ID:
SCC0323
Duration (hours):
48
CFU:
6
SSD:
BOTANICA AMBIENTALE E APPLICATA
Year:
2025
Overview
Date/time interval
Secondo Semestre (23/02/2026 - 29/05/2026)
Syllabus
Course Objectives
The course aims to introduce the sustainable use of plant resources, both in terms of primary production, biomass, biodiversity, and ecosystem services in the frame of the current scenario of global change and the growing demand for natural resources. An introductory part concerns the world distribution of vegetation and the assessment of Earth's biocapacity. The main sources of anthropic impact on terrestrial ecosystems linked to the carbon cycle are then presented. Finally, the main fields of application and use of native plants are presented together with the main ecological principles fundamental for the management of vegetation.
EXPECTED LEARNING OUTCOMES
The expected learning outcomes concern the ability to understand and evaluate the consistency of plant resources in different environments worldwide and to evaluate the pressures and threats that insist on them, to identify conservation strategies.
At the end of the course, the student will be able to:
-know the outlines of the world's vegetation;
-evaluate the role of vegetation in the carbon cycle and in ecosystem services production;
-identify the main pressures and threats to the conservation of plant resources;
-know the fields of application of native flora and natural plant communities.
-apply sustainability criteria in the use of plant resources.
EXPECTED LEARNING OUTCOMES
The expected learning outcomes concern the ability to understand and evaluate the consistency of plant resources in different environments worldwide and to evaluate the pressures and threats that insist on them, to identify conservation strategies.
At the end of the course, the student will be able to:
-know the outlines of the world's vegetation;
-evaluate the role of vegetation in the carbon cycle and in ecosystem services production;
-identify the main pressures and threats to the conservation of plant resources;
-know the fields of application of native flora and natural plant communities.
-apply sustainability criteria in the use of plant resources.
Course Prerequisites
There are no propaedeutic constraints. However, constant reference will be made to basic concepts of Physical Geography, Ecology and Biogeography.
Teaching Methods
The course objectives will be achieved through classroom lectures for a total of 48 hours.
The lectures use presentations with images, graphs, and diagrams taken from university textbooks, scientific literature, and reports from international organizations, which will later be made available to students on the course's e-learning platform.
At the beginning of each lecture, at students’ request, the teacher will provide clarifications and insights concerning topics covered in the previous lessons. It will also be possible to ask for clarifications at any time during the lecture.
The lectures use presentations with images, graphs, and diagrams taken from university textbooks, scientific literature, and reports from international organizations, which will later be made available to students on the course's e-learning platform.
At the beginning of each lecture, at students’ request, the teacher will provide clarifications and insights concerning topics covered in the previous lessons. It will also be possible to ask for clarifications at any time during the lecture.
Assessment Methods
The evaluation of students’ knowledge will take place at the end of the course through the only final exam which will be carried out in oral form. In the end, a single vote expressed out of thirty will be registered.
The oral exam, about 30 minutes, will concern 3 open-ended questions chosen from three different groups of contents covered in the course. The formulation of the questions will conform to the expected learning outcomes, also by presenting case studies to the candidate.
Students who have attended the course are offered the possibility of making a presentation on computer support concerning a topic arranged with the teacher and will be based on the discussion of some articles of the most recent scientific literature (from 2 to 4). The exam will last 30 minutes, of which 15 are dedicated to the presentation and 15 to the discussion with the examination board.
In both cases, the evaluation of the oral exam will take into account, in addition to the level of knowledge acquired (40%), the ability to apply theoretical concepts to real cases (30%), the ability to organize and illustrate the arguments (20%), the competence in the use of specialized vocabulary and the student's presentation skills (10%).
The oral exam, about 30 minutes, will concern 3 open-ended questions chosen from three different groups of contents covered in the course. The formulation of the questions will conform to the expected learning outcomes, also by presenting case studies to the candidate.
Students who have attended the course are offered the possibility of making a presentation on computer support concerning a topic arranged with the teacher and will be based on the discussion of some articles of the most recent scientific literature (from 2 to 4). The exam will last 30 minutes, of which 15 are dedicated to the presentation and 15 to the discussion with the examination board.
In both cases, the evaluation of the oral exam will take into account, in addition to the level of knowledge acquired (40%), the ability to apply theoretical concepts to real cases (30%), the ability to organize and illustrate the arguments (20%), the competence in the use of specialized vocabulary and the student's presentation skills (10%).
Contents
Climates, bioclimates, and world distribution of vegetation (16 hours) Biomass, Primary Production and Biocapacity of Vegetation and anthropic impact (14 hours) Ecological footprint, sustainable use, and plant community stability (8 hours) Use of native plants and control of Invasive alien plants (10 hours)
Course Language
Italian
More information
The teacher is always available for urgent matters at the e-mail address bruno.cerabolini@uninsubria.it. Using the same e-mail address is also possible to arrange meetings in Teams or in the teacher's office placed by DBSV via J.H. Dunant, 3 in Varese (third floor).
Degrees
Degrees
ENVIRONMENTAL SCIENCES
Master’s Degree
2 years
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People
People
Docenti di ruolo di IIa fascia
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