Results Index

  • Eco-friendly ICT-based training outcomes for adults 2019-1-BG01-KA204-062366

  • Eco-friendly ICT-based training outcomes for adults 2019-1-BG01-KA204-062366

  • Eco-friendly ICT-based training outcomes for adults 2019-1-BG01-KA204-062366

  • Learn about main features of subject area Ecology
  • Learn about the main levels of study through the hyperlinked ‘pop-in’/’pop-out’ courses descriptions

 

 

 

ECOLOGY

Ecology is a branch of science including human science, population, community, ecosystem, and biosphere biology that examines the overall relationship between living beings and their environment. It is studied with the primary goal to improve the understanding of life processes, adaptations and habitats, interactions and biodiversity of organisms.

Although ecology research is a broad field, it encompasses several main levels of study:

General ecology:

Offers knowledge about the basic concepts of ecology as a branch of biology that studies the global relationship between living beings and their environment

Phyto- and Zoo-ecology:

Studies the relations of plants and animals with their physical and biotic environment, and the consequences of these relationships for evolution, population growth and regulation, and interactions between species

Ecology of microorganisms:

Focuses on the occurrence, diversity and activity of microorganisms in natural ecosystems and in man-made environments

Population and behavioral ecology:

Studies the processes on which depends the distribution and abundance of animal and plant populations and the evolutionary basis for animal behavior due to ecological pressures

Structural and functional biocenology:

Studies the structure of natural communities (the biocenoses) and the interactions and relationships between their individual members

Fundamentals of environmental technology:

Explains chemical and biological conversion processes applied in the treatment of water, gases, soil and solid wastes

Integrated ecosystem assessment:

Studies the approaches to analyse effects of human interventions in an ecosystem and their ecological, socio-cultural and economic aspects in an integrated way

Environmental protection and sustainability:

Presents the basic principles of environmental protection, biodiversity conservation practices, approaches and solutions for water and air pollution alleviation, and major opportunities for sustainability


What makes ecological research so intrinsic, and meanwhile - so difficult, is the complexity of the biological systems. The vital role of ecology is to reduce the complex structures to simple conclusions based on natural science.
The importance of ecology is grounded on the fact that it helps humans understand how their actions affect the environment and damage/protect it. Lack of understanding of ecology has led to the degradation of land and the environment, to the extinction and endangerment of certain species, to scarcity and deprivation of vital resources, leading to species competition.
Thus, ecology encourages harmonious living within the species and the adoption of a lifestyle that protects the ecology of life.

ECOLOGY - Learning Outcomes pool

General ecology

This course offers knowledge about the basic concepts of ecology as a branch of biology that studies the global relationship between living beings and their environment. The impact of these complex relationships on the composition of biological communities, and energy flow and nutrient cycling through the ecosystem is also commented. Environmental problems in soil, water, and atmosphere are described and analysed. Attention is paid to the social and economic reasons for these problems and their impact on different organisms and ecosystems. The active contribution of science and technology in solving these problems is discussed, as well as the role of various stakeholders (government, business, NGOs, individuals) is revealed. The basic interdisciplinary methodology of ecology from research design to data interpretation is also covered, in particular how to choose a research topic, formulate research objectives, define questions and transform them into measurable variables and assessment strategies..

General ecology

This course offers knowledge about the basic concepts of ecology as a branch of biology that studies the global relationship between living beings and their environment. The impact of these complex relationships on the composition of biological communities, and energy flow and nutrient cycling through the ecosystem is also commented. Environmental problems in soil, water, and atmosphere are described and analysed. Attention is paid to the social and economic reasons for these problems and their impact on different organisms and ecosystems. The active contribution of science and technology in solving these problems is discussed, as well as the role of various stakeholders (government, business, NGOs, individuals) is revealed. The basic interdisciplinary methodology of ecology from research design to data interpretation is also covered, in particular how to choose a research topic, formulate research objectives, define questions and transform them into measurable variables and assessment strategies..

Phyto- and Zoo-ecology

The course presents information about the main characteristics of plant ecology as a branch of biology that studies the relations of plants with their physical and biotic environment. Special emphasis is given to the primary objective of the course: to explain the origin and maintenance of different vegetation types and species associations. The second part of the course deals with animal ecology that is focused on the relationships of animals to their environments, including physical factors and other organisms, and the consequences of these relationships for evolution, population growth and regulation, and interactions between species. The two general principles guiding the study of animal ecology are presented: the balance of nature and the dynamic relationship of populations to their environments causing ecological systems to vary dramatically over time and space.

