Applied Ecology and Conservation Biology

Code:

RM24

Acronym:

EABC

Keywords
Classification	Keyword
OFICIAL	Marine Biology and Ecology

Instance: 2025/2026 - 2S (of 16-02-2026 to 31-07-2026)

Active?	Yes
Responsible unit:	Population Studies
Course/CS Responsible:	Master Degree in Marine Sciences - Marine Resources

Cycles of Study/Courses

Acronym	No. of Students	Study Plan	Curricular Years	Credits UCN	Credits ECTS	Contact hours	Total Time
MCMRM	12	Oficial Plan 2018	1	-	5	50	135

Teaching language

Portuguese and english

Objectives

The language may be English, depending of the native languages of the students.
To learn and get training in approaches and techniques used in Ecology and Ecotoxicology to assess effects of pollutants on populations, communities and ecosystems.
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 ecological and ecotoxicological problems.

Learning outcomes and competences

To learn and get training in approaches and techniques used in Ecology and Ecotoxicology to assess effects of pollutants on populations, communities and ecosystems. 
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 ecological and ecotoxicological problems.

Working method

Presencial

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

Basic knowledge of ecology and ecotoxicology

Program

1. Global climate changes  and  major ecological challenges.

2. Development, growth, sustainability, biodiversity and conservation.

3. Legislation and conventions.

4. Types of environmental stressors and their effects.

5.  Methods and techniques commonly used in ecology and ecotoxicology to assess the effects of stressors ambientais em populações, comunidades e ecossistemas.

6. Effects of environmental stressors on populations.

7. Effects of environmental stressors on intra and interspecific relatioships and on communities. Implications to biodiversity.

8. Effects of multi-stressors.

9. Interactions among climate changes, exotic invasive species and pollution in ecosystems from different regions of the world.

10.Combined effects of environmental stressors on ecosystem functioning and services.

Mandatory literature

Christian E. W. Steinberg; Stress ecology. ISBN: 978-94-007-2071-8
Begon M; Townsend CR; Harper JL ; Ecology: From Individuals to Ecosystems, Blackwell Publishing, 2009

Complementary Bibliography

Araújo, C.M.V.; Shinn, C. (Eds.); Ecotoxicology in Latin America, Nova Publishers, New York, 2017. ISBN: 978-1-53610-609-1
Sheppard, C.R.C. (Ed.); World Seas: An Environmental Evaluation. 2nd Edition, Vol. III: Ecological Issues and Environmental Impacts, Academic Press, 2019
Steinberg C.E.W.; Environmental Stress as Ecological Driving Force and Key Player in Evolution, Springer, 2012

Teaching methods and learning activities

Integrative teaching based on the analysis and discussion of case-studies.
During theoretical sessions, the issues will be presented in a way suitable to promote interactive discussions and the active involvement of the students in the case-study analysis.

Software

POPULUS
power point
word
excell
navegador da internet
SPSS

keywords

Natural sciences > Environmental science > Natural resources management
Natural sciences > Environmental science > Ecology
Natural sciences > Environmental science > Ecology
Natural sciences > Environmental science > Global change
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	31,00
Frequência das aulas	50,00
Trabalho de investigação	30,00
Trabalho escrito	20,00
Total:	135,00

Eligibility for exams

Students should attend the classes, and submit a research project that they will like to develop in one of the topics of the course.

Calculation formula of final grade

The final mark will be the sum of the marks got in the following components:

1. Final exam: 50% (minimum: 5.0/10.0 points)

2: seminar with platform presentation (continuous evaluation I): 40% (minimum: 4.0/8.0 points)

2. Continuous evaluation II: 10% (minimum: 1.0/2.0 points)

Final: 1 + 2 + 3

Examinations or Special Assignments

individual project

other elements of continuous evaluation

Classification improvement

exam