Identifying Data 2014/15
Subject (*) Ecoloxía: Ecoloxía I (individuos e ecosistemas) Code 610G02039
Study programme
Grao en Bioloxía
Descriptors Cycle Period Year Type Credits
Graduate 1st four-month period
 Third Obligatoria 6
Language
Spanish
Prerequisites
Department Bioloxía Animal, Bioloxía Vexetal e Ecoloxía
Coordinador
Ruiz De la Rosa, Jose Miguel
 E-mail
jose.miguel.ruiz.delarosa@udc.es
Lecturers
Rodríguez Roiloa, Sergio
Ruiz De la Rosa, Jose Miguel
 E-mail
sergio.roiloa@udc.es
jose.miguel.ruiz.delarosa@udc.es
Web
General description Patróns de distribución: o individuo e o medio. O ecosistema.

Study programme competencies
Code Study programme competences
A1 Recoñecer distintos niveis de organización nos sistemas vivos.
A17 Realizar bioensaios e diagnósticos biolóxicos.
A20 Muestrear, caracterizar e manexar poboacións e comunidades.
A21 Deseñar modelos de procesos biolóxicos.
A24 Xestionar, conservar e restaurar poboacións e ecosistemas.
A26 Deseñar experimentos, obter información e interpretar os resultados.
A27 Dirixir, redactar e executar proxectos en Bioloxía.
A29 Impartir coñecementos de Bioloxía.
A30 Manexar adecuadamente instrumentación científica.
A31 Desenvolverse con seguridade nun laboratorio.
A32 Desenvolverse con seguridade no traballo de campo.
B1 Aprender a aprender.
B2 Resolver problemas de forma efectiva.
B3 Aplicar un pensamento crítico, lóxico e creativo.
B4 Traballar de forma autónoma con iniciativa.
B5 Traballar en colaboración.
B6 Organizar e planificar o traballo.
B7 Comunicarse de maneira efectiva nunha contorna de traballo.
B8 Sintetizar a información.
B9 Formarse unha opinión propia.
B10 Exercer a crítica científica.
B11 Debater en público.
B12 Adaptarse a novas situacións.
B13 Comportarse con ética e responsabilidade social como cidadán e como profesional.
C1 Expresarse correctamente, tanto de forma oral coma escrita, nas linguas oficiais da comunidade autónoma.
C2 Dominar a expresión e a comprensión de forma oral e escrita dun idioma estranxeiro.
C3 Utilizar as ferramentas básicas das tecnoloxías da información e as comunicacións (TIC) necesarias para o exercicio da súa profesión e para a aprendizaxe ao longo da súa vida.
C4 Desenvolverse para o exercicio dunha cidadanía aberta, culta, crítica, comprometida, democrática e solidaria, capaz de analizar a realidade, diagnosticar problemas, formular e implantar solucións baseadas no coñecemento e orientadas ao ben común.
C5 Entender a importancia da cultura emprendedora e coñecer os medios ao alcance das persoas emprendedoras.
C6 Valorar criticamente o coñecemento, a tecnoloxía e a información dispoñible para resolver os problemas cos que deben enfrontarse.
C7 Asumir como profesional e cidadán a importancia da aprendizaxe ao longo da vida.
C8 Valorar a importancia que ten a investigación, a innovación e o desenvolvemento tecnolóxico no avance socioeconómico e cultural da sociedade.

Learning aims
Subject competencies (Learning outcomes) Study programme competences
To describe ecological concepts at the individual, population, community and ecosystem level. A1
A24
A29
To discuss ecological concepts by critically considering the evidences in support. B3
B8
B9
B10
B11
B13
 C1
C2
C4
C5
C6
C7
C8
To face with some success the specialised literature. A27
A30
 B1
 C3
To use some basic techniques from the vast ecological methodology. A17
A20
A21
A26
A30
A31
A32
 B2
B4
B5
B6
B7
B12

Contents
Topic Sub-topic
Section 1. Introduction and evolution Unit 1. Introduction and evolution.
Ecology: definition, scope and study. Basic concepts on evolution.
Section 2. Distribution patterns: individuals and environment Unit 2. Generalities.
Unit 3. Responses and adaptations to the abiotic environment: temperature, water and light.
Unit 4. Other responses to environmental variations.
Section 3. The Ecosystem Unit 5. The ecosystem and its functioning.
Unit 6. Production.
Unit 7. Flow of energy.
Unit 8. Cycles of matter.
Unit 9. Decomposition and nutrients regeneration.
Unit 10. Global cycles.