Phyto- and Zoo-ecology

The course presents information about the main characteristics of plant ecology as a branch of biology that studies the relations of plants with their physical and biotic environment. Special emphasis is given to the primary objective of the course: to explain the origin and maintenance of different vegetation types and species associations. The second part of the course deals with animal ecology that is focused on the relationships of animals to their environments, including physical factors and other organisms, and the consequences of these relationships for evolution, population growth and regulation, and interactions between species. The two general principles guiding the study of animal ecology are presented: the balance of nature and the dynamic relationship of populations to their environments causing ecological systems to vary dramatically over time and space.

Ecology of microorganisms

The course is focused on the occurrence, diversity and activity of various groups of microorganisms in natural ecosystems and in man-made environments. The information presented reveals the interactions of microorganisms with their biological and physical/chemical environment; their role in organic pollutants bio-transformations; detection, identification and functional characterization of microbial communities and individual species at DNA- and RNA-level by using molecular biology techniques; application of other cellular components as biomarkers for microbial community identity and function. Basic data about the theories on genome stability, gene flux and adaptation as well as the phenomena of quorum sensing cell-to-cell communication and the symbiotic and associative interactions between micro-and microorganisms (e.g. in the mammalian GIT, plant-microbe interactions, soil biosphere) are presented. The innovative strategies for cultivation of the yet uncultured microorganisms are discussed.

Ecology of microorganisms

The course is focused on the occurrence, diversity and activity of various groups of microorganisms in natural ecosystems and in man-made environments. The information presented reveals the interactions of microorganisms with their biological and physical/chemical environment; their role in organic pollutants bio-transformations; detection, identification and functional characterization of microbial communities and individual species at DNA- and RNA-level by using molecular biology techniques; application of other cellular components as biomarkers for microbial community identity and function. Basic data about the theories on genome stability, gene flux and adaptation as well as the phenomena of quorum sensing cell-to-cell communication and the symbiotic and associative interactions between micro-and microorganisms (e.g. in the mammalian GIT, plant-microbe interactions, soil biosphere) are presented. The innovative strategies for cultivation of the yet uncultured microorganisms are discussed.

Population and behavioral ecology

In this course the principles of population ecology, a branch of ecology that studies the processes on which depends the distribution and abundance of animal and plant populations are presented. The factors affecting population and how and why a population changes over time are revealed. The importance of population ecology in the development and performance of population viability analysis is discussed with special emphasis on its impact on the prediction of the long-term probability of a species persisting in a certain habitat. The human population growth model will be discussed as well, being one of the most important environmental issues of nowadays. The second part of the course is devoted to behavioral ecology, the study of the evolutionary basis for animal behavior due to ecological pressures. The importance of adaptive/maladaptive traits and adaptive significance, for species competition and maintenance along evolution is also discussed.

Population and behavioral ecology

In this course the principles of population ecology, a branch of ecology that studies the processes on which depends the distribution and abundance of animal and plant populations are presented. The factors affecting population and how and why a population changes over time are revealed. The importance of population ecology in the development and performance of population viability analysis is discussed with special emphasis on its impact on the prediction of the long-term probability of a species persisting in a certain habitat. The human population growth model will be discussed as well, being one of the most important environmental issues of nowadays. The second part of the course is devoted to behavioral ecology, the study of the evolutionary basis for animal behavior due to ecological pressures. The importance of adaptive/maladaptive traits and adaptive significance, for species competition and maintenance along evolution is also discussed.

Structural and functional biocenology

This course presents the fundamentals of biocenology, a branch of ecology that studies the natural communities (the biocenoses) and the interactions and relationships between their individual members. The different forms of ecological communities - zoocenosis, phytocenosis, and microbiocenosis are shown. Data are presented regarding the structure of biocenoses, their development, distribution in space and time, and their origin. Special emphasis is given to the functions of the biocenoses, being the biotic component of the ecosystems and its dependence/interaction with the abiotic components (ecotopes). Methods for delineating and mapping different biotic communities in the ecosystem and determination of the system boundaries are presented, and their application for identifying sites that need environmental protection is discussed. The different models of biocenology are talked about and their application for description of production processes as a function of environmental factors is shown.

