Biodiversity and Habitat Management

Year
1
Academic year
2019-2020
Code
02001433
Subject Area
Ecology
Language of Instruction
Portuguese
Other Languages of Instruction
English
Mode of Delivery
Face-to-face
Duration
SEMESTRIAL
ECTS Credits
6.0
Type
Elective
Level
2nd Cycle Studies - Mestrado

Recommended Prerequisites

General knowledge in botany (1st cycle).

Teaching Methods

Special emphasis will be given to discussions and students participation.

Lectures with the use of highly illustrated powerpoints.

Practicals: interactive and highly participative group teaching.

Field-work: interactive and highly participative group teaching.

Tutorials: directed to individual needs.

Learning Outcomes

At the end of the course the student should be able:

1. To recognise and use concepts for the identification of priority areas of biological diversity in Portugal and in habitat management.

2. To collect, analyse, synthetize and process information in a significant way referring to problematic habitats in Portugal, understanding the methods and techniques for the investigation of plant diversity.

3.To make decisions based on ethical principles both in the field collecting plants and using taxonomic information in the internet

4. To communicate information on environmental issues and group work.

5. To become autonomous in searching information in this field.

Work Placement(s)

No

Syllabus

1. Biodiversity and habitat management of European interest. Habitats Directive in Portugal.

1.1. Costal habitats. Water Framework Directive.  Calcareous areas and chasmophytic vegetation. Meadows at high altitude.

1.4. Conifer and broad-leaf woodlands. Tree management and soil management for macrofungi conservation. Inventory and monitoring macrofungi. Discussion of case studies.

2. Biological invasions

2.1. Legislation and scientific aspects. Preventing and managing biological invasions

2.3. Case studies of invader plants in Portugal

3. Territory ordinance and Environment Impact Assessment

3.1. Concepts, origins and development. Legislation and intervening authorities. Main stages of the process

3.2. Contents of an Environment Impact Assessment

4. Climate change

4.1. Controversy. Global past, present and future context

4.2. Climate change impact in terrestrial ecosystems. Present situation and scenarios.

4.3. The Portuguese case; SIAM II. Case study. Discussion.

Assessment Methods

Assessment
Oral presentation: 30.0%
Synthesis work: 70.0%

Bibliography

Alves, J.M.S.; Santo, M.D.E.; Costa, J.C.; Gonçalves, J.H.C. & Lousã, M.F. (1998). Habitats Naturais e Seminaturais de Amaral Franco, J. & Rocha Afonso, M.L. (1991-2000). Nova Flora de Portugal. Escolar Editora.

Blondel, J. & Aronson, J. (1999). Biology and wildlife of the Mediterranean region. Oxford University Press.

Cronk, Q.C.B.; Fuller, J.L.1995. Plant Invaders. 1st Ed. Chapman & Hall. 1

Groom, M., Meffe, G.K. & Carroll, C.R. (2006). Principles of conservation biology. 3th ed. Sinauer Associates: Sunderland, USA.

Pereira J. S., Correia A.V., Correia A. P., Branco M., Bugalho M., Caldeira M.C., Cruz C.S., Freitas H., Oliveira A.C., Pereira J.M., Reis R.M. & Vasconcelos M.J. (2002). Florestas e Biodiversidade. In: Santos F.D., Forbes K. & Moita R. (eds) Alterações climáticas em Portugal. Cenários, impactos e medidas de adaptação. Projecto SIAM. Capítulo 10. Gradiva - Publicações Lda, Lisboa, 2002, 363-413.

INTERNET:

Convention on Biological Diversity: http://www.cbd.int/default.shtml

Global Biological Information Facility: www.gbif.org

Plantas Invasoras: http://www.uc.pt/invasoras