoor practical sessions to get knowledge and training on ecotoxicological assessments.

Practical sessions (individual and team work) with simulations (e.g. computational, “game” scenarios) and real case studies, including decision-making and communication of results and decisions to different types of audience.

Autonomous team work (seminar component) on a topic in the scope of Ecotoxicology (free choice by the students), presentation and discussion of the work done with colleagues and teachers at the end of the semester.

If necessary,  remote teaching tools will be used.

Software

SPSS, power point, excel, word
spss, excel, word, power point

keywords

Natural sciences > Environmental science > Ecology > Environmental risks
Natural sciences > Environmental science > Ecology
Natural sciences > Environmental science > Ecology > Ecotoxicology
Natural sciences > Environmental science > Global change
Natural sciences > Environmental science > Natural resources management

Evaluation Type

Distributed evaluation with final exam

Assessment Components

Designation	Weight (%)
Apresentação/discussão de um trabalho científico	20,00
Exame	50,00
Participação presencial	10,00
Trabalho escrito	20,00
Total:	100,00

Amount of time allocated to each course unit

Designation	Time (hours)
Apresentação/discussão de um trabalho científico	4,00
Estudo autónomo	66,00
Frequência das aulas	42,00
Trabalho de investigação	30,00
Trabalho escrito	20,00
Total:	162,00

Eligibility for exams

Students must attend and participate in both lectures and practical sessions and submit all the components of the team work, namely: written report (as an article) to be submitted in the last class, oral communication to be presented and discussed at the end of the course.

Calculation formula of final grade

FINAL MARK = A + B + C

A) Written exam (minimum of 5,0/10 points): 50%

B) Continuous evaluation I, work during the classes complemented with autonomous work (minimum of 1,0/2,0 points): 10%

C) Seminar component, continous evaluation II (minimum of 4,0/8,0 points): 40%

Examinations or Special Assignments

Team work: written report, and platform presentation and discussion.

Special assessment (TE, DA, ...)

exam

Classification improvement

Exam.