Structural and functional biocenology

This course presents the fundamentals of biocenology, a branch of ecology that studies the natural communities (the biocenoses) and the interactions and relationships between their individual members. The different forms of ecological communities - zoocenosis, phytocenosis, and microbiocenosis are shown. Data are presented regarding the structure of biocenoses, their development, distribution in space and time, and their origin. Special emphasis is given to the functions of the biocenoses, being the biotic component of the ecosystems and its dependence/interaction with the abiotic components (ecotopes). Methods for delineating and mapping different biotic communities in the ecosystem and determination of the system boundaries are presented, and their application for identifying sites that need environmental protection is discussed. The different models of biocenology are talked about and their application for description of production processes as a function of environmental factors is shown.

Fundamentals of Environmental Technology

This course presents information about the chemical and biological conversion processes that are applied in the treatment of water, gases, soil and solid wastes. The principles of analysis of these processes by mass balances are explained. The analytical data are discussed in a view point of their application as a powerful tool to design, model and optimize treatment processes. Physical, chemical and biological aspects that are relevant for the development and application of separation and conversion processes are discussed. The application of environmental technologies to monitor, model and conserve the environment and its resources, and to alleviate the negative impacts of human involvement is commented. Relevant technical laboratory practicals are included that help for critical evaluation of the theoretical knowledge.

Fundamentals of Environmental Technology

This course presents information about the chemical and biological conversion processes that are applied in the treatment of water, gases, soil and solid wastes. The principles of analysis of these processes by mass balances are explained. The analytical data are discussed in a view point of their application as a powerful tool to design, model and optimize treatment processes. Physical, chemical and biological aspects that are relevant for the development and application of separation and conversion processes are discussed. The application of environmental technologies to monitor, model and conserve the environment and its resources, and to alleviate the negative impacts of human involvement is commented. Relevant technical laboratory practicals are included that help for critical evaluation of the theoretical knowledge.

Integrated ecosystem assessment

This course deals with the importance of natural ecosystems in regional planning and management. It presents information how to arrange balanced decision-making process. In particular, the approaches to analyse all effects of human interventions in a certain ecosystem or region in an integrated way are presented. The ecological, socio-cultural and economic aspects of this process are discussed in the light of the stakeholders’ diversity in interests and perceptions. The course offers an introduction to the integrated ecosystem assessment concepts and tools with special emphasis on ecosystem services and natural capital accounting. The course includes case study situations along which the trainees will be able to practice these tools and apply them to defined regional environmental management issues.

Integrated ecosystem assessment

This course deals with the importance of natural ecosystems in regional planning and management. It presents information how to arrange balanced decision-making process. In particular, the approaches to analyse all effects of human interventions in a certain ecosystem or region in an integrated way are presented. The ecological, socio-cultural and economic aspects of this process are discussed in the light of the stakeholders’ diversity in interests and perceptions. The course offers an introduction to the integrated ecosystem assessment concepts and tools with special emphasis on ecosystem services and natural capital accounting. The course includes case study situations along which the trainees will be able to practice these tools and apply them to defined regional environmental management issues.

Environmental protection and sustainability

The course presents the basic principles of environmental protection, biodiversity conservation practices, approaches and solutions for water and air pollution alleviation, and major opportunities for sustainability. It comprises several topics focused on: biodiversity and ecosystem functionality, stability, and services. It outlines the threats to biodiversity and the relevant conservation strategies, and discusses the contribution of open spaces to biodiversity. The topics of air and water quality and pollution and associated with them health-related problems are also discussed. The relevance for environmental protection of building materials, and the modern tendencies for green building and energy saving are also shown. Urban and global sustainability issues are presented too dealing with environmental problems at the city level, and thinking of the city as an ecosystem functioning for human well-being.

Environmental protection and sustainability

The course presents the basic principles of environmental protection, biodiversity conservation practices, approaches and solutions for water and air pollution alleviation, and major opportunities for sustainability. It comprises several topics focused on: biodiversity and ecosystem functionality, stability, and services. It outlines the threats to biodiversity and the relevant conservation strategies, and discusses the contribution of open spaces to biodiversity. The topics of air and water quality and pollution and associated with them health-related problems are also discussed. The relevance for environmental protection of building materials, and the modern tendencies for green building and energy saving are also shown. Urban and global sustainability issues are presented too dealing with environmental problems at the city level, and thinking of the city as an ecosystem functioning for human well-being.