Environmental Quality Assessment

Recommended Prerequisites

Biostatistics; Ecology; English.

Teaching Methods

Intensive course with 2 weks duration. Lectures: theoretical, theoretical and practical, practical; Field work; Students autonomous group work.

Learning Outcomes

After attending the course, the sudents will have acquired specific skills regarding the use of environmental quality assessment tools, including their application in complex systems or in the scope of decision support, namely through the utilisation of different statistical and modelling software.

Work Placement(s)

No

Syllabus

Environmental integrity concept and its applications; Environmental pollution – the example of aquatic ecosystems; Other types of environmental alterations; Environmental quality indicators; Integrated management strategies; Sustainable development and ecologic economics; Ecosystem services.

Assessment Methods

Assessment
Mini Tests: 10.0%
Resolution Problems: 10.0%
Laboratory work or Field work: 10.0%
Project: 20.0%
Other: 20.0%
Exam: 30.0%

Bibliography

Marques, J. C., F. Salas, J. Patrício, J. Neto & H. Teixeira, 2009. Ecological Indicators for Coastal and Estuarine Environmental Assessment - A User Guide. WIT PRESS, 208 p.

Jorgensen, S. E. & B. Fath, 2011. Fundamentals of Ecological Modelling: Applications in environmental management and research. Elsevier, 432 p.

Jorgensen, S. E., 2012. Introduction to systems ecology. CRC Press, 320 p.

 

Selected papers - updated each year.