Planning
Methodologies / tests Ordinary class hours Student’s personal work hours Total hours
Guest lecture / keynote speech 24 62.4 86.4
Laboratory practice 15 15 30
Seminar 8 20.8 28.8
Objective test 3 0 3
 
Personalized attention 1.8 0 1.8
 
(*)The information in the planning table is for guidance only and does not take into account the heterogeneity of the students.

Methodologies
Methodologies Description
Guest lecture / keynote speech Oral presentations to transfer knowledge and ease learning. Most of the graphical support of presentations is available in the virtual campus (Moodle).
Laboratory practice For the students to learn effectively through the completion of practical activities in the field and/or in the laboratory.
Seminar Demonstration and study of numerical models for a better understanding and resolution of ecological problems. Most models will be worked with Faculty PCs if students have no portables.
Objective test Written exam on all aspects of the matter: theory, practicals and seminars.

Personalized attention
Methodologies
Objective test
Guest lecture / keynote speech
Laboratory practice
Seminar
Description
Preparation, explanation and revision of exams. Elucidation of possible doubts emerging as the matter is developed.

Orientation and tuition to make the most of practicals.

Orientation and tuition to make the most of seminars.

HELP YOURSELF AND WE’LL GIVE YOU A HAND.

Assessment
Methodologies Description Qualification
Objective test Written exam on all aspects of the matter: theory, practicals and seminars (see Assessment comments).
By means of this global exam all the degree's specific competencies included in this matter will be evaluated (A1, A17, A20, A21, A24, A26, A27, A29, A30, A31, A32). 		100
 
Assessment comments
One and only exam (but 2 opportunities) on all and every part: theory, practicals (P) and seminars (S).
Weight proportional to contribution to time planning: 60%, 20% y 20% (respectively). All 3 parts are to be passed simultaneously, but compensation possible if one part > 4/10.
Attendance not compulsory, but for P and S it’ll be recorded.
Students can voluntarily present at the exam a paper personal copybook on the work developed in all 8 S and/or all 3 P classes; main text must be manuscript (by hand) and the whole should be easily readable. Guides will be available in Moodle and the marks on these workbooks may help overcome insufficiencies in the corresponding exam.
Copybooks can be drafted in pairs or groups, but the final result is not to be cloned: they must reflect individual work and interpretation.
Both copybooks are needed to get the top mark (Honours).

Sources of information
Basic Alstad DN (2001). Basic Populus models of ecology. New Jersey: Prentice-Hall
Smith RL & Smith TM (2000). Ecología. Madrid: Pearson
Rodríguez J (1999). Ecología. Madrid: Pirámide
Piñol J & Martínez-Vilalta J (2006). Ecología con números. Barcelona: Lynx
Krebs CJ (1986). Ecología: el análisis experimental de la distribución y la abundancia. Madrid: Pirámide
Begon M, Harper JL & Townsend CR (1999). Ecología: individuos, poblaciones y comunidades. Barcelona: Omega
Ricklefs RE (1998). Invitación a la ecología: la economía de la naturaleza. Madrid: Panamericana
Alstad DN (). www.cbs.umn.edu/populus.
Piñol J & Martínez-Vilalta J (). www.ecologiaconnumeros.uab.es.
One of the basic references for seminars is Piñol & Martínez-Vilalta (EC-650). The models in the CD included in this book are also available in its web page. From Alstad’s link the program “Populus” can be freely downloaded, containing models on general biology and also others for some particular seminars. It includes a PopulusHelp.PDF (mostly in English) that was edited as a book in 2001 (EC-505). For most of these basic references there are more recent editions and also English versions.
Complementary Gotelli NJ (1995). A primer of ecology. Sunderland: Sinauer
Margalef R (1974). Ecología. Barcelona: Omega
Molles MC (2006). Ecología: conceptos y aplicaciones. Madrid: McGraw-Hill
Odum EP, Barret GW (2006). Fundamentos de ecología. Mexico: Thomson
There are more recent editions of these complementary references, and also English versions.

Recommendations
Subjects that it is recommended to have taken before
Ecoloxía: Ecoloxía II (poboacions e comunidades)/610G02040
Ecoloxía humana/610G02041
Ecotoxicoloxía/610G02042
Análise de datos en Bioloxía/610G02044

Subjects that are recommended to be taken simultaneously
Fisioloxía vexetal aplicada/610G02029
Fisioloxía Animal: Fisioloxía Animal I/610G02035

Subjects that continue the syllabus
Química/610G02001
Matemáticas/610G02003
Estatística/610G02005
Xeografía: Xeografía física/610G02006

Other comments
Understanding rather than memorization is favored.


(*)The teaching guide is the document in which the URV publishes the information about all its courses. It is a public document and cannot be modified. Only in exceptional cases can it be revised by the competent agent or duly revised so that it is in line with current legislation.