| Study programme competencies |
| Code | Study programme competences |
| A9 | Identificar e utilizar bioindicadores. |
| A17 | Realizar bioensaios e diagnósticos biolóxicos. |
| A21 | Deseñar modelos de procesos biolóxicos. |
| A23 | Avaliar o impacto ambiental. Diagnosticar e solucionar problemas ambientais. |
| B1 | Aprender a aprender. |
| B4 | Traballar de forma autónoma con iniciativa. |
| 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. |
| Learning aims | |||
| Learning outcomes | Study programme competences | ||
| Distinguir e identificar as técnicas de ecotoxicología retrospectiva e prospectiva | B9 |
||
| Describir os efectos habituais da contaminación en individuos, poboacións e comunidades | A9 A17 A23 |
||
| Valorar as vantaxes e limitacións de cada nivel de organización para detectar o impacto contaminante | B9 B10 |
||
| Comprender os resultados de técnicas básicas de ensaio de toxicidade, estudos de acumulación-depuración, biomarcadores | A9 A17 A21 |
||
| Describir os mecanismos polos que un organismo fai fronte aos contaminantes. | A21 |
B1 B4 |
|
| Valorar críticamente a relevancia da información derivada de ensaios de toxicidade | A17 |
B9 B10 |
|
| Valorar críticamente as predicións de modelos de distribución e efectos de contaminantes | A23 |
B9 B10 |
|
| Realizar unha procura bibliográfica dun tópico ecotoxicológico e resumir a información obtida | B1 B4 B6 B7 B8 B9 B10 B11 |
||
| Enfrontarse á literatura especializada podendo encadrala nun tópico concreto da ecotoxicología | B1 B4 B8 B9 B10 |
||
| Contents |
| Topic | Sub-topic |
| Introduction | Human population growth. Major environmental problems in Europe. Ecotoxicology. |
| Pollutants | Major types and features Inorganic pollutants: metals and anions Organic pollutants Organometals Gases |
| Toxicokinetics | Mechanisms for pollutant accumulations. Uptake. Biotransformation and detoxification of metals and metaloids. Biotransformation of organic pollutants. Excretion. Bioaccumulation Factor (BAF), Bioconcentration Factor (BCF), and Accumulation Factor. Kinetics. |
| Bioamplification along the trophic chain | Bioamplification. Trophic transfer and Bioamplification factor. Examples of bioamplification in metals and organic pollutants. |
| Bioaccumulation and pollutant detection (Retrospective Ecotoxicology I) | Bioavailability. Factors of pollutant bioavailability. Use of bioaccumulators. Requisites of a good bioacumulator. |
| Toxicodynamics: biochemical and histological effects | Protective and non protective bgiochemical changes. Molecular toxicity mechanisms. Modes of toxic actions in organic pollutants. Examples of molecular mechanisms. Cytotoxicity and necrosis. Damage to genes and chromosomes. |
| Physiological effects | Subletal effects. Effects on growth, development, reproduction, physiology and behaviour. Trade-off between detoxification and production. |
| Biomarkers (Retrospective Ecotoxicology II). | Classification, especificity and relationship with damaging effects. Requisites of a good biomarker. Examples of biomarkers. Use of biomarkers. |
| Toxicity assays (Porspective Ecotoxicology I). | Dose-response relationship. Types of assays. Data analyses. Toxicity curves, mean lethal time and threshold LC50. Data analyses in chronic assays: NOEC, LOEC y MATC. Application Factor. |
| Prediction (Prospective Ecotoxicology II) | Prediction at individual level: QSAR. Prediction at ecosystem level: SSR. |
| Changes in community composition (Retrospective Ecotoxicology III). | Indicator species. Relative abundance. Saprobic systema and biotic indexes. Diversity. Comparisson with reference communities. |
| Planning | ||||
| Methodologies / tests | Competencies | Ordinary class hours | Student’s personal work hours | Total hours |
| Guest lecture / keynote speech | A9 A23 B8 B9 | 24 | 84 | 108 |
| Seminar | B1 B4 B6 B7 B8 B9 B10 B11 | 7 | 17.5 | 24.5 |
| Laboratory practice | A17 | 5 | 0 | 5 |
| ICT practicals | A21 A23 | 10 | 0 | 10 |
| Multiple-choice questions | A9 A17 A21 A23 | 1 | 0 | 1 |
| Personalized attention | 1.5 | 0 | 1.5 | |
| (*)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 | Lectures supported by graphic information available to students through Moodle. |
| Seminar | Problem solving and bibliographic review. |
| Laboratory practice | Lab work under the guidance of the teacher and with a protocol that comprehensively details the exercises to be performed (also available in Moodle) |
| ICT practicals | IT work under the guidance of the teacher and with a protocol that comprehensively details the exercises to be performed (also available in Moodle) |
| Multiple-choice questions | Test of theory and practice contents. |
| Personalized attention |
|
|
| Assessment | |||
| Methodologies | Competencies | Description | Qualification |
| Guest lecture / keynote speech | A9 A23 B8 B9 | In some lectures, questions will be asked (orally and/or in writing) to the students on aspects dealt with in the session, which they will have to answer on the spot in order to assess the individual performance of the session. | 5 |
| Laboratory practice | A17 | Attendance is mandatory. Each day of unexcused absence will mean 0.5 points less in the final grade. | 0 |
| Multiple-choice questions | A9 A17 A21 A23 | Knowledge acquired in theory and practice sessions is assessed with a multi-option test. | 65 |
| Seminar | B1 B4 B6 B7 B8 B9 B10 B11 | First chance: Presenting a bibliographic review paper at the last seminar session. Second chance: Students who have not presented a paper at the first opportunity may submit their paper in WRITING on the date of the second opportunity test (detailed guidelines for submitting a paper are available in Moodle). SECOND CHANCE PAPERS MAY GET A MAXIMUM GRADE OF 5 (passed). |
30 |
| ICT practicals | A21 A23 | Attendance is mandatory. Each day of unexcused absence will mean 0.5 points less in the final grade. | 0 |
| Assessment comments | |||
|
In order to pass the course it is REQUIRED to pass the theory exam with a grade of at least 4. Otherwise, the course will be suspended regardless of the remaining grades and the lowest numerical grade will be placed (i) the average grade with the above percentages or (ii) the grade of the theory exam). Failure to attend the theory exam will result in no final grade ("No presentado"). |
|||
| Sources of information |
| Basic |
Newman, M. C.; Clements, W.H. (2008). Ecotoxicology: A Comprehensive Treatment. CRC Press
Newman, M. C. (2010). Fundamentals of Ecotoxicology, 3 edition. CRC Press
Walker, C. H., S. P. Hopkin, R. M. Sibly, and D. B. Peakall. (2006). Principles of Ecotoxicology, 3rd edition. Taylor & Francis, London |
|
|
|
| Complementary | |
|
La bibliografía básica es suficiente para una asignatura de licenciatura. Además, el alumno debe buscar trabajos científicos para realizar el trabajo tutelado; los trabajos concretos varían para cada alumno. |
| Recommendations | |
| Subjects that it is recommended to have taken before |
| Subjects that are recommended to be taken simultaneously |
| Subjects that continue the syllabus |
| Other comments | |
|
Students are encouraged to use the tutorials to resolve questions with the teacher. |